the Best of Phuket

Paradise regained: the best of Phuket

Kate Morgan 8 March, 2013

Long tail wooden boats on a beach near Phuket, Thailand

Drazen Vukelic © Copyright Lonely Planet Images

Surrounded by the aquamarine waters of the Andaman Sea in the south of Thailand, the quintessential tropical island of Phuket is a long-time honeymooners’ favourite.
The 40km stretch of sandy coastline snaking its way along the west coast is peppered with exclusive resorts and day spas, while high-end restaurants perch on rocky hilltops overlooking blinding beaches. It may not be a secret, there are many reasons why Phuket attracts millions of newlyweds each year.

Where to find the best beaches

Kata, Phuket sunset by mst7022. Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Just minutes from the airport in the north of the island are some of Phuket’s most pristine beaches, and it’s here that you’ll find some seclusion and tranquility. Part of the Sirinat National Park, Hat Mai Khao is a stunning 17km stretch, Hat Nai Yang is a pleasant sheltered bay and Hat Nai Thon is a peaceful arc of sand void of any jet skis or hordes of beach-goers.
Following the coastline south brings you to Ao Bang Thao’s quiet stretch of powder-white sand and peaceful waters, where you’ll find fishing villages, food shacks, a few ambient beach clubs and not much else.
If you’re after a bit more action, your best bet is Kata (bypassing party central and sleazy Patong). Kata Beach is split into two areas: Kata Yai (the main beach) and Kata Noi, which curves around the bay. Both offer a range of upmarket dining, bars, spas and resorts.

How to spend your days

Explore hidden lagoons at Koh Hong by starlight

Long-tail boat inside Koh Hong by Jim Winstead. Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Explore hidden lagoons enclosed by 360 degrees of limestone rock on a starlight kayak trip at Koh Hong near Ao Phang-Nga. With just the gentle swish of your kayak’s paddle in the water, sit back and enjoy the tranquil confines with your loved one.

Beach clubs

A number of beach clubs are popping up on the island, providing the perfect excuse to laze around beachside infinity pools, lounge on deckchairs, dine on gourmet cuisine, drink cocktails and swim all day. Our picks are The Catch Beach Club (Surin), Up Beach Club (Hat Nai Thon), Bliss Beach Club (Ao Bang Thao) and Re Ká Ta (Kata).

Viewpoints

Lever by Nicolas Mary. Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Phuket’s craggy coastline offers some incredible viewpoints where you can cosy up together and watch the flame-red sun set into the Andaman Sea. The island’s most famous spot, Laem Promthep (Rawai), attracts a large gathering at sunset but don’t let that deter you; it’s not to be missed. Also try a romantic lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking Phuket Town at Khao Rang.

Spas

Pamper and preen to your heart’s content at some of the island’s sexy spas, where couples can indulge in aromatic baths, massages and treatments in their own private rooms. We love Sala Resort & Spa (Hat Nai Yang), The Spa (Karon) and Palm Spa (Surin).

Where to eat

• Blue Elephant, Phuket Town - Set in a restored Sino-Portuguese mansion on manicured lawns, this is one of the most romantic dining experiences in Phuket, and definitely worth the trip into town.
• Boathouse Wine & Grill, Kata - French cuisine, candlelight, red roses on the tables and a beachfront location make this a solid honeymoon spot.
• Mom Tri’s Kitchen, Kata - Intimate and upmarket, Mom Tri’s overlooks Kata Noi and the Andaman Sea and is a great choice for that special night out.
• Batik Seafood, Hat Nai Yang - For those who like it more casual, Batik, nestled on the southern end of Hat Nai Yang, specialises in fresh seafood served under private thatched gazebos right on the beach.

Where to drink

• White Box, Kalim Bay - Up the hill from Patong, this hip and minimalist bar comes with sea views where you can toast each other in style.
• Ninth Floor, Patong - Escape Patong’s streets at this swanky NYC-style restaurant and bar, where floor-to-ceiling glass windows open up to the twinkling of lights down below.
• Royal Phuket Yacht Club, Rawai - A large open-air decked patio with a classic yacht club feel, this is the place to sip contemporary cocktails with bay breezes and island views.
• On the Rocks, Kata - Sink your toes into the sand at this blissfully simple hideaway shack that lies at the end of Kata Noi beach among the rocks.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/themes/honeymoons/paradise-regained-the-best-of-phuket/#ixzz2qpt2jj66

Geylang , SINGAPORE

Geylang is a neighbourhood in the city-state of Singapore east of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district. It is located to the east of the Singapore River, an area that locals have associated, from the days of Sir Stamford Raffles, as a Malay kampong opposite facing two islands Batin and Rokok (where the former National Stadium used to stand), reclaimed to make space for Singapore's first commercial airport opened in 1937. The airport control tower has been preserved that served, in its day, as an observation deck and is today used by the People's Association. The location of Old Airport Road bears witness to the fact that Geylang, under the British administration, was thought to be outside the limits of the city proper and, therefore, suitable for the siting of Singapore's first commercial airport. The hangars for repair for the light aircraft can still be seen today that have been slated by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for redevelopment into commercial and shopping precincts linked by the nearby Kallang MRT station.


The development of Geylang through the next 50 years through to the contemporary era can best be observed along the main trunk road that leads eastward toward Paya Lebar (military) Airbase, in a straight line that terminates at Changi (International) airport. Micro-businesses founded by Malay, Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs seized start-up opportunities as mechanics in bicycle or motor repair workshops, suppliers of wood for making boats, houses, furniture and as merchants in iron, of floor and roofing tiles, in rubber and later plastics for all kinds of marine, industrial, factory and home use, including the mosaic of temples, mosques and churches in Geylang that have its roots serving local worshippers in search of spirituality and the divine. One of the distinctive hallmarks of Geylang architecture is the preservation of its shophouses used by the clan (kinship) associations, set up as a (first) point of contact for newcomers in the migrant wave between 1840 and 1940 for the purpose of integrating the newcomers into the ways and customs of locals. At present the Geylang neighborhood accurately reflects demographic changes in Singapore (2011) where out of every four Singaporeans, one is a foreigner (Goh, Mar, 2011 paper on PRC Immigrants', Social Work Dept, National University of Singapore). As a strategic and military outpost for the British, the sea lanes off the Straits of Malacca were important to be kept free from pirates and open for shipping. As the British expanded in influence and power, so Singapore stood in the gap between East and West interests as a natural deep-harbour destination that played host to the French, Portuguese, Dutch and other European navies and their men. Other seaports in Asia, from Shanghai to Calcutta, also played a role in the traffic of women and girls for prostitution. James Francis Warren has studied the death (coroner's) reports in that colonial era that attest to the lives of the Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka and other dialect groups cast out of the Chinese mainland due to famine and abject poverty. His research tells the story of illiterate Chinese migrants working as coolies and rickshaw pullers and gives an accurate description of what life might have been for the poorest of the poor living in Singapore under the British and immediately before the Japanese Occupation. In his 2008 edition of Pirates, Prostitutes & Pullers, the author traces the roots of prostitution in Singapore and gives an explanation of the eastward shift of Singapore's red-light district from Chinatown that was east of the Singapore river, toward the Hylam Street– Beach Road locality where many Chinese, Japanese and European girls were pimped, and finally across the Kallang river to its present location. Warren's research gives an accurate[citation needed] ethno-social background to prostitution of the young men and women who came to Singapore a hundred years ago, having little or no education, who could not converse, read or write in English and resorted by any and all means to survive the ravages of war, hunger and privation back in the country of origin. After the war, the heart of the city centre expanded rapidly outward with residential shophouses, hotels and restaurants making their mark on the history of this area including the Gay World amusement park situated just outside the main gate of the old Kallang airport. Remnants of this pre-war history survive to this day that can be seen in the stereotypical Singapore shophouses along and just off the main Geylang thoroughfare. It is in this context of the Asian settlers that stumbled off boats and sampans into mosques, temples and churches to give thanks for journey mercies, that the history of Geylang's red-light district must be[according to whom?] read and understood. Peter Neville, British author of The Rose of Singapore (Monsoon, 2006) writes a novel of Lai Meng, a once famous prostitute in the Geylang area, that falls in love with an R.A.F. serviceman and through marriage crosses over and out of the street communities that were off-limits to the British troops stationed in Singapore during the second world war. The detailed account of life in Geylang during and immediately after the war, the visits to Haw Par Villa, the types of food and services available among the main truck road toward Changi and all of its varied businesses (including the sex trade) stands at back of the reasons why prostitution, while officially illegal and outlawed in the Singapore constitution, is nevertheless seen as an accessible, public expedient and necessarily so in view of the large numbers of single male foreign workers and expatriates on the island.

Apple vs. Samsung trial ongoing: Phil Schiller takes stand and two companies unsurprisingly disagree on damages November 15, 2013 Cam Bunton

phil schiller iPad mini launch Anyone following the tech blogging world over the past couple of years will be aware of the various court cases involving the two biggest tech companies on the planet. Apple vs. Samsung has found its way in to so many headlines, and in so many different countries, that it’s bordered on the ridiculous at times. But one case in particular has been the biggest of them all. Last year, a jury in San Jose found Samsung guilty of infringing on a number of Apple patents, and awarded Cupertino over $1 billion in damages. It was a vast figure, one which drew strong opinions from all avenues. That wasn’t the end of it however. Samsung tried to get it thrown out based on one juror’s previous connection with a Samsung-owned company. It failed. But, Koh – in a separate session in court back in March – determined that a portion of the $1 billion damages was calculated incorrectly/unfairly in Apple’s favor. To clear up a little confusion: I’ve seen a lot of different articles on various sites claiming that Apple’s award was dropped to $400 million. It wasn’t. Cupertino was still guaranteed around $600 million, but infringement damages amounting to around $400-$450 million were up for re-trial. That is the trial going on right now. The case has gone on, and – according to FOSS Patents – both companies are showing signs of humility and grace, despite disagreeing on the final award. As we read earlier in the week, Samsung’s legal team openly admitted that the company copied. At this point, denying it would almost certainly turn the jury against them. And the two companies are due for talks over settlement in January next year. Today, it was revealed that the two companies are miles apart on where they believe the final figure should lie. Apple believes its still owed an extra $380 million. Just $30 million short of the $410 million that’s being contested. Samsung? $52 million. A much more conservative figure. And understandable too. It knows it already owes over $600 million. Anything more is a serious dent. Phil Schiller took the stand today, and recalled the great effort it took to create the iPhone. As has already been determined independently, the iPhone was not just the next logical step forward. It was a breakthrough product that changed the face of the smartphone market. According to Schiller’s testimony, it was a “bet the company product.” Money, time, emotions, everything went in to creating the first iPhone. It was a huge gamble. He moved on to say that currently, almost everyone at Apple works on the iPhone in some capacity. The rest of today’s session is being used mostly to get opinion on exactly how much more Samsung owes Apple. As reported by CNET: “The bulk of the session Thursday included questioning of Julie Davis, an expert accountant hired by Apple to determine just how much Samsung owes the company for infringing on its patents. She testified that Apple lost sales due to Samsung’s infringing devices. But even if the jury decides Apple didn’t lose a single sale because of Samsung infringement, damages should be $287 million, Davis said.” This is far from over, and it’ll take a little while longer for Apple to get the damages owed by Samsung for copying its patents. But, at least it seems to be calming down a little now. Via: CNET and FOSS Patents