notes from a diving trip in Phuket 🤿
- surprisingly very clean and organized with good roads
- 2 packed days or 3 relaxed days enough to enjoy the city - Kata/ Karon/ Nai Harn beaches, Chalong Wat, Muay Thai Boxing night, Massages, Phromthep Cape for sunset, ATV ride, Ziplining course, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Nightlife at Bangla / Patong area, Old Town area to walk around, Naka weekend market
- The main reason should be scuba diving - the best sites would be Phi Phi Islands, Shark Point, King Cruiser (advanced site)
- Take local sim at the airport
- Exchange rates are pretty good and close to the real-time rate if exchanging in big amounts. Should convert for your entire trip in one shot
- "Grab" is a lifesaver, the subscription also seems like a good option as you will use it often and save a ton
- Great but limited vegan food options — Google Maps list
- In nearly all of the local and night markets, products are cheap China / Vietnam-made ones (similar to Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazaar, etc)
- cannabis is legal, so don’t be shocked, it might smell of weed at places
- Massage, cannabis, alcohol, partying, nail studios - are big sellers
- Shooting is a sham, don’t do it here, Vietnam is the OG place
additional but important note:
- It is a BIG privilege to have the option to book a trip a week in advance and just go. (expensive, off from work, etc)
- tour operators are a sham, but they service the masses who dream of going abroad once -- for them,they are the only option
- for most people, it is just about the flight experience, taking photos, buying some gifts to take back home -- this is a win for them
- Thousands of engineers graduate every year, but not really doing much after it. BIG PROBLEM FOR INDIA. The proportion of people who read this blog or work in HSR or Gurgaon's startup hub is so tiny that they are in the rounding error of all of India's engineers.