So I am back in Phuket: This isn't the first time and it likely wont be the last. This time i decided to stay at a beach that I had never even dreamed of staying at in the past because it isn't a surfing beach and it also isn't a party beach. It is called Karon beach and I guess it is ok.

It's a pretty wicked beach, from a scenic point of view, but to be totally honest, if you are looking for water sports, the beaches to the north and south are better than this one. However, this beach does boast (and deliver) on some of the quieter spots on the very busy island of Phuket. There is a reason why someone like me, after living here for over a decade never even tried to come here because it is just something you pass by and don't even realize you were there.

Now, I want everyone to be clear on this because I want to be direct: I was staying in Karon beach in the middle of low season (May to Nov - generally speaking) and therefore this might not be a fair representation of what actually goes on here. However, seasons are seasons, and this is my opine from the time i was there.

The accommodation is very cheap. My friend is in a 4-star resort that would blow your mind and he paid around $100 for it. I, because i am frugal, booked a room while i was on the bus coming here and just chose the first place I saw. It was $20 and it is friggin great! The shower does something you would prefer it didn't but other than that, this place is incredible- and it is seaview.

These places are so cheap because it is the monsoon season and I don't recommend that anyone try to come here and take advantage of the cheap prices unless

1. you realize that it is very likely to rain and have rough seas
2. you are on a long-term travel plan

We were very lucky because there was no rain, although the skies were threatening to do so the entire time.

Ok, now on to the other stuff. There are a few roads in Karon and on them you will find the usual stuff being offered such as seafood and Thai food. I only tried 2 restaurants and they were just "meh" and a bit overpriced (as is expected in a tourist beach area.) The last place i tried was a Tex-Mex place that I only found because I saw their sign and I really like tex mex.

The staff were friendly, the menu looked great and had a lot of options, the food looked like the pictures and there was just one problem. I don't think these people have any idea what Tex Mex is. The food was just awful. I ate a bunch of it because i was really hungry at the time but well, all i can tell to you, the reader to try to learn from this is to be very careful in tourist places where they claim to be able to make food from 14,000 miles away... because there is a good chance they cant.

Now, on to the nightlife

No matter where you go this is what you are likely to encounter. IF you are new to Thailand perhaps it will intrigue you because all of the bars are really the same. Some reasonably attractive women shouting at you to come inside and play pool or talk and play silly bar games like connect-four.

The problem isn't that these places exist, because they can be a lot of fun. We went to one and met the owner and she and her staff were really fun and friendly. The prices aren't even a rip off either.

The problem is the sheer number of these bars that exist here. It seems to be the only theme that exists at all. We walked for a long ways, and all the bars were the same - even their horrible "hello hannnnsome man!" tactics were the same (who teaches them this?)

If you walk from your hotel, even if you aren't looking for this kind of thing it is exceptionally annoying how often you are approached / shouted at by the people who work in these bars who all have, I mean honestly, EXACTLY the same theme as all the other bars. Pool table, cute girls, sports on TV and a bunch of barstools.

got down a side-street hoping for a hidden gem will ya? Nope, just more of the bars you've already seen 50 of but this time they are made of shoddier materials.

We walked for a long time and honestly didn't see even one bar that wasn't themed like this. So in my mind Karon loses a lot of points not just for stepping DIRECTLY into the Thailand prostitute stereotype, but for just being uninventive.

I mean seriously... 80 bars and they are all exactly the same? What other market would possibly tolerate this sort of replication.

So that is my review of Karon. I know it isn't the best review, but it was done with my own eyes and ears exactly in the past 10 hours or so. Enjoy!