New
Year's Eve once more and following the tradition of watching a
firework display has brought us Patong bay on the west side of
Phuket. Note I make the difference between beach and bay.
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| Patong beach vista |
We
came from Ao Chalong in the morning to join four cruise ships and
about 70 boats anchored in the big bay. Because the anchorage was
busy we were at the back of the pack. I could see beach umbrellas
stretching from one side of the beach to the other and in places even
saw some sand. Patong is a popular holiday spot, possibly the
biggest holiday destination we've seen on our travels. Bondi beach
was busy. This is busier with a constant plague of jet skis blasting
between the boats.
Patong
has the reputation as a party place where anything goes. From what
we saw when we went ashore I can add anything for sale too as long as
you want t-shirts, sunglasses, swimwear, tacky plastic souvenirs, a
tattoo or foot massage, fake handbags, fake watches, a fake Armani
suit or a lady companion for the holiday or night, known as a GFE
(girl friend experience). Beach road is shoulder to shoulder hotels,
restaurants, bars and shops.
Forty
years ago the first back packers came to Patong beach and found a
sleepy fishing community. With modern development and mass tourism
it's been transformed. The most often heard language is Russian and
the influence is so strong menus are printed in Russian, English and
Thai (in that order). We walked, or rather squeezed through the
holiday crowds, took a chance crossing the busy road, along Beach
road to the end and back. This is boaties sight seeing; we saw
sights we haven't seen before!
With
so many restaurants to choose from it took time to pick one. In the
end we settled on a less glitzy place off the main drag which we
discovered is owned by an Australian expat. The food was very good
Thai dishes. Being old people we went back to Jackster after dinner
to watch the fireworks from the bay and to be there just is case an
errant rocket fall on deck.
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| fishing turned tourist boats |
We
expected a co-ordinated display at midnight. No. This was free form
display; each bar, hotel and party had their own show at different
times through the evening, a constant firework display which lasted
two hours, and from the beach people were sending up Chinese
lanterns. These are a nylon balloon with a small tub of methylated
spirits suspended below. When the meths is lit the balloon fills
with hot air and rises away on the breeze. We followed hundreds of
them floating across the sky with hundreds of wishes for the New Year
going with them. Our wish did come true – that no firework or
lantern should land on the deck.
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