Like in any country, New Years Eve is a night that all should take extra caution and care. There will be plenty of people driving under the influence, or intoxicated and looking for a brawl, as well as those looking to take advantage of others. So I urge all to be very careful tonight no matter how you choose to bring in the New Year, but still remember to have some fun.

I wish everyone a safe and happy New Years!

For the remainder of the day health officials will be conducting public awareness activities at the Kaset Market, Big C and Super Cheap, which are all popular locations in Phuket Town. The Patong Municipality is also doing their part by undertaking the same on Soi Bangla, the Jongceylon shopping complex and other popular spots around Patong.

The government offices are not only trying to educate the Thais but foreigners in Phuket as well. It is shocking how many people still engage in unsafe sex, even in this day and age. I urge all people in Phuket, locals, expats and tourists to PLEASE use a condom and lets hope that someday we can bring the numbers down to zero. You can pick up a free condom throughout the day at any of the locations I mentioned above.

The Khao Lak Charity Golf Tournament will hold its second golf tournament at Tab Lamu Golf Course in Phang Nga on Saturday, November 19th. Although not in Phuket, it is just over an hour drive north of the island and a fantastic way to give a little back to the community while still enjoying a great day out. The event is sponsored by The Village – Coconut Island, Phuket as well as a few local businesses from both Phuket and Khao Lak.

All proceeds from the tournament go to the Khao Lak Community Appeal and Foundation for Education and Development (FED). Both of these are wonderful charities that aid in health and education throughout the Phang Nga province to those less fortunate then us. For more information on these charities visit Khao Lak Community Appeal and FED. Last year the golf tournament raised 420,000 Baht.

The tee-off starts at 1pm, followed by a prize giving dinner at Ayara Villas in Khao Lak. The resort is also offering rooms at extremely reasonable rates for those participating in the tournament and wishing to spend a night in the area. The entrance for the tournament is 6,000 Baht per team (2) and includes green fees, caddies and dinner at Ayara Villas.

For more information or to join in on the fun visit Khao Lak Charity Golf Event.

The zoo is famous for its daily animal shows which feature performances by elephants, crocodiles, birds and monkeys. There is also an aquarium, small but interesting and the air-conditioning is a welcome relief from the heat of the rest of the zoo and the entrance which you have to walk through, is a giant crocodile’s month, and there is a display of both fresh and salt water species from around the world.

Upstairs there are displays of smaller aquarium displaying fishes, turtles, frogs, crabs, lizards, giant snakes, and nocturnal birds and there is also a display of seashells and fishing equipment, showing local and imported fish catching techniques.

The zoo also features a nocturnal house containing hard to find creatures of the night, an orchid garden and a butterfly garden

This is an amazing full day safari from Phuket and the major highlights of safari are a visit to Khao Sok which is located in the largest rain forest area in southern Thailand, canoe down the Sok river lined with unspoiled tropical vegetation and wildlife, Trek through the lush jungle on the back of majestic elephant, visit Siam Safari Elephant camp, local guide and enjoy a traditional Thai buffet lunch.

The day starts early with a drive through Phang Nga province pasing runner plantations and small villages en route to Khao Sok. Before getting to the final destination, you will also enjoy the views of the mountains covered in lush rain forest as Khao Sok is situated in the largest area of the rain forest in the south of Thailand and was once part of an ancient trade route linking China and India. Also as the Sok river valley cuts through the jungle, you will have spectacular views of the Limestone cliffs.

Canoeing down the Sok River is among the best ways to experience the jungle and the local guide will help you to paddle the canoe and your job is spot animals along the way. The exotic tropical vegetation clinging to the river banks with Limestone cliffs and mountains rising on both sides, create a secret primeval world that very few people get to see and you will also see birds such as hornbill, kingfisher, heron, egret, various reptiles and even wild monkeys which live in the area and then you will break for lunch.

After lunch, you will visit the Siam Safari elephant camp you will get to know more about the elephants, get a chance to trek through the jungle on the back of the elephant and the scenery is spectacular as you will be surrounded by mountains of the national park.

This tours starts from 7.30am and it takes roughly 11 hours, pick ups and drops off are from your hotel or guest house which has to be centrally located and it normally costs $124.00.

Whilst the original buildings of Wat Chalong were built in the 19^th century, more recent addition have included some very impressive buildings such as the 61.4 metre high chedi that houses a fragment of the bone of the Lord Buddha.

This is also a wonderful historical site, as Wat Chalong played a central role in Phuket’s history during the time of the Chinese Rebellion. A statue of one of Thailand’s most famous monks – Luang Pho Chaem – can be found in the main building of Wat Chalong. Luang Pho Chaem is famed for his role in keeping the people of Phuket calm, allowing them to fight off the rebellion.

Wat Chalong is the centre of many miracles in Thai history, making it a particularly impressive and significant attraction for Thais and foreigners alike to visit. There are numerous stories of Luang Pho Chaem healing people with his walking stick at Wat Chalong, and visitors can come and place gold leaf on the monk’s statue to pay their respects to this incredibly revered monk and the miracles which he performed.

Wat Chalong is open to the public, and visitors are most welcome. However, please bear in mind that this temple is of particular religious significance, so please observe dress codes and appropriate temple etiquette.

So town is set to be a bit livelier from the 3^rd to the 7^th of March, as homesick sailors from USS Patriot, USS Rushmore and USS Cleveland enjoy ‘morale, welfare and recreation’ (MWR). What exactly this means is not clear, but apparently many sailors take the opportunity to go on diving trips and catch up on sleep.

Now maybe times have changed, but I’m sure that’s not the traditional image of sailors on shore leave I’ve been brought up with, and I have no doubt you will find at least of few of them enjoying the less-wholesome delights of Phuket.

Both tourists and locals have been advised not to hang bags from the handlebars of their motorcycles or leave things in the front baskets, as petty crime is set to increase on the island.

The news comes after a man was arrested on Friday after robbing the 7-Eleven on Wiset Road, Rawai, and getting away with no more than 360 baht.

He entered the store brandishing a brick at 4:00 and demanded that the shop assistant hand over all the cash.

Unfortunately for him, the small amount was delivered in 10 baht coins and he was arrested soon afterwards.

Mongkhol Pintajan, 33, was arrested after the police examined the CCTV footage of the incident.

He said he robbed the shop as he had no money.

It’s a sorry state of affairs for all involved if the current hard times lead some to such desperate measures.

 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?