Phuket Nightlife Still Changing

Phuket nightlife takes on many different forms. Phuket is one of Thailand's top destinations and as such there is a diverse range of nightspots on the island. Although Phuket nightlife is not quite on the same level as in Bangkok, that doesn't mean that you won't be able to find somewhere to have fun.

Phuket nightlife is at its most lively in Patong. You'll either love Patong or you'll hate it. The bars are loud, the clubs are obnoxious and the streets are crowded. That being said, Patong is cheap and the bars and clubs stay open later than in other parts of Phuket.

Patong is famous for its nightlife. The center of the action is found on Soi Bangla, which is a hive of go-go bars, discos and stage shows. This is Phuket nightlife at its most seedy, but it can be a lot of fun if you go in the right frame of mind.

Generally speaking, the bars and clubs in Patong churn out hip hop and dance music hits. It can all be a bit predictable so don't go expecting something special.

Patong is also known for its girls. Yes, it's true, there are countless bar girls and sex shows in Patong, but the people of Patong make no effort to conceal these facts. Patong is what it is and it's best not to take the whole place too seriously.

Perhaps the most fun that can be had in Thailand is at some of the local clubs. Phuket nightlife is at its most authentic in the small Thai clubs, where you can check out some of the local bands. Phuket Town is probably the best place to sample some Thai-style clubbing.

Also in Phuket Town there are lots of pubs and beer bars and much less of the seedy side of Phuket nightlife.

There are plenty of other areas where you can go and party, but usually they aren't as busy and entertaining as in Patong or Phuket Town. There are a few exceptions scattered around the island in places such as Surin, Kata-Karon and Nai Harn.

The only area that Phuket really lacks anything in in terms of nightlife is serious clubbing. There are a few Phuket clubs where you can hear cutting-edge music, but these are few and far between. However, it is possible to catch electro, techno, breaks, house and more in some Phuket clubs and bars.

Phuket could be a major clubbing destination in Southeast Asia, but the island has a long way to go before it can start competing with the likes of Singapore and KL.

For now, Phuket nightlife has enough depth to keep people entertained, but you feel as if there is more to come. The shining beacon of Phuket nightlife is that there is a great live-music scene around the island. There are lots of bands who can rattle out everything from rock and indie to jazz and blues. If you can get into it, there is a top indie scene in Phuket. Pick up some CDs in a local store to get a feel for the music.

The author of this article covers Phuket nightlife and more at Phuket Vogue

Order restored in Bangkok after clashes leave 53 dead

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged to work for national reconciliation Friday after a week of mayhem devastated parts of Bangkok and left 53 people dead and 401 injured.

'We have restored order in the capital of Bangkok and in the provinces of Thailand,' Abhisit said. 'There are huge challenges ahead of us, particularly the challenge of overcoming the divisions that have occurred in the country'.

Abhisit said his government would go forward with a reconciliation plan based on participation, democracy and justice. But he did not make clear whether this plan would include an early dissolution of parliament and a November election as he had previously proposed.

Rejection of that 'road map' plan by anti-government protesters led to the army's attack Wednesday on their protest site in the central Bangkok district of Ratchaprasong.

Fifteen people were killed and another 103 were wounded in the assault and bloody rioting that night, Bangkok's Erawan Emergency Centre said.

The city government said more than 300 incidents of rioters vandalising public property had been reported since Wednesday, with 36 buildings destroyed or damaged by arson attacks.

A curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. was in force until at least Sunday morning, and the Skytrain and subway transit systems remained out of service. Government offices were closed until Monday.

Military officials said it would be at least another day or two until the Ratchaprasong area, home to some of the city's most luxurious shopping malls and hotels, could be reopened to the public. They claimed to have found a cache of weapons in and around the protest site, including 45 M-79 grenades, a grenade launcher and an M-16 assault rifle.

A large part of Central World, one of the biggest shopping centres in Asia, collapsed after it was set alight by angry protesters when troops and armoured vehicles moved in Wednesday.

Protesters also set fire to 10 branches of Bangkok Bank, another business group deemed close to the establishment, and an eleventh branch was set on fire west of Bangkok Thursday night.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), which is supported politically and financially from abroad by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, started demonstrating in Bangkok March 12. They took over the Ratchaprasong area April 3, vowing to remain until all their demands were met.

When the army moved in on the district Wednesday and the UDD leaders surrendered to police, a group of militants among the protesters went on the rampage, hitting specific targets considered to be allied with their enemies.

Update "Swine Flu" news in Thailand

The Thai government has assured foreign investors of their safety from the swine flu outbreak while visiting the country.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a press conference earlier on Tuesday that his administration will try its best to make overseas tourists feel safe from the swine influenza which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico already.Abhisit also told the nation that there has not been any confirmed case of infection in Thailand yet.

However, local news have reported that a 42-year-old woman has just been admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital today for suspected contraction of the deadly virus. Reports also stated that the country’s first flu suspect returned from Mexico earlier this month before falling sick. Meanwhile, the government has set up a special taskforce to monitor the situation in the kingdom. The team is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasat.

In addition, Abhisit denied claims that the government has forbidden Thais from traveling to risk countries including Mexico and certain states in the U.S.However, he affirmed that strict measures are now in place to watch over the arrivals of suspected patients.At the same time, Public Health Minister, Witthaya Kaewparadai, has asked those with plans to visit the countries where the virus could be spreading to put off their plans for some time.

Moreover, Bangkok Governor, give 600,000 pcs of mask for people to prevent from the Swine Flu.