Phuket Guide

Business Hours
Most offices open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, except on and around public holidays when business hours may vary widely. General banking hours are Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. Many stores are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Electricity
Electricity in Thailand is 220 Volts AC at 50 cycles. Several different plugs and sockets are in use, so travelers will need to be aware of this when using shavers, tape recorders or other appliances that require power mains. A plug adapter kit can be purchased in Phuket. There are occasional blackouts and power variations, especially during rainy season. Care should be taken to protect delicate equipment like notebooks.

Photographic Facilities
Most popular brands and types of film are widely available in Thailand and in Phuket. It is advisable to bring any special photographic equipment or film from home as supplies may be limited here. Film processing is widely available and one-hour service is common.

Postal Services
The post offices are usually open from 8 am to 4.30 pm. The Thai post service is usually reliable. Important items can be sent by Express Mail Service (EMS). This is faster and safer but the cost is higher. Private air couriers like DHL and UPS have representatives on Phuket.

Telephone Services
International calls can be made from the post office, most major hotels, some travel agents and private international telephone offices dotted about the island. For international direct dialing (IDD), dial 001 + country code + area code + phone number.

E-mail Services
There are also several Internet Cafes in the small communities around the island and especially in the more developed tourist locations. For those with a laptop computer, access to internet service providers is possible through one of the many computer shops throughout the island.

Climate
The climate of Phuket is tropical and therefore warm throughout the whole year. At the same time it is dominated by the monsoon winds that bring about seasonalchanges from dry to wet. The monsoon winds change prevailing direction according to the season.This was an important aspect of navigation for the sailing ships in the Middle Ages. There are two very hot periods of weather on Phuket, the first between April and May when the average temperatures range from 30 to 36 degrees Celsius and only the occasional tropical thunderstorm brings relief from the heat.

It is also very hot between September and October but the frequent rainfall has a wonderful cooling effect. The Southwest monsoon, from March to September, occurs when the sun is directly over the equator, the asian continental mass heats up more than the surrounding Indian Ocean. Moist, hot air is drawn from the sea to the land causing a south westerly wind to blow over Phuket bringing rain & inclement weather to the west coast of Southern Thailand. The Northeast monsoon occurs when the sun shines from the south, the Indian Ocean gets warmer and consequently the north eastern monsoon blows, bringing sunny skies and beautiful weather to the entire region.

Codes of Behaviour
Thais are flexible in nature and understand very well, that foreigners can not know their code of behavior. Mostly, they are too polite to complain about anything you do out of ignorance. But to earn some respect from their side, it is important to show proper behaviour. Showing respect - Most important is to show respect for the monarchy in any way. Thai people are very fond of and loyal to their king and queen and the whole royal family. The religion should be respected as well. Temples, Buddha statues or monks (it is not allowed for a woman to touch a monk, for example) are to be revered. Buddhist and Chinese shrines are open to foreigners but you should dress appropriately when visiting. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are discouraged.

A non-muslim can enter a mosque except during prayer time. Hilltop houses have special spirit rooms, which are closed to outsiders; entering them will violate their sanctity. Thais are amenable to being photographed but, if in doubt, ask first. Monks can be photographed and Buddhist ceremonies as well. Thais regard the feet of lower stature so do not point them at others or step over those seated or lying . Remove your shoes before entering a Thai temple or house. Likewise, head is of high stature and is not supposed to be touched or slapped. Tipping and Bargaining: Although tipping is not expected or required, it is a nice gesture to leave a small amount, when you receive good service. Most restaurants, bars, supermarkets, department stores, pharmacies, public transport (except taxis and tuk-tuks), and larger hotels do not offer discounts.

On the other hand, nearly any independent small business, from jewelry stores to street vendors, are open to bargaining. But of course, you cannot take a discount for granted right from the start, so all discussions should be done in a friendly manner. Clothing — Thailand is a country in the tropical region, so light, loose cotton clothing is most recommended. If visiting mountainous areas or national parks, a sweater is of use. Especially when exploring the night-life, tight dresses and miniskirts are no problem. On the other hand, naked sunbathing or topless appearance in public places is considered rude and is generally not accepted. Criminality - Thailand is one of the friendliest and safest travel destinations in the world. Your personal safety is taken well care of in Phuket and the tourist police demonstrates a polite and competent attitude all around. By travelling with confidence, being aware and showing the proper caution, you will surely enjoy your stay.

Tourist Safety
Since the catastrophic tsunami in December, 2004, the Thai authorities have installed a sophisticated warning system to alert the public of possible incoming tsunamis. While on or near the beach, if you hear loud alarm sounds being broadcast over the entire beachfront area, please consider the need to evacuate the beach area immediately. Aside from protecting yourself from natural disasters, there are some things travelers to Thailand should watch out for. Pickpockets are more likely to be found in tourist areas, on buses, at festivals, and at boat harbors, so keep an eye on your valuables.

Bring only what you have to, and leave all valuables in your hotel safe. Credit card fraud is not uncommon in Thailand, so be cautious with your cards, even those left in your hotel room and allow them to be used only at reliable places of business. Visitors have also been robbed after a stranger who has befriended them, slips a sleeping drug in their food or beverage. Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Tours or shopping bargains — if you do go on a tour or dive, try to do so with a reputable company.

The People of Phuket
Official Phuket records reflect a local population of around 200,000 inhabitants. The two main population centers are on opposite sides of the island. On the east coast is Phuket Town, the capital and on the west coast is Patong Beach, Phuket's center of tourism. The residents of Phuket are Thais and Chinese who migrated from the mainland to work in tin mines, Muslims of Malaysian extraction who came to work in the rubber plantations and the Chao Ley or sea gypsies, one of the earliest groups inhabit Phuket. The Chinese represent around 35% of the island's population. They differ from those who settled in Bangkok and other regions of Thailand, as they arrived mainly from the Hokkien region of China as did those now living in Singapore and Malaysia.

As elsewhere in Asia, many of the Chinese have now become fully integrated into Thai society and many of them own businesses both large and small. Collectively, they are responsible for a large part of the trade volume on Phuket and their influence is visible in many places such as the Chinese temples on Phuket or the annual Chinese Vegetarian Festival in October, a major tourist attraction of Phuket. The influence of the Indonesian and Malayan culture is also apparent in the ethnic makeup, language, art and religion of southern Thailand. About one third of the Thais living on Phuket are Muslims. Concentrated mostly around Surin and a few other big villages, they work as rice and rubber farmers. In addition to the Thai and Malay languages, many also speak 'Yawi', an ancient dialect of the Malayan language.

Entertainment
Patong Beach is the center of all tourist oriented nightlife on Phuket. Here, located within a half kilometer's radius of Soi Bangla, are hundreds of small bars, pubs, gay bars, and go-go bars. Clearly, with so much variety on offer, these bars are the most popular destination for nighttime activity. They give the town its unique flavor of a lively, fun place until long after the sun goes down. Who doesn't enjoy taking in some hot, love music, which is exactly what you're in for at Molly Malone's Irish Pub. Patong Beach features some great discos too. Three of them, the Banana Disco, Dragon Disco and the Tiger Disco, are also located near Soi Bangla. Another one, the Safari Pub, is on the hill towards Kata Beach. Lined up next to each other in long rows around Soi Bangla, the bars and pubs of Patong Beach are probably the most popular nighttime destination for most visitors.

Most of the bars are small and simple with stools or benches and some kind of roof. The music can be loud and often very mixed as each bar has its own stereo system. The volume of music can make conversation difficult but a fun time is to be had by all. The atmosphere is easy and relaxed as it is very easy to take a seat in one of the many bars or pubs and enjoy people-watching as there is always a sea of human beings moving around you. In season, Phuket is awash with people from many different countries and Patong Beach in particular becomes a very cosmopolitan place. People who finish days diving, sunbathing or sightseeing enjoy congregating in these places to meet and party on into the night.

There is a wide variety of bar sports to play with any of your new found friends. Games such as banging a nail into a tree stump with a special hammer are quite popular and can get quite funny after a couple of beers. Some of the slightly larger bars have pool tables (for as cheap as THB 20) and dart boards, giving the opportunitiy do something more than just drink. For those who prefer the gay scene, venture over to the Royal Paradise complex, you won't be disappointed. If you are not familiar with Go Go bars from TV documentaries or Hollywood movies, here you find a short introduction into what Go-Go's are all about.

A Go-Go Bar is a place, where you can watch girls dancing to energetic music clothed in nothing more than a string bikini. These girls are not totally nude, as this is officially prohibited by Thai law. The girls may interact with the customers during the time they are not dancing. They are not owned in any way by the bar and if they want to share their time with the guest, it is their decision to make. If you enjoy the company of a particular lady and would like her to accompany you perhaps to dinner or a disco, it is customary to pay the bar a fee, since if she accompanies you, she is no longer assisting the bar by providing entertainment. Anyway, if you have an open mind, visiting a Go Go Bar will surely give you a unique insight into this aspect of tourist entertainment.

You and the Law
Respect for the police is a must and rude talk or shouting should be avoided in every case, guilty or not. Thai police officers have much greater powers of action than for example their European counterparts and will not accept disrespectful behavior. Common Offences such as not wearing a helmet will get you a 300 Baht fine and a 2 hour wait at the local police station to pay your fine. Parking on the wrong side of the road will get your bike or car chained up and another long wait to pay your fine. The trick is to know which side of the road to park on.

Just look to see where everyone else has parked and park on that side of the road. If you rent a motorcycle and you get involved in an accident, you will pay for all the damages regardless of you're right or wrong. Basically that's the way it is, motorcycles are not insured and the Thai Police will take the side of their follow countrymen over you in any dispute. Having said that, the tourist police in Phuket are also aware of the little tricks that the rip-off merchants use (such as short changing at money exchange booths) so if you feel that you've been done an injustice then stand your ground, remain cool at all times whilst awaiting their arrival. Call them at Tel: 1699 toll free.