The Phuket International Airport sits at the northern part of Phuket island. This truly is inconvenient as it sits so far from everything and everyplace people are heading to but there's no choice and we all have to live with the high priced taxi service that they have going on. For departure, good idea would be to set a deal with a taxi driver wherever you are in Phuket and not do it with any agency. You'll save a lot if you bargain with the driver directly.

The Phuket airport is fairly large and strangely with almost 3 million passengers a year, it all flows fairly smoothly when you're processing your check-in for arrival or when departing. The airport is still under going an upgrade but many people get a little lost with the fact that they have a terminal 2 that is hidden and passengers need to go to a different section on a different level for certain airlines to be checked in but they need to head back to terminal 1 area to get to the departure lounge. Yes, it's all a little confusing so be thankful you need to be there two hours ahead of time or you will be overwhelmed by the airport confusion. Oddly, they do not have an information counter to provide directions for passengers at the Phuket airport even though there is over 50 different airlines that have routes there.

Many people going for a holiday in Phuket have fears of missing their flight but there are many Phuket airport hotels which are very close by and still makes for a great time but only draw back is, it is not as busy in terms of the famous Phuket nightlife scene as it is in a remote location. However, it is great for a family holiday in Phuket.

The airport interior has a lot of food and beverage stores to grab a quick bite or if you feel you need a last taste of Thai food before heading back. There's also a foot massage and spa at the departure lounge so that could help kill some time or even prepare you to relax for your long flight ahead. Another thing, many do not know that they have a baggage storage service area at the airport. This is good for people that may leave Phuket for a short trip elsewhere in Thailand and return to pick it up later rather than carry everything around. Really useful for golfers with their golf bags.

Overall Phuket Internationl Airport is an adventure in itself but once you've been through it you can easily find your way around for years to come. 

Phuket's Patong Carnival always has these specially modified car show vehicles for the parade as they have massive sound systems built into the cars. They very in amount of speakers but you can see that it comes from the sides, back and even inside the car doors. By night fall their light effects on the modified cars add to the mesmerizing effects of the songs played.

Each car simply packs high energy pulsating music so as to provide the parade contingent with lively attention and it saves the Phuket municipality from added cost on lining the beach road  with added speaker and sound systems for the Patong Carnival. It also brings much attention to each contingent as they pass by the crowds who are taking photos and videos. Many car enthusiast can't get enough of these cars as they light up in a myriad of colors and the music effect brings it to life all by itself. It's no wonder that the cars are a show stopper at the Patong Carnival all by itself.

Phuket carnival and the upbeat car show gets better each year. Don't be surprised that one day we might see a monster truck appear in the parade. Wonder what sort of sound system that could bring?

Once again the Phuket Property & Lifestyle Expo is upon us. From 27th to 30th December 2012 it will be held at the Royal Phuket Marina Exhibition & Conference Hall found on the east side of the island. Created by events organizer SMART, it promises to better than ever. The event if free and everyone is encouraged to register online.

This year they also include helicopter tours, supercars test driving and yacht cruises of course, where you can to go snorkling, island hopping, kayaking and more . The lifestyle and properties are some of the best this year as they try to target more foreign buyers, especially from emerging China. Not forgetting a huge influx of Russian purchases over the years. There will also be talks and seminars in different areas of the property and lifestyle in Phuket by renowned people in the business so people have a better understanding of what to expect in the market and address their concerns.

There will also be a kids play area and SMART expo has endorsed “Phuket Has Been Good To Us”, a local charity that helps underprivileged kids lear English for free. There's also great food and drinks available, especially the beer tents set up. Plus fashion shows, after party networking sessions, special wine tasting and special rum tasting by Chalong Bay Rum Company which makes it from pure sugarcane juice.

Everyone is in for a treat as the build up come to the end of 2012 and after the expo people can enjoy ringing in the new year of 2013. Hopefully you got a great deal in the Phuket Property & Lifestyle Expo 2012.

Most people see Patong from the street level. It's hard to grasp what Patong really looks like as a resort town, especially when there are so many low rise street buildings that almost look the same. Plus, if you're walking on those streets, from mid-day on wards, there is so many people walking along the same road and opposite of you that your main concern becomes a priority to avoid banging into anyone or anything for that matter.

People have been know to bang into lamp post and street signs or fall when there's a step to go up or down. Some people get lost in their directions and find they have walked the same street twice without realizing it because the first time, while trying to avoid everyone and everything. They missed a lot of sights, shops or landmarks their first time around but realize it when they pass something they had seen earlier but even that is confusing if it is a franchised brand and they don't know it.

Then there's walking in the day to switching to Phuket's nightlife. All of Phuket's bars & clubs have glittering lights many with pulsating loud music. All this makes the senses go into a state of confusion when walking around and getting your bearings. Just like the day, one may find you have walked the same street via a link way or one of the smaller soi's(roads) that connect them at night.  In fact it is worse than day to recall where you were or turned before.

Best suggestion would be to get some form of Patong landmark as a main fixed point. Try remembering which way you headed first and which turns you made along the way. For first timers, it is recommended that you take your hotel's business card so you can explain where you need to go to if you find you are lost or forgot where you stay. Be careful about some shady taxi drivers that may take you for a long ride if they discover you are a newbie and the fact that your hotel was just ten feet away but you couldn't see it. Be prepared to lose some cash unnecessarily.

Phuket's Banzaan Market use to be old, dirty and only the locals use to go and buy their daily food items there. Nowadays, after the facelift and upgrade of the premises it has become somewhat of an attraction in itself. The place has been renovated into a more modern facility and the way the food is presented makes it more appealing for consumers.

The fact that this is written here makes this landmark significant as it use to be an a place on the outskirts of Patong area at the back towards Nanai road, however with Patong expanding, many newly built hotels, guesthouses, restaurants & cafes and businesses have popped up around the Banzaan market area. Thus, making it a convenient place to get groceries and other essential items from stores located on the second floor area.

Speaking of the second floor, there is a food section where you get a variety of dishes and has a seating space for patrons to have their meals. A sort of hawker center style concept but what many don't know is that there is a stall there called Your Kitchen that will let you buy whatever you want from the fresh food market below and they will cook it for you. For example, go to the fish section, buy the freshest catch of the day, bring it up to the stall, they cook it and you eat it. A must try for food lovers.

 Phuket Carnival 2012 (Thailand)

A Phuket yearly affair, also known as Patong Carnival, has grown steadily. It  kicks off the high season in Patong area, lasting from 15th till 20th December. Normally it's held in November but this year they pushed it to December to avoid the rainy season downfall. Fortunately it rained only in the early afternoon period which cleared away fears of a wash out and the Patong carnival had a spectacular parade.

Taking a little walkabout in Phuket town through day and night and you'll find it goes from a very busy town like everywhere else but what you find is you are in a sort of time warp back to the seventies in many places and totally modernized in many.

If you intend to visit Phuket town, there are many small guesthouses for the budget conscious and many modern ones to select from. One piece of advice, unlike Patong area, these hotels may not have a safe in the room but a safe box at the reception for use. Just in case you are  afraid of loosing your passport and money as you never know what could happen.

The best thing about the "old town" area of Phuket town itself is finding many shops selling things like watches, laundry shops, Chinese fortune ornaments, clothes, etc, and there are many nice quaint cafes, modernized with wi-fi, that you can sit by and have a meal or watch the world go by.

You'll also find Phuket town nightlife is spread in many different locations and the local patronage is very high, although foreigners go to other bars and pubs, they are always welcomed. From rock, pop, blues, jazz to Thai cultural indie pop, Phuket town is alive and kicking with its music scene and it seems the residents there can get enough of it. With new places opening up, modern malls arising and changes in modern generations of Thais lifestyle; the emergence of some lively nightlife hotspots is evident in Phuket town.