The first event to take place is the Phuket Musiq Festival, which celebrates the 84^th birthday of HM The King. This festival will take place from December 2^nd to 5^th at Saphan Hill Park in Phuket Town. It will feature both Thai and international musicians and there will of course be plenty of delicious Thai food to enjoy. The festival will run from 17:00 to 23:00 each night.

Next on the calendar is the famous Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. This is possibly one of Phuket’s most acclaimed events and attracts yachters from all over the world. It also celebrates HM The King’s birthday and this year also marks the 20^th anniversary of the famed event. Those currently in Phuket’s Kata area will probably already notice the hoards of boats and yachters that arrive each day for the event, which will take place between December 3^rd and 10^th. Those not actually racing can also enjoy the event by joining in on the nightly parties. To find out when and where all the action is taking place visit King’s Cup Programme of Events.

Finally, on December 4^th Phuket will hold Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship at Laguna Phuket Resort in Cherngtalay. Although the general entry for this event is now closed it is still possible to go and see all of the action. There are also plenty of things happening from November 28^th leading to the race that anyone can attend. For more information or for the schedule go to Ironman Phuket race schedule.

The Racing Fest will take place at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town and will feature three races. There will also be fun activities for kids and adults to enjoy between the races. This will begin tomorrow at 08:30 and end on Sunday (the 18^th) at 17:00 with a live stage performance.

On Wednesday make your way to the Phuket Graceland Resort on Patong beach for 09:00 when the surf competition will kick off. This event is part of the ASEAN Surfing Championship and is sure to be a great one. The actual surfing takes place each morning followed by surf clinics throughout the day. The event will end on the 27^th with an awards ceremony followed by a free concert and fashion show.

Both of these events are sure to be thrilling so arrive early if you don’t want to miss out on the fun!

If you are in Phuket and don’t know what to do, why don’t you show because it features the most spectacular musical show performed by the world famous “lady boys” of Simon cabaret.

This is probably the biggest “transvestite” cabaret show to be found locally and it features stunning costumes, bright lights, and excellent sound system and expensive sets all to make a theatrical extravaganza. Some guys can’t even tell the difference and ladies just want the figures like those of lady boys in the show.

Experience the ultimate transvestite show, an entertainment not to be missed as it is rated a s a rival show to Las Vegas and it is showed daily for two hours from 19.30 pm to 21.30pm and from 21.30pm to 23.30pm and it costs about $29.00.

Please remember at the time of the booking by your hotel or guest house that confirmation will be received at the time of booking, also if you will require a wheelchair access, let the operator know at the time of the booking so that you are seated near where you can access the restroom facilities.

Bangla road awakens when the sun sets because that is when Patong’s liveliest party zone becomes closed off to the traffic and ready for action. Bangla road is famous for its raunchy nightlife with the entertainment of girls, beers and music which increases as the moon rises. The road is always jammed but it is not threatening because it is lively to work around and see how bars compete for customers.

Walking down Soi Bangla is amazing as you get to watch girls whose aim is to please, they dance around poles, engage in banter or coaxing customers to play simple bar games like “connect” or “ hammer the nail” in an attempt to break the ice. Beer bars occupy most of the street, with several go-go bars, a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops. The downside, while walking Bangla road, the music is deafening as most of the beer bars are outdoor and each play different music with an aim of enticing customers to buy drinks and perhaps take some of the girls with them at the end of the night.

There are some small alleys off Bangla road or Sois as they call them here, like Soi Eric, Soi Tiger, Soi Katoey, Soi Sea Dragon and so on which are no different from Bangla road as they also have a number of beautiful girls and lady-boys, all competing with one aim of persuading customers to drink in these bars with a hope of taking them home at the end of the night. This is where Thai culture differs from western culture; just think of London, New York City or Berlin and how difficult it is to take someone home.

Although the songs are mimed, the elaborateness of the stage designs and the costumes is simply outstanding and all the dancers perform their roles with grace and flare.

The Simon Cabaret attracts people of all ages and from all walks of life, including young couples and families. Those who enjoy musical stage shows and colourful costumes will be in their element as the talented dancers perform a wide range of world-famous numbers from shows such as Dream Girls and Miss Saigon.

Simon Cabaret first opened its doors to the public in October 1991 and has proven to be a huge success. The large number of fast-paced performances and stunning costumes are sure to make audience members smile, while comic relief is also provided by a number of performers.

After the show, visitors have the chance to meet the performers and have their photographs taken. Even up close, the performers are simply stunning and are happy to take the time to greet their fans.

Simon Cabaret can be found at 8 Sirirach Road, Patong Beach.

Shows are held twice a day at 19:30 and 21:30 hours and tickets can be booked by calling 076 342011-5

Famous for its lively full moon parties at Haad Rin Beach, Ko Pha-ngan has a chilled-out hippy atmosphere that combines nightly hedonism with day ime water sports and lazing on the beach. Situated in the south of Thailand 20 kilometres north of Ko Samui in Surat Thani Province, this is an ideal destination for travellers who enjoy less crowded, more private beaches. The best way to reach Ko Pha-ngan is from Ko Samui and the boat trip takes about an hour.

Haad Rin is Ko Pha-ngan’s most popular beach. Lined with beach bars playing a wide assortment of music, the white sands can get pretty crowded. Luckily, Ko Pha-ngan offers many more secluded stretches of white sand for those who prefer a little privacy. Ao Thong Nai Pan is perhaps the second most beautiful beach on Ko Pha-ngan reachable by boat or songthaew from Thong Sala Pier.

Another extremely beautiful and tranquil beach is Ao Si Thanu, whilst the nearby tiny island of Ko Tae Nai can be reached just 5 minutes by chartered boat. This island offers jungle-covered hills, a long stretch of golden sandy beach and colourful coral reefs, perfect for diving or scuba diving.

Ko Pha-ngan has some extremely pretty jungle waterfalls waiting to be discovered including Than Sadet Falls, Phaeng Falls, Than Prapat Falls and Than Prawet Falls. A great way to see the falls and the rest of the island is to take a guided boat tour. Boat trips usually take around 10 people, last all day and include snorkelling and lunch. The boat trips are also a great way to meet fellow travellers and exchange tall tales and travelling tips.

Wat Khao Tham is a cave temple located on the hilltop of Khao Kao Haeng. There is a monastery here that is ideal for meditation amidst the well-preserved nature. The monastery offers 10 days meditation retreats and can be found near the pretty village of Ban Tai.

Another interesting temple is Wat Madio Wan, where a replica of Lord Buddha’s Footprint is enshrined on the hilltop Mondop, whilst jungle trekking up to the island’s largest mountain of Khao Ra is a great way to see the island.

Surat Thani Province is home to several great tourist destinations, including Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao and the stunningly beautiful Ang Thong Marine National Park.

Although to many people the town of Surat Thani is simply a stop off point on the way to one of the area’s beautiful tourist destinations, the town and surrounding area actually has a lot to offer and is worth looking at more closely.

Worth exploring is the tiny village known as Chaiya. In the village you will find Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram, which is a tranquil forest temple founded by Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikku, who is perhaps Thailand’s most famous monk. The temple holds monthly meditation retreats, and this is a perfect place to get in touch with your spiritual side and discover a sense of inner peace and harmony.

Also situated in the village is the Chaiya National Museum, which is a good place to discover the area’s interesting history. Another interesting place is the Folklore Museum, which is located around 300 meters from Chaiya, whilst Ban Phumriang is a small handicraft village, which can be found 6 kilometres east of Chaiya.

The stunning Khao Sok National Park features 646 square kilometres of thick rainforest and mountains. With its sparkling waterfalls, mysterious caves and cool lakes, this area has an ancient feel about it. Elephant trekking is a great way to explore, and you can spend the night on a floating lodge if you find yourself reluctant to leave and return to the ‘real’ world straight away.

When it comes to eating, just about anything is possible in this province of plenty. If you love oysters, pay a visit to the Oyster Farms, where you can buy large fresh oysters for a bargain price.

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

While vibrant festivals are held all over Thailand, they often seem to be at their biggest and brightest and people travel to Phuket from all over Thailand as well as much further afield to witness the fun of these special events. As well as national festivals, Phuket has a number of its own unique festivals. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Phuket Gay Mardi Gras Festival

Usually held in April, this festival mainly takes place around Patong and features a vibrant parade of ladyboys wearing wild costumes.

Phuket Bike Week

Bikers from all over Thailand parading through parts of Phuket and the festival features a week of events related to motorbikes.

Phuket Race Week

One of two sailing regattas that are held in Phuket, this event attracts international racing class yachts as well plus lots of local amateurs at the Evanson Resort Marina.

Phuket Fireworks display

This spectacular affair is best enjoyed from the top of Rung Hill near Phuket town.

Phuket Annual Vegetarian festival

One of Phuket’s weirdest and wildest festivals features parades through the streets and stalls selling delicious vegetarian food for a total of ten days in October.

Patong Carnival

Put on your glad rags and join in the fun of this lively festival, which features parades, beauty competitions, water sports and plenty of eating and drinking in central Patong over a weekend in early November.

This is the time of year when Thai and Chinese people adopt a vegetarian diet, perform good deeds and abstain from other vices in order to obtain good health and peace of mind.

The first Vegetarian Festival was celebrated around 150 years ago in the Kathu district of Phuket. There was a large Chinese community of tin miners living in this area, as well as a group of Chinese operatic performers.

A fatal disease swept through Phuket during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar claiming many lives, including those of some of the Chinese performers.

The devout Chinese performers realised that they had forgotten to pay homage to the Nine Emperor Gods (Kiu Ong Iah), a practice they always followed in the ninth lunar month. The community’s illness was attributed to this and one of the performers was sent to china to invite the Kiu Ong Iah to Phuket.

The gods were worshipped the following year and the Chinese followed the tradition of abstaining from eating meat, drinking alcohol, fighting and telling lies. The disease epidemic ceased and the festival has been celebrated every year since in Phuket and around Thailand to ensure that it never returns.

Thailand is well known for its abundance of good food, which can be found fresh and hot at markets, restaurants or street stalls at almost any time of the day or night. During the Vegetarian Festival most food vendors substitute meat dishes for soya and tofu, and there are a whole range of new dishes to try, from noodles with braised tofu to rice with small pieces of spicy tofu coated with sesame seeds. Stalls selling vegetarian food can be easily recognised as they are adorned with yellow flags bearing Chinese or Thai characters.

Many different ceremonies and practices are followed during the nine day festival. Ceremonies take place at the six Chinese temples around Phuket Province, the main one being the Jui Tui Shrine in the heart of Phuket Town. The festival is announced to the gods with the raising of the sacred Lantern Pole.

Throughout the festival worshippers revitalise their household gods at the temple as well as bringing along offerings of food and drink.

Another prominent feature is the devotees who attain a trancelike state and parade through the town. Known as “Ma Song” or ‘entranced horses”, these are holy men who the gods enter during the festival. The Ma Song are bestowed with supernatural powers and perform self-mortification rituals to bring good luck to the community.

For those wishing to cleanse their body and soul during the Vegetarian Festival, there are 10 strict rules that must be followed throughout the festival:

1. Cleanliness of the body
2. Use separate, clean utensils to non-worshippers
3. Wear white clothing
4. Behave piously both physically and mentally
5. Do not eat meat
6. Avoid sexual behaviour
7. No alcohol
8. People in mourning should not participate
9. Pregnant women should not participate
10. Menstruating women should not participate