Surin Beach, Phuket

Surin is one of my favorite places to swim and to relax. They have great food there and they wait on you hand and foot. Not like some places in Patong – where they’re reluctant to get out of their chair – the restaurant owners/chair owners come to you and take care of you.

Unfortunately Surin is almost as bad as Pattaya for Thai touts coming by beeping horns, rattling bells, being loud, clearing throats, blowing whistles and every other thing to get your attention so you look at whatever goods they are toting around. If you buy something the other touts sense it – across the beach and they’ll mob you. There is a non-stop parade of people selling fruit, shrimp, squid, tom yum, dolls, sarongs, fuzzy dice, long neck braces, and anything you can think of.

Best bet? Shut your eyes and pretend you’re sleeping – but even that is no guarantee you’ll be left alone. Some will stand there and wait for you to open your eyes.

Anyway, an amazing beach – and watch for Cobras. They killed one in the restroom as a pregnant woman flipped out when she reached behind the toilet to get the scooper to “flush” and it was there with a bright green frog in it’s mouth. They killed it of course – they kill all snakes here which is a shame, but that’s how they deal with them.

Visit Surin Beach in Phuket – you’ll really like it.