Transportation in Phuket, Thailand – The Taxi and Tuk Tuk Mafia (And Some Decent Taxi Driver Recommendations)

Taxis: Phuket is notorious for them. Not only is there a seemingly inexhaustible supply of them trying to flag you down every five steps (except when you actually need a ride, then god help you, you will never find a taxi), there is an entire “Taxi Mafia” thing going on in Phuket. Prices are outrageous and unless you want to drive a car (don’t) or a motorbike (please don’t) they pretty much have a captive audience of tourists on the island since there is no appreciable mode of public transportation (though, allegedly, there will be a bus system in place at some point).

February 16th, 2013 - Chinese New Year Festival in Phuket Town

It’s the year of the snake, and we’ve just returned from a fantastic evening in Old Phuket Town! Phuket’s Chinese New Year Festival for 2013 is being held from February 15^th-17^th in conjunction with the 14^th Annual Old Phuket Festival. This is all taking place along four main roads: Thalang, Krabi, Dibuk, and Phang Nga. For the first time during our trip so far, pedestrians actually outnumbered vehicles—by a lot. The streets were teeming with people tonight.

A shot of one of the streets, before the festival had even really started.

February 3rd, 2013 - Grocery Missions and Taxi Misadventures

Today's Random Photo: Sunrise in Panwa

Mission: First Solo Excursion into Phuket Town
Objective: Groceries

Groceries, as I’ve mentioned before, are weirdly difficult for us. I’m certain we are doing the grocery-thing wrong. I mean, they’re groceries, this isn’t neurobiology or anything. And I did take a neurobiology class (God help me), so I should be capable of this, right?

And yet.