Phuket Beach Hotel - How to Find One to Suit Your Budget?

Phuket, one of the top beach resorts in the world, welcomes tourists to its white sandy beaches with a wide range of Phuket beach hotels. Even though there is a general impression that Phuket is a luxury tourist destination, accommodation options for budget travelers are not far behind.

With the beach town gaining popularity in recent times among international tourists, new hotels, villas and resorts have come up all over the place. Finding a Phuket beach hotel is not tough, as there are deluxe to budget accommodations in plentiful to suit diverse pockets.

Phuket boasts of an array of 5-star and 4-star hotels, most of which are found in the city or in exclusive beaches like Hat Bang Thao, Hat Nai Thon, Cape Panwa, Mai Khao, Hat Nai Harn and Ao Por. Some of the most preferred hotels by tourists in the luxury segment are JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Malisa Villa Suites Hotel, Centara Kata Resort, Allamanda Laguna Hotel, Amora Beach Resort, Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Naithonburi Beach Resort, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort and Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa.

Budget travelers need not worry that Phuket is out of bounds for them. There are plenty of affordable hotels in all parts of the town, even in beachfronts. All of them offer basic facilities and amenities at very reasonable rates to the budget-conscious travelers. To choose a Phuket beach hotel from the choices offered is the only hassle. Thanthip Villa Hotel, Karon Living Room Hotel, Bhukitta Hotel & Spa, Baan Karon Resort and Sawasdee Guest House are some of the popular budget hotels.

Phuket's most popular beaches are Patong, Kata, Karon and Nai Yong. To make it easier for the travelers, most of the Phuket beach hotels are located in and around these beaches.

Paisit Kapilakan owns and operates the website My Phuket Holiday that provides more than just information and reservation for hotels in Thailand. My Phuket Holiday offers a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phuket, Thailand and the best discount for hotel reservations in Thailand including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang mai, Hua Hin and Phuket. For more information on Phuket beach hotel, visit http://www.myphuketholiday.com and avail this fabulous offer.

Leasing Apartments In Phuket Almost As Good As Buying

Can leasing apartments in Phuket be as good as purchasing freehold? Many people believe so because there have been many apartments recently. Current Thailand law allows you to lease an Apartment for 30 years and have two extensions. This allows the purchaser to hold the property in their name for 90 years.

Freehold means that when you purchase you own the apartment in your own name. This is done by an apartment project in Phuket only selling up to 49% of the apartments to foreign owners. If a project is 50 units, the project developers would sell 24 as freehold and 26 as leasehold or to Thai owners. This sounds pretty complicated but setting this up is really very simple.

Leasing a piece of land is a very different story. In order to lease the land, it has to be registered at the local or-bor-tor office and it's a good idea to also register it at the land office. Some people like to lease land because they may not have to commit a lot of money. The terms can be to pay money every year. This can turn against the lease if he ever builds on the land and tries later to sell the property.

Leasing a property like an apartment is usually set up very different. If you lease through a real estate agent or broker they usually have a standard contract for a lease. Have a lawyer give you advise when signing a lease contract. This is to make sure your rights and interests are protected.

One big disadvantage of a lease is it might be hard to extent the lease after the first 30 years is expired. This is because the law reads that you must extend the lease every 30 years by the original land owner. It's even been know that original land owner may refuse the second 30 years lease even though they promised it in the first contract.

One option to leasing land was to set up a company and have the company own the land. In my opinion this option is no longer viable because the land offices are checking these shaky companies that have no purpose other than owning land. The door to owning houses or apartments in Thai companies is no longer open.

Apartments in Phuket can be bought freehold if you can find a property that is still freehold to buy into. Most properties like this are sold out under preconstruction and jonnie come lately has to pick at what units are left if any. If your plan is to purchase a unit that's 100% finished and ready to be moved it to you will find you will get the very worse units in the project. Even these units may not be available as freehold and leasing them may be the only option.

If the property investor is willing to take high risks, he can purchase a nice unit on preconstruction. The risk one takes if the project will ever start and more importantly, will it ever finish. If the project sells well and finishes within a year or two of planned completion date, the investor was lucky and has a nice unit to be proud of.

In closing, Apartments in Phuket can be a great investment if the owner is a careful shopper and weighs all factors when purchasing an apartment. Not only location, quality of construction and view are important. One must look at the ownership and the value that it will or may have 30 years down the road. Leasing in Phuket in lieu of owning an apartment unit freehold may be an option for the investor who is willing to take some calculated risk.

Scott Riefler is an expert in

Phuket Real Estate He has written several informative articles. He regularly contributes articles on phuket and Patong Apartments and real estate. Please sign-up for our free informative newsletter at:

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Luxury and Cheap Accommodations in Phuket

Phuket is Thailand's beautiful spot for travelers. The scenic views of nature surrounded the island impeccably and beautifully. The great numbers of travelers visit this island every year. You can come across a number of Cheap Hotels In Phuket which ensure a comfortable stay to all. The budget accommodations of Phuket allow the travelers to stay at an affordable rate along the facilities which include modern amenities and equipments. There are lots of things to do and see in Phuket. Amidst the tranquil settings of vast blue sea, good weather of the coastal beaches and the scenic beauty of sunset, Phuket is such a place to mesmerize you with its every possible sight seeing attractions and Thai culture and its friendliness.

Phuket is also home to many luxury hotels which includes 5 Star Hotels In Phuket. Vacationers come to have a nice holiday tour in Phuket where they can enjoy the long beaches with its cozy atmosphere. Have a nice summer holiday at Phuket. While your stay in the hotels what you can expect at best is the warm hospitality and proper attentive service. However, the deluxe hotels include the facilities like bars, restaurants, spa centers, etc. All kinds of requirements can be fulfilled by the accommodations provided by Phuket city. The restaurants have all those mouthwatering cuisines that are well known as Thai Cuisines. The warm hospitality and friendly climate of Phuket attracts the visitors enormously. People from various part of the globe come here to celebrate their special day and special occasions in this beach city.

Staying in one of the Budget Hotels In Phuket may be a happening moment or event for you because in the hotels of Phuket you can do all those things beyond a simple staying. Here you can recreate yourself by indulging or taking part in the live recreational activities that are available and happened in one of the budget hotels in Phuket.

Grab the best hotel deals for 5 Star Hotels In Phuket through hotels2stay.net. Book your stay for Budget Hotels In Phuket and get heavy discounts on online booking of Cheap Hotels In Phuket.

Good Putter Alignment - Hint - You're Probably Not Aiming at the Target

I was struck by the comments of Dave Pelz, the well-known short game guru and teacher of many leading golf professionals, in his book "Putt Like the Pros" with regard to putter alignment. Basically he said that very few golfers are able to obtain align putts properly using just their vision. He gave the example of Jim Simons, who was a successful PGA Tour player some years ago. When Pelz measured his putter alignment he found that on 3 foot putts, Simons was aligned toward the left edge of the cup, even though he thought he was aiming at the middle. For 10 foot putts his alignment was good, but on 30 foot putts Simons was aligned over 3 feet to the right of the hole! How many 30 foot putts could Simons have made? To do so would have taken a minor miracle.

The Brain Compensates for Poor Strokes and Poor Alignment

When a golfer has a stroke that is off-line, his brain and body make subconscious changes to adjust for the error. For example, if a golfer's putting stroke goes to the outside of the line on his backswing and then to the inside of his intended line after striking the ball, he is essentially applying a sort of cut stoke, and his ball will miss to the left of the hole. Seeing this, his brain will make an adjustment and will cause him to open the putter face at impact so the ball will not miss so much to the left. In fact Pelz states that most people who have a cut putting stoke as described above will miss the hole to the right rather than to the left since the brain and body will overcompensate. I personally had the same problem when I was a young golfer. On tee and fairway shots I would line myself up thinking I was aiming at the target. However, if I were to put a club down in front of my feet to see where I was aiming, it was always far to the right, similar to Simons on a 30 foot putt. As a result my brain and body changed my swing such that I would hit a big hook to compensate. On putts it was the same way. I knew I wasn't lined up properly and lost a lot of confidence. Pelz said that the best PGA Tour player he worked with on putter alignment was Howard Twitty, who was normally aligned properly on putts of all distances. Almost everyone else is off line, including the pros.

A Simple Approach to a Solid Putting Stroke

Many years ago I played a lot of golf with a person who was an excellent putter. He made lots of putts and could knock the ball in the hole from anywhere. He told me that his method was simple: he would align his putter face to the target, set his feet perpendicular the putter face, and simply swing the putter in line with his feet. This is a simple and excellent way to stroke putts. Of course a golfer also needs good touch to hit the ball the proper distance, but that is another matter. The method described above only works, however, if the putter is aligned properly, if the putter stroke is straight, if the putter face is square at impact, and most importantly, if the putt is struck on the putter "sweet spot", or the spot on the putter face that is directly in front of the center of gravity of the putter head. Pelz states that if everything is perfect with a putter stroke, but the putt is struck ¼ inch or more from the sweet spot, the putt will miss on average 95% of the time for 8 foot putts. So all factors mentioned above are important if one wishes to make his or her fair share of putts consistently, but it all starts with proper alignment.

A Good Solution- Draw a Line on the Ball

What is the best solution for aligning putts if your normal vision does not allow you to accomplish good putter alignment by sight only? Almost every player on the pro tours uses golf balls that have a line drawn on them. The line is pointed toward the golfer's target, and he can simply follow the advice of my playing partner of many years ago, that is:

1. Set the putter face perpendicular to the line on the ball.

2. Set his feet parallel to the line on the ball.

3. Stroke the putt in line with his feet.

By the way, there is no reason a golfer couldn't use the line to align his tee shots as well. Simply place your ball on the tee with the ball line pointing in the correct direction, and align your stance using that.

Good Touch is Paramount

Once again, another factor is extremely important in putting, and that is touch, or the ability to hit the ball the proper length. In fact this is of primary importance, especially on long putts. Pelz' research shows that putts should be struck with a force that will take the ball 17 inches beyond the hole. That is, putts have the best chance to go into the hole if hit with that amount of force. One other comment is necessary with regard to achieving good putter alignment using a line drawn on the ball. The line should pass through the heaviest or lightest part of the ball. Most golf balls are not perfectly balanced, but if a ball rolls over an axis containing the heavy and light portions of the ball (these are of course on opposite sides) the ball will roll true. Otherwise an unbalanced ball can break to the right or left simply because of defects in the ball. A report describing how to determine the heavy or light spots on a golf ball can be found here:

Putter alignment is a major problem for most golfers, and improper alignment causes multiple flaws in one's putting stroke. A line on the golf ball can help enormously to improve a golfer's aim and help him to make more putts on a consistent basis.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of http://www.golfputterssite.com, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled "Make More Putts Using Balanced Golf Balls " visit http://www.golfputterssite.com

Real Estate Agents Make a Difference

My wife and I recently decided to sell our home and thought that with how much information there was on the Internet that it should be something we could do ourselves. We figured there were so many websites and online guides that we could save ourselves money by simply listing our house ourselves and finding our own new home through online listings. I wish I knew now how much time and money we were going to waste in this misguided idea. Real estate agents are professionals who have a number of skill sets beyond simply finding a house to buy. They work hard and have the knowledge and experience necessary to navigate the housing market.

The number one reason I can give for using a real estate agent is that there are a multitude of laws that govern buying and selling a home. From securing a loan to escrow and title transfers there are laws and paperwork that require more than a cursory knowledge to understand. Securing a realtor to take care of these many aspects is more than just a good idea it is essential to success.

Besides the legal issues real estate agents have experience and knowledge of the housing market and its history. They know what price the market can bear if you are selling a house and they also know whether it is a good time to buy if you are in the market. A good realtor is not out to make a quick sale but rather to help facilitate the sale or your old home or the purchase of your new one. They know that if they satisfy the customer they will make a client for life. When we finally hired a professional we discovered we were vastly over pricing our property for the market at the time and she recommended we hold off on putting it on the market for a few months and we did. We ended up selling it for almost our original asking price.

Real estate agents also have a complete knowledge of the areas they are selling houses in. after we sold our house we were looking at a place in our price range in a neighborhood that seemed okay. When I approached our realtor about it she told us that although the neighborhood is not bad it is not in an area with access to good schools and also that there was a planned highway expansion near-by. This tip saved us from having to send our kids to an inferior school or commute them as well as not subjecting ourselves to the noise of a busy interstate.

This is just a sample of the many benefits afforded by hiring a good real estate agent. The headaches and stress I saved by going with a realtor were completely worth it. She made it an enjoyable and great experience to change homes.

In Asheville, NC, real estate agents are happy to help you buy a new home or sell your old one. Find out more at http://www.preferredrealestatecenter.com/.

Toxic Drywall - Not Just From China Anymore

Across the country for the past few months we've been hearing about the incidence of toxic drywall installed in homes across the nation causing problems for homeowners. It was alleged that this drywall was possibly responsible for many health problems in residents as well as corrosion in metal surfaces and wiring in many homes.

It has since come to light that many of these allegations are true; the toxic drywall does in fact corrode metal in the home including plumbing and electrical systems. However, officials are unfortunately unwilling to step up and admit that gasses that can corrode your wiring and plumbing can cause a fire hazard or health problems.

Luckily there has at least been some assistance by certain state governments into the problem of insurance agencies terminating contracts with homeowners. For example, in Louisiana the Department of Insurance is mandating that insurance companies are not legally allowed to drop clients due to finding toxic drywall installed in their houses. Many homeowners would like to see the federal government step in to cover the replacement costs of the drywall as well as affected wiring and plumbing; but whether this is likely to happen is anyone's guess.

While the argument that the government let contaminated Chinese drywall into the country and are thereby responsible for correcting the problems that have arisen as a result seems like a fair assessment, it has recently been discovered that not all of the problems with contaminated drywall are from imported drywall products imported from China.

Apparently, some of the issues with drywall giving off irritating gasses are resultant from homes that have drywall installed in them that was made in the United States. While this discovery doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with the quality of drywall that we're importing into the country, it would seem to imply that there is a bigger issue at hand here, the issue of testing and standards in building products.

While it is easy to just point fingers at whoever you feel is responsible for this problem, whether it be China, the construction companies who built the homes, or the federal government, it is probably more accurate to put the blame on the Consumer Product Safety Commission which has only recently even tested this tainted product and appears to still be shirking any judgement in this issue that will help homeowners get any financial relief for the fiasco that they find themselves in at present.

Everything you need to know about Santa Cruz real estate is right here at MySantaCruzRealEstate.com. Lauren Spencer, Coldwell Banker Realtor will be glad to answer your questions about homes in Depot Hill CA.

Is Phuket a Kids Friendly Destination?

Many people know Thailand through Phuket, the largest island of the Kingdom. At 850 kilometers from the capital Bangkok, the province is well prepared to welcome mass of tourists on a holiday. But, is Phuket really a kids or family friendly destination?

Parents should bring their children of any age with confidence to Phuket. The province has everything from accommodations to activities to satisfy small or big families, unlike other areas in Thailand. Thai people also love children and it is safe for all vacationing in Phuket.

Where to stay in Phuket with children? There is a huge choice of Hotels for all budgets that can be checked on the Internet. Good options are the Central Kata Resort, the Kamala Bay Garden Resort, the Swiss Palm Beach and the Holiday Inn in Patong. They all have great swimming pools and also slides for the kids.

What pastimes and entertainments can be enjoyed in Phuket? Hopefully there are many. The Phuket FantaSea cultural theme show on Kamala beach is surely the top attraction for children and adults alike. In addition to day shows and activities similar to a Disneyland park, nightly shows with music, acrobats and magicians can also be enjoyed.

All children like dinosaurs and the Dino Park with their mini golf course in a Jurassic setting is also a good place for young kids. The best time to go is the evening as it is quite hot during the day, and the dinosaurs are also lit up. The park is located between the Kata and Karon beaches.

Other activities that kids will enjoy are without a doubt horse-back rides on the beach at the Laguna Riding Club and a trip to the Phuket Zoo. Monkey, elephant and crocodile shows are scheduled during the day at the zoo, in addition of the many animals that can be seen.

The Phuket Aquarium is excellent for children who can see a selection of fish of different species in small display tanks but also a tunnel with water and fish all around. A larger tank also shows bigger fish species like the eagle ray or leopard shark. With a small shop selling drinks and snacks, and a souvenir shop, the place will kill an hour or two.

The Bang Pae Waterfall and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project at Khao Phrae Thaew National Forest are perfect nature activities. The waterfall is nice for a walk and a family picnic, while the Gibbon center can show the children how sometime gibbon are mistreated when used to entertain tourists and hopefully rescued.

There are also play areas available for smaller kids. The Loma Park in Patong is located at the north end of the beach and has slides and swings in a play area. Phuket City has two playgrounds, one in Saphan Hin near the stadium, and one in the King Rama IX Park.

Activities go on, but the above list is surely enough to persuade all parents that Phuket is their next family destination in Thailand.

Michel Gerard is a Travel author based in Asia. Visit the Guest House Phuket website to book a family friendly room online and download your *free* ebook: "Stories of Authentic Eco-adventure Destinations for Travellers in Thailand" => http://www.guesthousephuket.com/ebook.html

When is the Best Time to Visit Phuket?

If you're thinking about a trip to Phuket then you're probably wondering when the best time to visit the island is. It all comes down to what you're after. Depending on when you choose to visit Phuket, you could end up battling it out with the locals in a water fight, sitting alone on a secluded beach or caught in the middle of the yearly torture fest.

By far the most exciting time to visit Phuket is during Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. What was once a traditional gesture of pouring a little water on one another has morphed into the world's most intense water fight. It goes on all over Thailand and the islanders in Phuket give it all they've got.

If you don't like getting wet, don't even bother going outside. Songkran takes place April 13 to 15, with April 15 being the big day for the water fight. It's crazy. People line the streets all round the island, armed with water guns, buckets and hose pipes. Some people ride around in the backs of pickup trucks usually with a barrel or two full of water. Patong is where the action is wildest and the madness goes on well into the night. Everyone plays: locals, foreigners, men, women, young, old. It has to be seen to be believed.

For something totally out there, you have to check out the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. It's like nothing else you will ever experience. Entranced men and women (maa song) are said to feel no pain as they walk around the streets with their cheeks pierced with needles, knives, spears and all kinds of interesting objects. If you're squeamish, give this one a miss. The festival happens every year in October.

The festival is also a great time to go veggie and you'll find that most of the local restaurants strike meat from the menu. Get yourself a map and travel to the Chinese temples to see ceremonies and other curiosities. On the last day, head to Saphan Hin, where the festival climaxes with people lining the streets and throwing firecrackers into the road as the maa song walk the final procession through Phuket Town.

Chinese New Year is also a fun time to visit Phuket, especially if you're a fan of Chinese food. The festival isn't quite as bright and glitzy as in Bangkok, but it's still worth seeing if you happen to be in the area. It takes place in February.

New Year's Eve in Phuket is best enjoyed in Patong. Everyone heads down to the beach before midnight to watch the magnificent fireworks display. Street sellers always have a variety of fireworks on offer, although due to most people being drunk, these often end up shooting into crowds of bemused onlookers, so watch out.

Of course, if you just want a quiet holiday, the best time to visit Phuket is from May to October during low season when visitor numbers are way down but the island is still just as beautiful.

Any time is a good time to visit Phuket as far as this author is concerned. But before you go, be sure to get all your Phuket travel information from Phuket Vogue, which has Phuket restaurant listings, nightlife reviews and a Phuket blog.

Restaurants in Phuket - Where to Eat on Thailand's Top Island

If you're planning a trip to Phuket, Thailand, you'll most likely be looking for information about two things: nightlife and restaurants. As one of Thailand's most popular destination, the restaurants in Phuket have a lot to offer. However, if you're only visiting Phuket for a fleeting visit, you won't have the time to weed out the good from the bad.

Thai restaurants in Phuket are everywhere. There is less of the street food than you might find in Bangkok, but there are countless small restaurants where you can eat like a king for a couple of bucks. With its close proximity to the sea, there are a large number of seafood restaurants in Phuket. The Thais have a knack for concocting some of the most amazing seafood dishes around.

Italian restaurants in Phuket are seemingly everywhere, but the quality of the food is usually a bit hit and miss. Furthermore, a lot of the Thai restaurants that also serve Italian food create such bizarre dishes as pasta with ketchup. If you've never had pizza with ketchup, you'll be in for an experience, too. Breaking the mold are a few places in Phuket City.

Some of the best restaurants in Phuket can be found at the high-end resorts. While they are expensive, if you want incredible Western or Japanese dishes, you often have to pay for the privilege. Some of the luxury resorts in Mai Khao play host to some fine restaurants.

There are far too many Indian restaurants in Phuket, most of which are located in Patong. Patong is expensive and the focus is on mass tourism. As a result, the food is often substandard. If you want to eat Indian food in Phuket, you'd be better off checking out places in Phuket Town.

Find out more about restaurants in Phuket at Phuket Vogue.

10 Reasons To Visit Phuket

The island of Phuket is the South's richest, busiest, most beautiful, most coveted, most visited, and the most popular vacation destination. Often nicknamed as the "pearl of the south" or "pearl of the Andaman," Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, located in the Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline.

Phuket is your destination for limestone cliffs, snow white beaches, tranquil broad bays, and tropical in-land forests. It is famous for a wide range of marine activities, the best accommodation facilities with some of the supreme resort hotels, and elephant rides. It's your paradise for every sort of fun, whether you are looking for a quiet corner to get pleasure from a dreamy holiday retreat or an action packed time bounded by swaying palms, aquamarine seas and stifling sunshine. Certainly, you've a number of reasons to visit the island, but here are top 10 reasons for you.

The scenic beauty of Phuket is one of the major reasons to visit the island. Prompthep Cape is an illustrious beauty spot with great panoramic eye shots. It's a famous vantage point for watching out Phuket's spectacular sunsets.

Phuket's wild life is also a top tourist attraction. Phuket Zoo offers you great opportunity to watch and observe the wildlife and pleasure activities, such as monkey shows, crocodile shows and elephant shows. It's a nice place to picture wildlife in the Phuket zoo, having over 600 species of birds, 100 kinds of reptiles and amphibians, and 45 types of mammals living on its 10 hectares of area.

Buddhist temples are great lures of Thai culture. Wat Chalong, situated in the south of the island behind Chalong Bay, is one of the major attractions of Phuket. It is one of Phuket's biggest Buddhist temples, which is profoundly honored for the effigies of two of its early archimandrites (abbots) who had fabled healing skills. Positioned in the middle of Phuket Island is Wat Phra Thong Temple, also called Golden Buddha Temple. It is home to a huge half-buried Buddha whose fascinating history stretches back centuries.

Phuket Seashell Museum is another reason to visit Phuket. Located on Viset Road, near Rawai Beach, the Phuket museum features the collection of over 2,000 rarities including the only left-handed Noble Volute ever discovered, giant clams, 380 million-year-old fossils, and one of the rarest golden pearls of the world.

On the east side of Phuket Town, Koh Sirey Island (Koh Si Re) is also a great tourist trap. Accessed by a small bridge, the island has ear-shell farms, a few fine beaches, a temple on a hill and a sea gypsy village. Much of the island is hilly and you can drive all around the island in half an hour. Some of the inshore sights are unbelievably beautiful.

For pure entertainment, nothing can beat out Phuket Simon Cabaret, which is a market leader of specialized entertainment since its opening in October 18, 1991. This exciting place is famous for its special, lavish and intimate theater with high-tech sound and the unforgettably enchanting performers.

The Khao Phra Thaeo National Park provides you an opportunity to walk around and to relish the views and sounds of the tropical forest. Sited in the north of the island holding Phuket's last part of virgin rainforest, the Park is nice place to watch the striking waterfalls, and the gibbon rehabilitation centre that aspires to rehabilitate abandoned pet gibbons to the wild.

Located only three kilometers from the town, Phuket Butterfly Garden & Aquarium is a matchless experience for all nature lovers. Here you can watch an enthralling collection of several hundred of the best specimens of tropic butterflies, flying around freely under a huge dome. Its lavish plant life, watercourses, and ponds also provide habitat for a great collection of exotic insects and fish.

Patong Beach is the most illustrious beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, it is a perfect place to party and play. By night the town has a bustling nightlife that comprises virtually hundreds of eating places, chic lounge bars, beer bars and of course discos.

Author writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Phuket villa rentals, Phuket hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Phuket vacation.

Ladyboys of Phuket

When I first told my friends that I was planning an extended stay in Thailand, it is amazing how many times I heard the same stupid reply - "watch out for them ladyboys!" Again and again, I heard this inane comment until it really started to grate. Everybody making the same stupid joke as if it was clever and original. What a ridiculous stereotype of Thailand, I thought. As if there are ladyboys everywhere you go.

The funny thing is, once I moved to Thailand, I soon discovered that ladyboys, or katoeys as they are known in Thailand, really are everywhere. It is not just a handful of them working the tourist resorts. You will see them working in shops and restaurants. Even if you go out into the country, you will find katoeys. They really are everywhere.

In fact, I had not been here long before I had a personal acquaintance who was a katoey. One of the things I noticed was just how comfortable other Thais were in her company. Straight Thai men were quite happy to give her compliments such as telling her how beautiful she looked. They all called her 'she' as it is polite and made her happy.

Personally, I was initially a little uncomfortable in her presence. I wasn't scared she would jump on me. She was a pleasant and well-balanced person. I was just a little unsure how to deal with her. It was the charming way the other Thais treated her that soon put me at ease.

What is a Katoey?

What exactly is a katoey? I had this discussion with a couple of western friends recently. They both live in Phuket and both said that you can only call someone a katoey if they have had gender altering surgery; otherwise, you should use the term ladyboy. This I feel is a western invented distinction. Katoey is a Thai word and that is not how it is used.

Thais use the term much more loosely. They use the term for any man who acts like a woman. Transgender male is probably the closest English term. Men who have gender altering surgery are katoeys. So are those who take hormones to create female attributes such as breasts. So are those who dress up like a woman. In fact, even gay men who put on a bit of make up and flounce around are referred to as katoeys.

Why so many Katoeys in Thailand?

By this definition, there certainly are plenty of katoeys in Thailand. So why is this phenomenon so much more common here than in other countries? It seems unlikely that there is a genetic reason for Thailand to have more transgender males than other countries. I think the reason is much more to do with the tolerant attitude of the Thai people.

There are many katoey TV stars, singers and models. They even have katoey beauty contests. There have been several katoey movies such as 'Beautiful Boxer' which is the true story of a katoey who became a champion Muay Thai fighter. She would often kiss her defeated opponents.

Katoeys seem to be a widely accepted part of Thai society. This is probably partly to do with the Buddhist religion and its preaching of tolerance towards others. However, other countries with a strong Buddhist influence (Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Laos, Japan) are not known for their ladyboys.

There must be something else at work. I think one strong factor is the Thai belief that life should be fun (sanook). When they see a katoey, they think it is fun. They will laugh and joke about it but not in a nasty way. They certainly will not hurl abuse or threats as might happen in western countries.

So the main reason why there are so many katoeys in Thailand is simply that Thai society is open and tolerant to them. It makes you wonder how many transvestites there might be in western countries if our societies were a little more forgiving.

How Many Katoeys Work in Phuket?

In the wake of the tsunami tragedy and the media feeding frenzy that followed, a friend sent me an article from a British newspaper. The reporter was in Phuket and obviously struggling to compete for attention with reporters at harder hit areas. So he did what a lot of reporters in Phuket did and started focusing on the seedier side of the local nightlife. Quite what this had to do with the tsunami tragedy I am not sure.

This particular reporter seemed to be fascinated with the ladyboy scene. He made a few sweeping generalisations about Phuket's nightlife, suggesting the whole island was truly a cesspit of debauchery. He then claimed there were 5,000 ladyboys working in Phuket's sex industry and a huge demand for their services.

Where did he get this figure? It seems like a very bold claim. Is there a census? Do the authorities make a ladyboy count? I really doubt there was a reliable statistic available to this reporter. Like most of his report, I think he just made it up but he obviously saw enough ladyboys around to think it was a reasonable guess.

Phuket's high season population is estimated to be around 500,000. If 5,000 of them are ladyboys then that would be 1% of the population. That would seem very unlikely but not totally inconceivable. But he said 5,000 actually working in the sex industry. Where was this army of available ladyboys?

At Soi Katoey in Bangla Road, Patong, there are always a few dancing at the front of the soi. There is another katoey bar at the back and Moulin Rouge ladyboy show. But surely even at the highest estimate, there could not be more than 50 ladyboys working in Soi Katoey. There are maybe another 30 performing at Simon Cabaret Ladyboy Show - does that even count as the sex industry? For the sake of argument, let's say it does. Then there is the gay area around Soi Paradise. There are quite a few ladyboys around this area but I think an estimate of 100 would be very generous.

There are a few ladyboys freelancing along the beachfronts where they annoy passing drunks. But really, they are not there in very high numbers. Let's be generous again and say 100. Have I missed any? Maybe there are a few dotted around other sex establishments.

So even if we round up my figures, we have a very generous guesstimate of 300 ladyboys active in the sex industry. I actually think that is probably extremely generous. A lot of the above figures are probably the same katoeys moving from location to location and I think I have overestimated all my guesses. The total figure could be as few as 100.

So I would say somewhere between 100-300 katoeys working in Phuket's sex industry. Certainly not 5,000 but then a figure of 100 would not make good press.

Men and Katoeys

So what about the demand for Katoeys? Are there really lots of men looking for their services? Since their most common approach seems to be trying to fool very drunk men, I would guess that their services are not massively in demand. I have met a few men who have had sexual encounters with katoeys. Most of them claim it was a drunken mistake.

I did meet one guy who happily proclaimed he had just been 'blown off' by two katoeys in his hotel room. He was rather proud of himself and certainly not claiming it was a mistake. You do meet some funny characters in Patong.

I guess there is some genuine demand for katoeys. Although they are active in the gay area, I do not think it is strictly a gay thing. Although they are made-up as women, I do not think it is a straight thing. But there is a hard-to-define group of men who do find katoeys attractive. Certainly, there is a lot of curiosity about them. Every month, the word 'katoey' is in the top 20 list of search keywords that have led people to our Phuket website. And we only have a small section on katoeys.

Negatives

Although katoeys are generally well accepted in Thai society there is still a negative side to their reputation. They do have a reputation for being spiteful and untrustworthy. I have personally met a few during my years in Thailand and I have to say that on the outside they all seemed well adapted and happy. However, I have also heard plenty of stories of katoeys involved in criminal activities such as pick pocketing and other thefts. They have also been known to harass and threaten passers-by late at night while looking for customers along the beachfronts.

These things certainly do happen but the scale of the problem is not clear. Whether katoeys really commit crime on a scale greater than other Thais is hard to judge.

They also have a reputation for being emotionally unbalanced. As I said, all the ones I have met have seemed fine. However, I think it is fair to say that the strains of their lives are very demanding and it is not surprising that many of them lose emotional control easily.

The tolerance of katoeys in Thai society is not absolute. Their families, particularly the fathers, sometimes reject them. Men who in most other ways are tolerant of katoeys, can still find it shameful to father one.

And the authorities' tolerance also has its limits. When a katoey volleyball team won the national championship, two of the team were selected for the national team. The government stepped in and blocked their selection. They did not think it was good for the country's image.

Saving Private Tootsie

In 2002, there was a Thai movie given the English title 'Saving Private Tootsie'. In this movie, a plane crash strands a group of katoeys in the jungle of a war torn neighbouring country. A group of macho Thai soldiers is sent to rescue them. The story revolves around the personality clashes between the flouncy katoeys and the macho soldiers as they try to escape this neighbouring country.

In the end, they all pull together to make the final crossing back to Thailand. The soldiers put aside their dislike for the katoeys and their leader returns home to finally accept his son, who is also a katoey.

The movie's message is one of tolerance that is typical of Thai society. At the end of the movie there is a nice quote from one katoey. "I may have been born in the wrong body, but at least I was born in the right country."

The author has lived in Phuket, Thailand for seven years. If you want to read more about the colourful island of Phuket then visit http://www.knowphuket.com where you will find more articles and visitor information.

Marriage in Thailand For Filipinos

The journey of the Filipino bride who's traveling to Thailand to get married here starts with documents preparation required by the Philippine embassy in Bangkok before it can issue the Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM) certificate which is an important requirement for the Thai marriage registration.

The Filipino fiance or fiancee would first need to request for Certificate of No Marriage or CENOMAR from the National Statistics office in Manila. She also needs to obtain a Birth Certificate from the same government agency. These documents she has to bring to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Roxas Boulevard for legalization or as Filipinos call it for the "red-ribbon" literally referring to the red ribbon used in binding the documents. Legalization time normally takes a day or two to accomplish and of course legalization fees apply.

Once the Filipino bride is in Thailand, she would need to visit the Philippine embassy located along Sukhumvit 39 in Thonglor. She then submits her documents and pays the processing fee of around 1,000 Baht. The embassy implements 10-day marriage ban which basically requires the planned marriage to be posted at the embassy for a period of 10 days. If no one objects to the marriage within 10 days, the LCCM will be issued.

This certificate has to be translated into Thai and legalized at the Ministry of foreign Affairs before the actual Thai marriage registration can take place. The legalization period normally takes 3 days so timing is essential especially if the couple has limited time in Thailand. Along with the fiancé's documents, the marriage can be registered at any local district in Thailand.

The marriage registration is a 45-minute to one hour affair and the couple needs two witnesses for the marriage. Both marriage parties will be issued Marriage certificates in Thai. These certificates have to be translated into English and legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that they may be able to be used outside of Thailand for any legal purposes they may serve.

Filipinos can get married in Thailand as long as they have the necessary documents as required by the Philippine embassy and the Thai government. Their marriage in Thailand is recognized worldwide.

Siam Legal International is a full service Thailand law firm providing Thai Marriage services for Filipino and other nationalities. If you desire for a Bangkok Wedding please contact us for more information at our Bangkok office +662-253-8100 or Manila office +632-599-1912.

George M. Londob works as a Business Correspondent for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm that provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Reach Siam Legal at +(66) 2-253-8100, or info@siam-legal.com.