Hat Chaweng is the island’s longest and most popular beach. This area is party central and you will find restaurants catering to every taste, large beach bars and theme pubs and clubs. Although not as large as those on Ko Pha-ngan, there are often lively beach parties at Chaweng, especially around the full moon.

Also popular is Hat Lamai, which is famous for the Grandfather and Grandmother rocks and the slightly seedier night life.

Hat Bophut is a quiet and romantic fisherman’s village. This area is relaxed and more traditional than the larger communities, and has a number of very good French-owned cafes and restaurants.

Nearby, Ao Bang Po is a quiet bay perfect for snorkeling, swimming and meditation, whilst Ao Tong Takian is a small cove north of Lamai beach. Also known as Silver Beach, this is a good place for people who crave tranquility.

Bang Rak, is situated just two kilometers east of Bophut. The big attraction in this area is the 19-metre gold tinted statue of Lord Buddha, which overlooks the entire bay. Climb the steps to the top for an excellent view over the island.

Getting to Ko Samui is pretty simple as there is a large airport on the island with regular flights from Bangkok. The flight takes just over an hour, or you can choose to travel by train or air-conditioned bus to Surat Thani and then take the ferry.

However, while this I one of Thailand’s biggest and brightest transvestite shows, there is no seedy side to the show and this is something that all the family can enjoy. In fact, the nightly audiences generally comprise a broad spectrum of people, including young couples, families and work colleagues of every nationality.

The stage shows are simply spectacular as they feature lavishly decorated stage sets. The performers step onto the stage dressed in amazing outfits and are the envy of every woman in the audience. While the musical numbers are mimed, the elaborate dance moves that accompany them are step perfect and not a toe is out of place.

Shows are held twice each night at 19:30 and again at 21:30. Advanced booking is essential and the Simon Cabaret shows are extremely popular. Bookings can be made through the website: www.phuket-simoncabaret.com or by calling +66 76 340437 and the address is 8 Sirirach Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150

So it was a delight to be back at Kamala Beach again and to enjoy a much more laidback atmosphere to the region. No go-go bars or pushy publicans vying for your custom, just a beautiful stretch of sand, calm water and reasonably-prices seafood eateries with lovely ocean views.

Although there are lots of holidaying families on Kamala, there is also a large expat community who shun the more expensive areas for a little peace and quiet. And although the sand may not be the brilliant white of Kata, it certainly is far from spoilt and there is still plenty to occupy visitors with all manner of watersports available.

 The funds from the parties, which have been designed to match the success of the Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangnan, will go towards some sort of charity which aims to help tourists ‘in trouble’.

What is meant by ‘trouble’ is pretty unclear, as is what sort of help you would received if you happened to get yourself in a pickle, but as the Full Moon Parties have been condemned in certain circles for encouraging binge drinking, it seems rather comical that the funds for this charity will increase with the amount of beer that is drunk.

I have some friends in Karon Beach who have been complaining recently about the increasing noise at the weekends from the beach parties that have been held there.

It has also been a rather long and controversial decision process which will finally result in the first official party tomorrow night.

I like a party as much as the next person, but I can’t help wondering whether this ‘Tourist Assistance Fund’ will cause more trouble than it solves.

Apparently, and unbeknown to me, Phuket and Thailand as a whole have been experience a bit of a slump in visitor numbers recently.

The latest air passenger numbers tell a different story, however. Even the recent difficulties with Cambodia and the notorious ‘sit-in’ don’t seem to have put them off.

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, which is the main gateway to Phuket, has seen a rise of almost 30 per cent on last year’s peak season passenger figures.

In total, the amount of happy sun seekers on their way to Phuket’s sunny shores between Christmas Day and January 5^th were no less than 1,668,863 this year. Pretty amazing for just 10 days.

Apparently the biggest resorts in Phuket are already reporting a better month this February than last month, and while I’m pleased that our local business are thriving, I can’t help feeling a bit like a kid with a new toy when I hear about figures like these.

Can’t these people find their own piece of paradise and leave mine alone?

Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob this week said that a trial of metered tuk-tuks could be rolled out in Karon and Kata this year.

The move comes as an attempt to solve the transport problems in Phuket that essentially revolve around tourists and expats being ripped off by opportunist tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.

It’s true, that despite living in Phuket for quite a number of years now, tuk-tuk drivers still try it on with me simply because I have a white face. My protests that I actually live here and know what the real price is also doesn’t always cut it, especially in the most touristy areas, as the drivers know they can always refuse me and pretty much guarantee picking up a less difficult customer who will simply take their first price without question.

While I’m sure the tuk-tuk drivers aren’t going to welcome this proposal with open arms, foreigners who are in Phuket for more than just a short holiday certainly will.

The island’s court system has seen a similar principle hailed as a breakthrough and so the security forces may soon follow suit.

Phuket chief justice Varangkana Sujaritkul told reporters that she did not see any problem involving corruption with the plans. She added that there would always be a minimum of two parties involved in any process, making the potential for bias negligible.

There were a number of interesting innovations introduced to Phuket in 2009 such as the ‘keep beaches clean’ campaign, ‘Summer on Phuket’ concept of marketing, music on the beach Roy Fest festival, plus jet-ski insurance.

Next year will see the banning of free plastic bags in the majority of the island’s retailers in a bid to tackle excess waste.

While some companies are refusing to be downhearted about recent development, the general picture is one of the need for a ’shakeout’ of the weakest organisations. Some have dubbed the 2009-10 high season the ’sigh’ season as the admittedly large numbers of returning visitors have less money’s to spend on perceived luxuries, such as diving.

The expense of the pastime has pushed some fans to chose other areas to practice their hobby. And many dive instructors working in Phuket shops have been hearing tourists complain about the prices quoted.

The problems experienced within the Phuket industry have been exacerbated by the entry cost to Surin and Similan National Parks. Thailand’s prime diving destinations now charge 200 and 400baht per day for diving.

Phuket Provincial Hall was the site of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony which was administrated by Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop.

The scheme to cut down on the island’s plastic waste is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, and will be introduced on February 14.

Jungceylon, Central, Robinson, Carrfour, Supercheap, Phuket Grocery, Big C, Family Mart, Index Living Mall, 108 Shop, SB Furniture and Homepro were amongst the signatories.

Officials said 7-Eleven and Tesco-Lotus were still both waiting to hear from their Bangkok store headquarters for final approval regarding the scheme.

Makro was the other big name not to sign but the store has never distributed free plastic bags. Phuket produces around 500 tonnes of garbage every day, double what the Saphan Hin incinerator can burn. What is left over is left to pile up within low-lying landfills by the site.

In 2007, toxic waste overflowed from the landfill into nearby waterways, destroying millions of fish that were farmed in the area.