Sent on Jan. 4, 2003 from Phuket.

A. PHUKET ISLAND, THAILAND, Jan 2-7, 2003

US$1 = 42 or 43 Bahts, about the same value as the Indian
Rupee, less than 3 cents.

Phuket, Thailand 12 hours ahead of EST USA.

1.  Phuket Island is located off the western shore of
Thailand, at about 8 degrees Latitude and very close to the
mainland.  It is a tropical paradise that I would rate as
10, as one of the most attractive destinations anywhere on
earth.  You should definitely add this to your "Must Go"
travel list.  Here are some details.

2. HINTS.  You may want to include Phuket into an itinerary
that includes other locations, as Tom and I did with
Malaysian Airlines, OR make Phuket as your primary or even
only destination.  There are direct flights by Malaysian
Air from Kuala Lumpur, and surely from Bangkok by Thai Air.
 The high season is from Dec. to March.

a) LUGGAGE. At Phuket airport, right at the exit to the
street, there is a LEFT LUGGAGE place for excess baggage
you may not with you while you are having fun.  Leave it
there  for 50B ($1.25) per day.

b) HOTEL. Take a minibus to PATONG BAY, the liveliest part
of the island.  The bus fee is 150B.  3) Phuket has all
kinds of accommodations.  If you want a nice and clean
guest house at about 500 to 700B ($17) per night, and be in
the middle of all activity, ask the driver to drop you off
next to the alley leading to the NARRY Hotel off the beach
road (THAWEEWONG Rd.).  There is that hotel there, as well
as many guest houses.  One such place is the PATONG ROSE
Guest House that charges 700 to 1000B per night, air cond.
and hot shower included.  The guest House is at the end of
the narrow alley next to the street to Narry Hotel, ask. 
AS with all purchases in Thailand, including women,
BARGAIN!

c) INTERNET. This location has also: a) several Internet
cafes nearby. One of the best with fast connection is the
CYBER TOUR cafe that is also a travel tour office, which
you might want to use say for a day-long trip to PHI PHI
Island, and or the JAMES BOND Island where the movie BEACH
with deCaprio was made.  Lonely Planet rates the Phi Phi
Island as the more attractive destination, which Tom and I
took.

d) CLINIC. This location has also 3 clinics along the
alleys off the Thaweewong Street within 2 blocks, just in
case you need antibiotics, have some other problem.

e) JEEP.  On the Thaweewong Rd., on the beach side, there
are several counters that rent Jeeps: 900B per day--all
inclusive of insurance--seems a good rate in high season. 
You may get one even cheaper.  Rent the jeep for 3 days at
most, 2 OK too.  The island is small enough--about 60 miles
north-south, 20m east-west at most--to cover in detail in 2
days.  The eastern side of the island is industrial and
somewhat trashy, although there are a few nice spots too. 
But you must see the entire western side of the island. 
For day one, do the places to the south of the Patong Bay,
all the way down to the Sunset View Point. For day 2, do
the Northern part.  There are many beaches and confusing
side roads leading to them.  On some you will find some of
the most serene and picturesque spots.  And some roads lead
to residential complexes with million dollar homes.  For
the rest of your stay, enjoy the beach, take a boat ride,
what have you.

f) FOOD, SHOPPING.  You will find anything you can think of
along the Thaweewong St..  The pubs, bars, and sin spots,
though also with shops and food stalls, are along the
BANGLA Road that runs perpendicular to the Thaweewong Rd.
about 200 yards north of the Narry Hotel alley.  When you
shop, offer about 1/3 of what is asked, come up grudgingly
to about 1/2, walk away if no--to make sure the person will
not follow you, finally accepting your offer.  Or if not,
offer a bit more at the next shop/person that sells the
same thing.  As for food, restaurants abound, but one of
the best places to eat is the over-the-counter food stalls
along a narrow alley right across from the MALIBU Bar on
Bangla Road.  If you are driving around and see a crowded
open market, stop and try some of the unusual fruit, fried
chicken or fish at one of the food stalls.  The food is
delicious and cheap.

g) WOMEN.  As for women, if you like one of the girls at
your hotel, any hotel, ask her for hourly rate--1000B seems
OK for a "body massage." If not, ask someone at the desk to
refer you to a beauty. OR go out and get a girl who may be
working at a shop, restaurant, etc.  Some may turn you
down, but eventually you will find one.  For example, the
girl I met at the tourist office that we stopped from the
airport could be a model in Miami Beach; she was a 10.  
There are also may 6 to 8s running around, and same with
sometimes unattached Western women.  (I for one prefer
local dishes wherever I am.)

h) COMMENT.  There are many westerns who retire in
Thailand.  Why not, when one has found such a paradise
country, in Phuket a paradise island.  I know no other city
or location on earth that can match the color of life--for
leisurely walk, beach, boat rides, endless shopping, food,
fun, and sin, all in relative safety too--as it exists
along the 1 to 2 km of Thaweewong Street and along the
1/2km of the Bangla Road, not the mention all the other
delicacies on the rest of the island.  Thailand may be poor
relative to the west, but it has achieved things that many
westerners--especially we in USA--may not easily find in
their own home countries: an affordable lifestyle that is
fun to live.