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Kata Noi - the best little beach in the world - Thailand
by Russell Sherman | Date >
2006-10-10 | Country : Thailand | City : Kata Noi
| Area : Phuket |
| I had been to Phuket a few times but this time I was on my own - no friends, no tour guides - and so I hired a motor bike (all you need is a license, not an international one) and ventured out. I was staying at a pretty nice hotel (I think it was 4 star) called the Old Phuket Hotel, Karon Beach, and was loving my trip. If I wanted a quiet night, I would just stay in my hotel and watch TV or get on the net, but if I wanted to rev up a bit, I would just ride a few kilometres north to Patong Beach, and this place is always buzzing - day and night. I haven't been able to stay up late enough to know when it quietens down! The pubs are terrific, the open-air restaurants have magnificent ornaments and fountains, and the food, oh, the food. I just love it!. The deep-fried fish with hot and sour sauce is a must. But the noodle soup for 25baht or pad thai from a local stall for 30baht are exquisite. (I feel sorry for the westerneres who are eating McDonalds.) I'd have a few beers and spark up a conversation with other travellers. Couples love an extra person to break up their monogamy for a while (!?) The beers are kept cool through the ingenious idea of freezing the glasses but before they freeze them, they put about an inch of water in the bottom of the glass. Over time, the ice block comes free but by that time the beer is well gone.
I'd decided I'd go to PhiPhi Island for the day so I got the time of the ferries that leave from Chalong Bay every morning and rode there on my bike. I didn't count on the boats being chockers and no room for one more. I was going to buy a ticket for about 900 baht which was on a luxury speed boat so I was not about to pay 3000baht to ride in a long-tail boat, even if I am the only passenger and have the 'boat' all to myself. So, I left Chalong Bay and just followed the coast along and drove through some nice villages in Kata and rode until the road ended at Kata Noi (small Kata). And what a place!!! This beach has crystal clean water, better than Karon and quieter than Kata, and shits all over Patong!!!. The beach has squeaky clean sand and has a cafe where you can get a cold drink (or order from the restaurant) whilst you lay on your sun-lounge (with mattress) for 100 baht per day, complete with beach umbrella. Oh, actually you get two sun-lounges and a little table for your drinks, for 100 baht. To get to the beach you have to walk through the resort which owns the beach-front. But it's quite cruisey and as long as you're western it seems you can even take liberties by using their pool, their toilets, and a nice touch is the foot bath that you use to clean the sand off your feet when you leave the beach. You really feel like you're a King for a day. The beach is simply what dreams are made of; and the water is calm, not rough, and a terrific temperature, probably 22/23/24 degrees celcius? That is the good news, the bad news is, this was my last day in Phuket, but what memories.
Enjoy! |
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