Reader Submission: Top 10 things not to do in Phuket
April 15, 2019
For those visiting Phuket here is a short translated summary of a helpful article in the Phuket Gazette. The original can be found at: www.phuketgazette.net/lifestyle/top-ten-things-not-phuket# and is worth reading.
- Do not swim on the West Coast (Andaman Sea) in low season (wet season; May – November). Many people drown there every year, the sea is then treacherous. (although mainly Chinese and Russians who can't swim).
- Never rent a motorcycle (bicycle) without a valid motorcycle driver's license. In case of any problems, your insurance company will not pay for you, you could get into big financial trouble. Never hand over your passport when renting a motorcycle, and don't lose sight of it if a copy is made.
- Never ride a motorcycle without a helmet, it is your only protection if you have an accident. No doctor can repair your head injury and never drive if you have been drinking. Thailand's roads are either the most dangerous or the second most dangerous (depending on which reports you read) in the world.
- Never visit a Tiger Kingdom. Tigers weren't born to sit half-drugged in chains, letting tourists take selfies. Do not visit the Phuket Zoo in Chalong; the welfare of the animals is not properly taken care of. The dolphin show should also be avoided; Dolphins should not stay there, they are not circus animals.
- Never ride an elephant. These beautiful animals suffer so much pain and torture and are already psychologically broken in their youth because of the tourism industry. If you want to visit them, check out the island sanctuaries (as there are elsewhere in Thailand), where they can stay peacefully in a safe environment, usually after many years of hard work in terrible conditions in the tourist industry. (https://www.phukephantsanctuary.org/)
- If you want to stay fit, never run during the day. Get up early and start at 4 or 5 am. The heat and humidity are just dangerous. Or use the hotel's gym.
- Never get into a taxi or Tuk Tuk before negotiating the fare. Phuket's taxis are supposed to use a meter. That just never happens in Phuket. 'Meter no work… blah, blah…'. The only thing you can do is accept that the prices are high and negotiate the fare BEFORE you get on.
- Do not sign any contracts in Thailand without having it checked by 1: a trusted and qualified Thai lawyer and 2: advice from a Western lawyer.
- Never argue with the Thai police for any reason. You come off worse every time. Also realize that they are very poorly paid. If you get stopped for a minor misstep - not wearing your helmet or not carrying a valid license, etc. - just pay and move on. DO NOT get angry or argue with the local police. Their English speaking skills are limited and they represent a system that can land you in a mountain of trouble, costs or even jail if you don't play your cards right. What is sometimes advisable: call in the help of the tourist police, they can assist you well, especially in the event of an accident. They are friendly and helpful. (Emergency number: 1155)
- Dress according to Thai values. It's still a very conservative country when it comes to what you wear and where you wear it. This becomes acutely apparent when it comes to visiting temples or anywhere with images of members of the Thai royal family or Buddha. For example, don't walk into the Patong Immigration office in your shorts, sandals and singlet and expect to get service - you won't get it. And going topless on the beach attracts the attention of the local police, most likely resulting in a fine. It is not appreciated to be shirtless on most terraces and/or restaurants, although unfortunately many don't care much about it.
author: Tim Newton
Tim Newton has lived in Thailand since 2012. An Australian, he has worked in the media, mainly radio and TV, for nearly 40 years. He has won the Deutsche Welle Award for best radio talk program, presented 2,800 radio news bulletins in Thailand alone, hosted 330 daily TV news programs, produced 1,800 videos, TV commercials and documentaries and now produces digital media for The Thaiger and Phuket Gazette.
Submitted by Ronald
If you want to stay fit, never run during the day. Get up early and start at 4 or 5 am. The heat and humidity are just dangerous. Or use the hotel's gym.
You probably mean "if you want to stay alive."
In the village, 3 people died in 2 days due to the heat.
The alcohol probably also contributed, too much alcohol and not enough water.
I probably missed some deaths, because I heard the monks from several places.
However, I'm not much of a partygoer for the cremations, so I went looking for that.
Hello, I can speak for it, experienced a heat / sunstroke in khon kaen, to get rid of a little beer fat, I thought so on the track without eating or drinking good remedy, but half in the shadow of a cabin the battle of the hammer,i didn't have the strength to sit in the shade completely.lucky for me a young thai couple brought the farang to hotel.thank you very much this is thailand at its best
Grts drsam
Personally, these are definitely tips that I can identify with. The animal suffering is visibly present and I do regret my elephant ride and zoo visit. There's a lot wrong with it. But yes, that is not something typical Thai, I must admit. We find this in many countries.
In the sporting field, it is important that people know themselves and behave as the constitution allows.
The difference between staying fit or staying alive is obvious.
I still run three times a week for the last four years, despite advanced age, in my moo track ten kilometers between four and five in the morning and participate in road races several times a year. Mini marathons (10.5 km) with people of all ages give me great joy and keep me fit.
Everyone knows that people should not get involved in alcoholic beverages to stay fit. The many deaths of foreigners in Thailand bear witness to this. There is an influence on the way we die and everyone does this in their own way. So be it. Think before you leap and especially in Thailand then you will get the furthest.
Overheating is also a problem at Dutch marathon events and I am surprised why people still hold on to such a risk, especially in warm weather.
The excuse is of course the attractiveness (read income), whereby victims are accepted among the less experienced and when people die from overheating, people express regret and will check whether there are points to improve.
Should overheating strike, putting water directly under cool water is a first requirement.
Not getting involved in preaching alcohol is going a bit too far for me because then it is also possible to run the mini-runs.
It may also be known that as a participant in traffic you also take a risk and that the end of a life has to do with many many other causes that even took place in the distant past or are related to old age anyway such as prostate cancer.
For the positivos and enthusiasts of the possibilities to maintain the condition and contribute to a good cause here is a link
http://www.forrunnersmag.com/events/index.php?language=english
Although I already knew everything mentioned in the article: great post! Very useful for people coming to Thailand for the first time, but certainly also for some habitués…
Most motorcycle rental companies want your passport. So far I've always done that and never had any problems with it.
Always a bit careful where I rented one.
Greetings Philip