From Winter to Summer - Thailand Phuket 2024

When the temperatures are crumbling down from September to December in Europe (especially in Germany) the cravings for sun and the sea gets stronger and stronger. So either way I`m going with the girlfriend to croatia again or I fly alone to Thailand. 

Since we have been alway to Croatia the last couple of years (which is pretty nice) I wanted to feel real summer this time even if it means to do it alone. 

Being the first time seperated from the girlfriend after 3 years for more than 5 days was kind of weired. This has been my feelings the first couple of days when arriving in Phuket over Bangkok. Those long flights are always intense and while you love the sea and the sun the first 2-3 days are always very sluggish due to jetlag which leads me to the bed and to sleep a lot. 

I stayed in Phuket - Kata, even if its my 4th time visiting Thailand it was somehow the usual Thailand that I knew but the whole Isalnd of Phuket feels different more like a Party "Ballermann" island then a paradise destination - which was Thailand for me in the past. The whole Island is just too crowded there are more Russians then Thais which also leads to very high prices. 

When speaking of high prices I dont mean the food on the glorious night markets, I mean the rental apartments. You cant barely get something below 65€ per night.  

After getting the fine for not having an international license and visiting all the places over Phuket I finally decided to change the destination which lead me to Khao lak. Phuket feels very touristic and it doesnt have the charme of the lovely Islands or even the style of Bangkok. 

After spending a week in Phuket it was time for Khao Lak which was much better from the beginning. However the Room Standard wasnt what I was used to which made me a little bit paranoid of taking care to protect myself against spiders, snakes,....this looked like flushing the water on the toilet before going to toilet :-) 

Renting a scooter was easy and convenient as alway, whole Thailand is convenient. BTW renting the scooter and driving in Phuket was nice as there was a lot to see, this is also the only good thing which I remember from Phuket at all. 

Back in Khao Lak there have been less Russians and more Germans, which doesnt matter but its a fact. Those expensive hotels all around Khao Lak and the small city centre was also kind of strange as its AGAIN not the Thailand I was used to know. My first time Thailand was on Ko Yao Yai which is a muslimic Island, not crowded, low tourists,....just paradise. You had the feeling of living there almost alone which is beautiful especially for vacations. 

After all it was still worth the money and the experience but this was definitely the last time Phuket and I think also Thailand for a longer time. It doesnt have the uniquness that it once had it just a convenient winter destination. 

Its time for South America - Columbia need to explore new countries.