Thai beaches

Old Jan 24th, 2009, 02:30 PM
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Thai beaches

i'm always being yelled at for saying that i think we have far nicer beaches in usa than one can find in thailand...

that is being reinforced this weekend....we are in pensacola beach florida and the sand and beaches here are amongst the nicest i have ever experienced....karen and i said to each other today, that we have never experienced any natural white soft sand beaches like this in thailand....we still love being at the beach in thailand but it does not compare with this pan-handle part of florida...
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Old Jan 24th, 2009, 02:35 PM
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Hey Bob, glad to hear you and K are having a good time! It 10 outside and snowing....blah!!!!!!
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Old Jan 24th, 2009, 03:18 PM
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Send us some of your warm weather. The high tomorrow will be about zero! UGH... I wanna go back to BKK!!!
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Old Jan 24th, 2009, 07:15 PM
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i love this beach, but i wish i was in thailand!!!
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Old Jan 24th, 2009, 07:33 PM
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Florida beaches vs Thai beaches?? No comparison!!..plus you're in Thailand!
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 03:15 AM
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Speedos are welcome worldwide, Andaman Sea or Gulf of Mexico. I can just see Bob trying to get an attendant to set up his beach chairs in Pensacola.
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 03:50 AM
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...Let alone getting some decent fried chicken and papaya salad delivered to your beach chair. It's not about the sand or the beaches per se, it's the experience.
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 06:50 AM
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So true, Michael. I actually did this exact thing under an umbrella, once, with the wife while feeding a scruffy soi dog. It was a nice experience.

So who has the predilection for speedos? The last I wore one was in 1986 lol.
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 08:01 AM
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Michael...
...or getting scooped up for a parasail ride from your beach chair on Patong Beach... You can't do THAT in FLA.
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 06:02 PM
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Been to Florida beaches--Pensacola, Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Miami South Beach, and others--but prefer Choeng Mon on the northeast coast of Koh Samui to any one of them. Or Cherating on the east coast of Malaysia.
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Old Jan 25th, 2009, 08:12 PM
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Mango - Its Gpanda that favours budgie smugglers - it appears he has a vast wardrobe of them including fur lined - black and white of course!

By the way - my local beaches in south western Australia kill any in Thailand for sand quality but certainly don't come with the papaya salad unless I make it myself. They even get top ratings worldwide but that still doesn't stop me heading for the Thai version when I can.
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 01:07 PM
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Just concede Bob ! There are no beaches in the USA that compare with Southern Thai beaches. They are just very different.

Of course there are fabulous beaches in many parts of USA....including New England........but Thai Island beaches are quite unique.

Have you visited any ?

I believe not.

JW Marriott at Phuket, Sheraton at Krabi etc. are not among the list of fabulous beach resorts in Southern Thailand but they are VERY nice hotels.

A little effort is required to experience the magic that is available in this part of the world.

Given the choice of a beach holiday in the USA for free, or a beach holiday of my choice in Southern Thailand at my expense.......I would head for Thailand every time.....without question !!!
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 01:39 PM
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Bob, I agree with you.....although Pensacola is not my favorite, I agree with the Fla Beaches part.I've been disappointed at 'aclaimed' beaches elswhere(Hawaii, Nice etc)after the standard set by some of the beaches in Florida (Treasure Island, Sanibel are favs of mine).

Just last weekend sat at the beach ---Treasure Island--with a fabulous drink brought to my table, listening to the usual Sun afternoon jazz band, watching the competition kiteflyers entertaining and the sun setting. A topnotch beach experience!
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 02:51 PM
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Thanks Mary- Seems like quite a few posters here like wearing banana hammocks. Its awful looking when there's a distended abdomen associated. Is this the case with Gpanda?
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 03:24 PM
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A DAY AT THE BEACH...

Let me paint a picture..

It's 6.30am at Kata Beach (could be at many other Thai Beaches) I have just finished a leisurely jog to Karon circle and as it is already 26 degrees i have sweat pouring off me. I take off my Nike's and socks and walk across the sugery white sands to the chair where I have strategically placed my towel. There are only a handfull of people on the beach and most are sweeping and grooming the sand. A copy of the Bangkok post has been laid on my chair as per an arrangement made with the Kata beach hotel staff the night before.

I take off my singlet and saunter down to the water. It is close to the end of the monsoon season but little white-caps are still breaking 20m off shore, just big enough to body surf but the current is gentle. If I came back in 6 weeks time the water would be like glass.

I enter the water. The tempreture is perfect! Refreshing but without any hint of chill. I wade in to my waist and look down at my toes. Even through the ripples I can count every hair and can clearly see how my toe nails glow from the pedicure I had last evening.

After my swim, I head back to my chair to dry off. I lay there reading and watching the small workforce putting the final touches on the beach and surrounds. I get a waft of chicken and corn grilling over charchol and I can feel a grumble just above my belt-line. It smells sooo good but it will have to wait as a buffet breakfast awaits.

I check my watch.. 7.25am. I look to the north and I see Nok and 2 of her friends carrying mats and baskets approaching me. I spoke to her last night and booked a massage for 7.30, a little earlier than she normally starts but as it worked better with my schedule she was more than happy to comply.

Within minutes I am face down, floating on cloud 9. Nok has already washed the excess sand from between my toes and has started gently but forcefully kneeding away all my knots. The sounds of the ocean and the quiet conversation between the other massage ladies sooth my ears and mind while Nok soothes my body.

It is now 11am. I have had breakfast with the family after my massage and shower and I am now playing soccer with the kids on the beach. Tun and Pak, the guys that hire out the surf mats and beach chairs are playing too. I am starting to tire so the kids continue to play with the "beach-boys" whilst I settle back into my chair. Before long Lek has made her way over with her basket of fresh fruit. I have deliberately left some space for some mango and pineapple from her as her produce seems to be so much better than what is on the hotel buffet. Now my tongue,throat and belly feel as soothed as my body and mind. There is only one thing left to complete the morning. One of La's famous bananna milk shakes. I turn my head and before I can even make eye-contact, La is nodding and pealing. Within 3 minutes I am drinking his liquid gold, the morning is almost over.My morning therapy of jog/ swim/ massage/read/fresh fruit and fruit shake has cost me less than $15Aus. This afternoon we may go shopping or visiting a temple or sight seeing along the coast,take the kids on an elephant ride or to a snake farm, the options are plentiful.

Later on we will come back for a swim and enjoy the sunset, drinking cocktails at happy hour for 120 baht, about a third of the price that they would cost at a bar in Melbourne (or Florida)and then enjoy a fantastic Thai seafood feast at Kata Mama overlooking this magnificant beach for around $35 for our family of 4 including a few beers. The only problem is..How do I top this tomorrow? Maybe I cant? I might just do the same..
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 03:42 PM
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Oh, Bob is just yanking your chain. I agree that the experience of a Thai beach isn't so much about the sand as the ambiance. If you are just comparing sand and palm trees, there are many, many wonderful beaches around the world. We all have our favorites, often shaped by memories of good times in particular places.

Some people love white sand - like the beach I remember on Grand Cayman. It was a nice beach, but the overall experience was just ok. Or the white sand beach near St Petersberg, Florida was lovely, but again, it lacked the special experience. One of my favorite beaches is a black sand beach on Tahiti, and of course, being in Tahiti was special. I love many of the Hawaiian beaches, and the Hawaiian culture makes the experience special as well. And I have wonderful memories of the beautiful beach by Qunci Villas on Lombok and the wonderful people who work at Qunci Villas. I enjoyed the beaches in Kauntan, Malaysia, and the experience was lovely, but it is hard to beat Thai hospitality.

When I visit Thai beaches, I must admit that what makes it special is the Thailand part - not the beach per se. Yes, the beaches are nice, but the best parts are the warmth of the people, the wonderful hospitality. The massages and fruity drinks are just bonuses.
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 05:30 PM
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Shanek and Kathie...
Well stated, both of you!! (loved your description, shanek; felt almost as if I were there)

Thai beaches have something special, indeed!!

Carol
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 07:14 PM
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ok, kathie...they didn't get it....NOW WHAT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ORIENTAL AND THE PENINSULA
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 07:23 PM
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lol, Bob!
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Old Jan 26th, 2009, 08:40 PM
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Mango - banana hammocks lol. Now I've not met Gpanda so won't comment! But if you do a search on some of the Boston GTG threads you'll find links to some photos - also if you search well you'll find some of the pandas own photos from Krabi which sort of started it all.
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