Braun Car Rental Phuket

Two Tier Pricing in Thailand – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 17:12:29 +0000

Price for Thai vs Foreigner

This is the practice of charging different rates for Thais and foreigners. As an example, entrance fees for national parks are 20 baht for Thais but 200 baht for foreigners. Many organisations in Thailand, both public and private, practice two-tier pricing. Common examples are museums, palaces, zoos, aquariums, shows and national parks.

There are two viewpoints on two-tier pricing:

Those who support two-tier pricing say it is only reasonable that Thai people who are not as wealthy as foreign visitors should be able to see attractions in their own country at a price they can afford. If Thais had to pay the same price as foreigners, many would not be able to see attractions in their own country. Furthermore, Thais pay taxes that subsidise attractions such as national parks and therefore should not have to pay the same as foreigners who do not pay taxes.

Those against say two-tier pricing is racial discrimination and cannot be justified on any grounds. It reduces the number of foreign visitors to attractions that practice two-tier pricing and therefore does not actually earn more money. Furthermore, it gives foreigners a negative impression of Thailand that may actually reduce the number of tourists coming to the country and therefore cost Thailand far more money than is gained from two-tier pricing. Also, foreigners do pay tax as they are much more likely to frequent establishments that are VAT registered.

Both arguments are valid and the issue is a cause of contention. In our opinion, the biggest problem with two-tier pricing is not the amount of money involved – the prices will still seem cheap to most western visitors. The real problem is the message it sends to ordinary Thai people. If it is okay for the government and businesses to charge foreigners more than Thais then it must be okay for everybody else to do the same. Hence tuk-tuk drivers, shopkeepers, market stallholders, etc, will often quote higher prices to foreigners than to Thais. It is a widely held assumption that all westerners are wealthy and should pay more than Thai people.

The places practicing two-tier pricing are clearly aware it is contentious. They give this away with their entrance signs. They write the foreigner price in English with Arabic numerals. They write the Thai price only in Thai script – including the numerals. These days, Thai numerals are rarely used and have been almost entirely superseded by Arabic numerals. The use of Thai numerals to display two-tier prices is a clear indication of concealment.

Long-term residents can often avoid paying the foreigner price. If you can show a Thai driving license, work permit or tax slip you will probably get the local price. Even a sprinkling of Thai language might get you in for the local price. Also going in a mixed group of foreigners and Thais may result in everybody getting the Thai price as the people on the gate are often embarrassed to discriminate between people in the same group.

Whether you think two-tier pricing is justified or not, it is a fact of life in Thailand. It is an individual choice whether two-tier pricing bothers you enough to justify boycotting places practicing it. Is it really worth missing a beautiful national park or other attraction over a few baht on a point of principal?

Two-Tier pricing information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

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The post Two Tier Pricing in Thailand – Braun Car Hire appeared first on Braun Car Rental Phuket.

A Guide to Thai Cuisine – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 17:09:35 +0000

Thai people love to eat. There is nothing that they enjoy more. Every corner, street and alley has a restaurant, street stall or stand selling snacks, nibbles, bites and full menus of tantalising local specialities.

Tourist restaurants will often serve up a toned down version of what should be a full flavour feast, and without anyone to tell you the food is less than genuine; a visitor’s introduction to Thai food is often tainted by these farang-ised Thai dishes. Once you have had enough of yet another overly sweet, messy slop of phad thai, it is time to explore the never-ending possibilities of Thai cuisine.

When asked what they like most about Thailand, visitors often answer ‘the food’. The creation of Siam servings is a masterful mix of salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter. The spice factor, often too much for most westerners, is used for medicinal purposes, combined with the use of market fresh vegetables and the choicest local herbs for bursting flavours and prevention of common ailments. The food is low in fat and high in fibre and most dishes, considering they taste so good, are surprisingly nutritious.

But it is not only the unique and pleasantly pungent tastes that visitors love, the cost of eating in Thailand is as satisfying as the pleasure experienced by the palate. One of Thailand’s major industries is agriculture. Grains, meats, vegetables and most importantly rice are all locally produced at minimal cost. The country also has rich waters filled with fresh and sea water creatures, which are shipped across the land, making seafood and fish dishes some of the most popular choices. Add to this the natural innovation and long standing techniques used by Thais in food preparation and there are few who visit who cannot be satisfied.

Passing through different regions of Thailand, you may notice that the dialect and sound of the language changes abruptly. When you think you have learned how to say sawdee kha in exactly the right tone, you move to another place and find that they have a completely different method of utterance. The same goes for the food. There are four main regions offering cuisine adventurers a unique experience.

Food in the northeast is influenced by neighbouring Laos. Dishes are highly seasoned and among the most popular specialities are larb, a spicy, seasoned salad made with pork or chicken; somtam, spicy papaya salad, and gai yang, barbequed chicken. All are served with glutinous rice, a northern favourite widely known as sticky rice, or khao neow.

Burmese influences have bearings on the dishes of the central northern regions. Northern cooks generally are less heavy handed with the chilli and the use of ginger, tamarind and turmeric is common. Khao soi, a curry with egg noodles and pickled cabbage, is only found in the north and should be number one on any visitor list of dishes to try. Tourists to the north should not miss the opportunity to dine at a traditional Khantoke dinner, combining the best of northern specialities and traditional performances in a reconstructed wooden palace.

Throughout the central plains of Thailand, the food combines mixes from all regions, and many Chinese-Thai fusions are common characteristics. The south is the place to get down to spicy treats. Chilli-filled soups and curries are common dishes and fresh seafood is abundant. Influences are also found in dishes taken from Indonesia, such as chicken kebabs with peanut sauce (gai sate), an international favourite, and rich curries such as kaeng masaman from Malaysia.

Eating in Thailand is very much a family affair. It is often thought of as odd to see someone eating alone and most Thais will wait to the point of starvation until they find a dining partner. A typical meal will include a soup, fried fish, spicy salad known as yam, a curry dish and a dip with vegetables. Each member of the party will be served a bowl of rice and can take a bite from the main dishes in the centre of the table. Meals are eaten with a spoon and fork, while chopsticks are generally only used for noodle soups or Chinese food.

Thai fast food is known as such, not because of its enticing greasiness or fat content as with the western equivalent, but instead as a range of dishes that can be cooked up in a matter of minutes. These dishes such as phad thai, or fried noodles, khao phad, or fried rice, or phad khrapao, or fried basil with pork or chicken, are commonly ordered as a quick lunch, breakfast or evening meal, and often served with a fried egg plonked on top.

There are few countries that can offer such a range of fruits like Thailand. Its tropical climate and heavy rains in monsoon season mean that fruit is everywhere. The diversity of delicious fruity sweetness to be found is so vast and the cost so little, some health conscientious rebels decide to diet solely on fruit as an internal body cleansing exercise. From the vibrant pinks of the dragon fruit to the prickly looking shells of the rambutan, photo opportunities are an added bonus to the already particular delight of fruit shopping in Thailand.

Thai desserts, in general, use five base ingredients: coconut cream, coconut flesh, rice flour, palm sugar and eggs. Among the favourites are thong yip, a sweet egg yolk cup; foi thong, shredded, sweetened egg yolk, and tako, a jelly served with creamy coconut.

Those interested in more than just sampling the food fare on offer while travelling in Thailand will be pleased to know that in Phuket there is a couple of such cooking schools. Courses include trips to local markets, ingredient preparation, cooking and best of all, an eating party after all the hard work. If you would like us to arrange a short course whilst you are visiting Phuket please let us know and Braun can arrange it for you. Thai recipes

Top 10 Thai dishes among tourists

Tom yam goong: a spicy shrimp soup made with coconut milk, lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal and shallots.

Kaeng khio wan gai: green chicken curry made from green curry paste and coconut milk.

Phad thai: noodles fried with tofu, spring onions, bean sprouts and ground peanuts.

Phad khrapao: chicken, pork or prawns stir-fried with basil.

Kaeng phet pet yang: roast duck curry.

Tom kha gai: chicken in coconut soup with galangal and lemongrass.Thai Favorite

Khao phad: boiled rice fried with meat, egg, onion, cilantro, garlic and tomatoes.

Moo/gai sate: pork/chicken kebabs served with peanut sauce.

Gai phad met mamuang: stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts.

By Anna McCarthy

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The post A Guide to Thai Cuisine – Braun Car Hire appeared first on Braun Car Rental Phuket.

Useful Phuket Telephone Numbers – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 17:00:59 +0000

Emergency & Helpful Contact Numbers

Once you arrive on Phuket it is a very simple matter to purchase SIM cards, the streets are full of phone shops and 7/11 stores, you may get a free one at the airport. Top ups can also be done either with a card purchase or online machines in the franchise stores such as 7/11 and Family Mart. If you need to get your phone unlocked this is again a simple task, many of the stores at the bottom floor of Big C will do it for you for a nominal amount.

At the time this site was published the numbers below were current:

TELEPHONE NUMBERS
EMERGENCY
Police	191	Cherngtalay Police Station	076-270043
Fire	199	Kamala Police Station	076-279058
Tourist Police	1155	Kathu Police Station	076-342719
Marine Police	076 215 438	Phuket City Police Station	076-216856
Chalong Police Station	076-381247	Phuket Traffic Police	076-220919
HOSPITALS
Bangkok Phuket Hospital	076-254425	Vachira Hospital	076-361234 ext 109
Mission Hospital	076-237220/6	Thalang Hospital	076-311866
Phuket International Hospital	076-249400
TELEPHONE HELP
Operator	100	Directory Enquiries - overseas	100
Directory Enquiries - local	113
LOST CREDIT CARDS
Visa	(001) 800-4413485	American Express	02-2735544 / 02-2735522
Mastercard	02-6704088 / 001800118870663
COURIERS
DHL	076-355850	TNT	076-239804/6
BRAUN CAR RENTALS
English	0898735947	Landline	+66 (076) 381877
Thai	0895887037
CONSULATES ON PHUKET
Australia	076-372600	Ireland	076-281273 / 076-384324
Austria	076-284334/6	Italy	0866896819
Denmark	076-378365	Norway	076-237156
Finland	076-330530	Sweden	076-380000
France	076-273511 / 081893212	UK	076-318188 / 0854890106
Germany	076-610407
EMBASSIES
Australia	023446300	Netherlands	023095200
Austria	022682222	New Zealand	022542530
Belgium	026795454	Norway	022046500
Canada	026360540	Russia	022349824 / 022343939
China	022450088	Singapore	022862111
Denmark	023431100	South Africa	026592900
France	026575100	Sweden	022637211 / 022637239
Germany	022879000	Switzerland	022530156/60
Ireland	026777500	UK	023058333
Italy	022854090/3	USA	022054000
Malaysia	026792190/9

Information is correct at time of publication but subject to change. Braun Car Rentals, Phuket is not responsible for any numbers that may have changed since publication.

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The post Useful Phuket Telephone Numbers – Braun Car Hire appeared first on Braun Car Rental Phuket.

Practical Information for Phuket – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:57:26 +0000

Visas

You can find full details of Thailand’s visa requirements at Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, most visitors do not need to trawl through all this information. All you really need to know is that if you have a passport from one of the following countries then you are exempt from visa requirements and will receive a 30-day entry stamp on arrival. You can extend the 30-day entry stamp by a further 7 days at an immigration office in Thailand for a fee of 1900 baht.

If you want to stay longer than 37 days, you have two options:

You can get a 60-day tourist visa before entering Thailand. You can obtain these from a Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Then when you arrive in Thailand make sure you enter the visa number on your arrival card so the immigration officer knows you have a visa and gives you a 60-day entry stamp on arrival. You can extend this by another 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand for a fee of 1900 baht allowing a 90-day visit without leaving the country. It is possible to get multiple tourist visas. These entitle you to two or three 60-day visits. However, between each 60-day visit (and optional 30-day extension) you must leave Thailand and then re-enter the country.

The second option is to do what is known as a visa run. This involves leaving Thailand before your entry stamp expires, entering a neighbouring country and then returning to Thailand where you will receive another 30-day entry stamp. The term visa run is a little misleading as what you are getting is not actually a visa – it is a 30-day visa waiver. Note that as from 1st October 2006, they have changed the rules so that you can stay in Thailand for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 with visa runs. After 90 days, you must get a visa or leave the country.

In Phuket, the normal visa run is to Myanmar (formally Burma). There are several companies that organise visa runs. They run either buses or minibuses to Ranong where you get your passport exit stamped from Thailand. You will then take a boat to Myanmar, stamp your passport in and out of Myanmar before returning to Ranong to get a new entry stamp into Thailand. The whole trip takes around 12 hours and costs around 1,500 baht. A more pleasant alternative is to fly to a neighbouring country and turn the visa run into a trip. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are popular choices. You can get two or three day tour packages to these cities for very reasonable prices and then return to Phuket and receive a new 30-day entry stamp.

You should always check the date on your entry stamp when you enter the country. Do not stay beyond the permitted to stay date. The fine for overstay is 500 baht per day. If you pay the fine when you are leaving the country then you will receive an overstay stamp in your passport but normally no other repercussions. However, if during your stay in Thailand the police have cause to check your passport and find you have overstayed, they will treat you as an illegal alien. You may spend a night or two in a cell before being deported to your home country and blacklisted from Thailand.

There are longer-term visas available to people who want to live in Phuket based on retirement, family or work qualifications.

Immigration Offices

There are two main immigration offices in Phuket where you can extend your visa and make general visa enquiries:

Phuket Town Office,
482 Phuket Road,
Phuket Town, 83000
Phone: (66) 076.221.905

(On Phuket Road at the entrance to Saphin Hin)

Patong Beach Branch,
Beach Road,
Phone: (66) 076.340.477

(On the beach road halfway between Bangla Road and Sawadirak Road)

There are also small immigration departments at the boat ports to deal with people arriving by sea.

They have a website here Phuket Immigration Department

Tourist Office

The TAT tourist office is in Phuket Town on Thalang Road next to Queen Sirikit Park near the junction with Montree Road. It is a new bright orange building. You can find tour brochures, pamphlets, maps and general information about things to do in Phuket.

Money and Banks

The exchange rates available in Thailand are generally a little better than those in western countries. The best exchange rates are from ATM’s but it depends on what fee your bank charges for this service. There are lots of banks and exchange booths in the tourist towns and in Phuket Town where you can change cash, traveler’s cheques or use a credit/debit card. They usually give competitive rates. The worst rates are from hotels. Thailand bank opening hours are Monday-Friday 8.30am-3.30pm. There are exchange booths in Patong open to midnight and beyond.

Telephones

The international dialing code from Thailand is 001 followed by the relevant country code. The country code for Thailand is +66 and the area code for Phuket is 076.

International calls are reasonably cheap. Many internet and tour shops offer telephone services which are cheaper than hotel rates.

Mobile phone coverage in Phuket is good. You can use a mobile telephone from your home country if you have international roaming options. Another alternative is to buy a mobile phone in Thailand with a prepaid sim-card. You can buy a reasonable mobile phone with pre-paid sim-card from as little as 1,500 baht.

Internet

Internet shops are everywhere. Broadband connections are now standard and the reliability is generally good. If you are near the beach, you can expect to pay two baht a minute. Further from the beach, prices drop to one baht a minute and if you get out of the tourist resorts then you can find internet shops charging 20 baht an hour.

Post

Postal services seem less important in these days of e-mail and text messaging. Post to/from the west takes 7-14 days either way. It is generally reliable but anything valuable should definitely be sent registered mail.

Phuket Town Main Post Office is on Montri Road just north of the junction with Phang Nga Road.

Patong Post Office is on Rat U Thit Road near the entrance to Patong Grand Condotel.

There are several other small Post Offices around the island.

Taxes

Value Added Tax is 7%. This amount is already included in prices displayed in shops. Small restaurants, shops and stalls will not charge it anyway as they will not be registered. Larger restaurants and hotels may add 7% to your bill and some will also add a 10% service charge.

Electricity

220 volts, 50 Hz. Electricity sockets generally accept both two pin round and two pin flat plugs. Adapters for other plugs are easy to find in local shops.

Health

Phuket has a wide range of good quality healthcare facilities. Health tourism is one of the attractions of the island. For a much lower price than most western countries, you can avoid waiting lists and receive private treatment in Phuket. There are two major private hospitals on the island.

Bangkok Hospital Phuket
2/1 Hongyok Utis Rd,
Phuket Town.
Tel: +66 (0)76 254 425
www.phukethospital.com

Phuket International Hospital
44 Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Rd
Next to Big C on the bypass road.
Tel: +66 (0)76 249 400
www.phuketinternationalhospital.com

There are also several government hospitals and lots of private clinics. The private clinics will have a qualified doctor and many open long hours.

There are plenty of well-stocked chemists. A lot of them will sell medicine without a prescription so if you go straight to a chemist make sure you know what you want. Some will sell drugs such as sleeping tablets, Viagra and steroids on request. The small private chemists are more likely to sell such drugs without prescription – it is just a matter of asking around.

You do not need to take any vaccinations before visiting Phuket. If you are visiting other parts of Thailand then it may be worth consulting your doctor. Phuket does not have Malaria but there is Dengue Fever which is also transmitted by mosquito bites. Dengue causes a very unpleasant fever and headache that will knock you off your feet for a week. It can be more dangerous if you catch it a second time as the body’s immune system can react incorrectly to a different strain of the virus. As yet, there is no vaccination for Dengue. Cases of Dengue are rare in Phuket but it is worth wearing insect repellent to be safe.

Even if you are not visiting Phuket specifically for healthcare you may want to take advantage of the excellent deals available from dentists and opticians where you can make huge savings compared to what you would pay at home.

Airport Tax

Until recently you had to pay airport tax on departure from the country and you needed 500 baht at the airport when you left the country. The airport tax has now been increased to 700 baht but it should now be included in the price of your ticket.

Useful Numbers

Numbers
Tourist Police	1155	Bangkok Phuket Hospital	076 254 425
Police	191	Phuket International Hospital	076 249 400
Fire	191	Mission Hospital Phuket	076 211 908
Ambulance	191	Vachira Hospital	076 211 114
Private Ambulance	1669	Patong Hospital	076 344 225
Marine Police	076 215 438	Thalang Hospital	076 311 111
Telephone Enquiries	1133	Australian Embassy (Bangkok)	081 546 5354
Tourism Authority (TAT)	1672	UK Embassy (Bangkok)	02 3058 333
		US Embassy (Bangkok)	02 2054 000

Phuket practical information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

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The post Practical Information for Phuket – Braun Car Hire appeared first on Braun Car Rental Phuket.

Phuket History – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:52:07 +0000

The Greek philosopher mentioned that if one was to travel to the Malaysian peninsula, one would have to pass a cape which he called the Junk Ceylon. The Junk Ceylon was given a location between the latitudes of 6 N and 8 N which would be the position of present day Phuket. It seems that the Junk Ceylon was visited by sea merchant from various countries as the bay of Junk Ceylon offered a superb protection against the forces of nature and gave the merchants an opportunity to rest and restock.

Recent Phuket History Phuket become later known as Thalang after the city which still exists in the northern region of Phuket. An important part of Phuket history was during the 15th century when Phuket obtained the reputation as a leading tin mining producer. Due to the local mining industry, Phuket become somewhat of a trading hub.

Phuket Town (Top), Heroine’s Monument (Bottom)

Due to the large volume of European merchants and traders that were calling port in Thalang, the Thai King during that period decided that Phuket should be administered by a European. Between the period of 1681 and 1685, Thalang was administered by a French missionary named Renee Charbonneau.

Burmese Invasion – Another important event in Phuket history was in 1785 when enemy troops from neighboring Burma attempted to invade and rule Phuket. Two Phuket ladies decided to stand up and defend the Island in the name of the King of Thailand. The former governor’s widow, Chan, and her loyal sister Muk organized a defense which lasted nearly a month.

The Burmese troops were left with no supplies after they had been unable to get past the defence for over a month. The aggressors had no other option but to withdraw as their supplies had run. The king of Thailand heard of the heroic actions of the two sisters and bestowed upon them the noble titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon. Even in present day Phuket, the two sisters have not been forgotten and are in fact still honored and respected. In 1966 the two sisters were honored by their very own statue which stands at the Tha Ruea Intersection.

The Phuket History by Alexander van Eyk

Thalang National Museum

Open daily except holidays 8:30am-4pm. Located just east of the Heroines’ Monument on Pa Khlok Rd, north of Phuket City (Tel: 076-311025, 076-311426).

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Thai Language – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:08:27 +0000

Understanding Thai

This page gives a simple introduction to the Thai Language. It is only intended to cover the basic concepts of the language and a few useful words and phrases.

If you want to study the Thai language seriously there are several language schools in Phuket. There are also some good resources on the internet to which we have provided links at the bottom of this page.

Introduction

The Thai language does not have tenses or plurals and therefore does not have all the irregular forms that make English such a difficult language to learn. In Thai you learn a verb and that is it – you do not need to learn its various forms. Instead, Thai has add-on words that they use to define tense or plurals. In this way, Thai is an easy language to learn but there are other complications that make it difficult for westerners.

Tonal System

Thai is a tonal language – that is the tone used to pronounce a word can change its meaning. Thai has five tones – low, middle, high, rising and falling. For example, the word ‘mai’ in a falling tone means ‘not’ but at the end of a sentence with a rising tone it indicates a question. There is a sentence used to illustrate this – ‘mai mai mai mai mai’. The word ‘mai’ repeated five times in each one of the different tones of the Thai language. The sentence roughly translates as ‘new wood doesn’t burn, does it?’ Okay – it is not a very sensible sentence but it does highlight the significance of tones.

Thai Alphabet

Thai has its own alphabet or script. The Thai alphabet is quite logical. It does not have the ambiguity of the Roman alphabet. If you can read Thai then you can correctly pronounce most words even if you do not know the word. Unfortunately, there is no official transliteration system.

Transliteration means the system used to convert Thai alphabet characters to the Roman alphabet so that westerners can read Thai words. Since there is no official system, you will often see Thai words transliterated in different ways. You may see ‘sawadee’ written as ‘sawatdee’ or even ‘sawasdee’. As there is no official system there is no right or wrong (although ‘sawasdee is wrong), it is just a case of trying to write the Thai word in a way that gives a westerner a reasonable chance of pronouncing it correctly.

A common transliteration problem is ‘k’ being used instead of ‘g’. You will often see the classic Thai dish Tom Kah Gai written as Tom Kah Kai. ‘Gai’ means chicken while ‘kai’ means egg – you may confuse the waiter if you ask for Tom Kah Kai. Similarly, Phuket should actually be pronounced poo-get. Note also that the ‘ph’ is pronounced as a hard ‘p’. Similarly ‘th’ is a hard ‘t’ as in Thailand (tai-land) or Thalang (ta-lang).

The vagaries of the Roman alphabet are such that it is actually very difficult to create a transliteration system that consistently represents the right sounds in English. As a result, although we have tried to consistently use a transliteration system (designed for people whose first language is English) we have occasionally felt happy to stray away from that system if we feel there is a better way to represent the required Thai sound.

Thai Regional Dialects

Thailand, like many countries, has strong regional dialects. The standard version of Thai understood throughout the country is central Thai as spoken in Bangkok and central Thailand. The other regions of Thailand understand central Thai but between themselves, they use their local dialect. People in Phuket speak the southern dialect of Thai which is spoken rapidly and a lot of words are abbreviated.

One other thing to be aware of is many Thais do not like pronouncing the letter ‘r’. Most Thais can pronounce ‘r’ – they just think it is more effort than it is worth. They will therefore often drop the ‘r’ (‘kap’ instead or ‘krap’) or change it to an ‘l’ (‘falang’ instead of ‘farang’).

Krap and Ka

Before you start learning any other words the first thing to understand is the two polite particles ‘krap’ and ‘ka’ These words do not have any meaning – they are put at the end of sentences to make them sound polite. The important thing to know is that men say ‘krap’ and women say ‘ka’. So if you are a man you should say ‘sawadee krap’ and if you are a woman, you should say ‘sawadee ka’.

Phuket has three seasons. The cool season (actually quite hot), the hot season (very hot), and the rainy season (hot and wet). The climate is dictated by the monsoon winds. That is the direction of the prevailing winds caused by the difference in the way oceans and land retain heat.

During the summer from April to October, the great land mass of Asia is warmer than the ocean. The colder, heavier air over the Indian Ocean pushes into the warm air over the continental land mass. This causes the prevailing winds to come from the southwest over the Indian Ocean, bringing lots of warm moist air and rain to Phuket.

As the Asian continent cools from November to April, the ocean becomes warmer than the land. The prevailing wind direction changes to come from the northeast. That is from the great land mass of China bringing cooler, drier air and good weather to Phuket.

The result is a fairly predictable weather pattern.

Words & Phrases
Hello / Welcome / Bye	Sawadee Krap/Ka	850
Thankyou	Korp Koon Krap/Ka	Spoken rapidly it sounds like cop-n-cup/cop-n-kah
Excuse me	Kor Tort
Nevermind / No problem	Mai pen rai
Fun	Sanook
Comfortable / Well	Sabai
Are you well?	Sabai dee mai?
I am well	Sabai dee	as a reply to above question
I am not well	Mai sabai	also as a reply to above question
Good Luck	Chok Dee Krap/Ka	This is also used as a drinking greeting in the same way as 'cheers'.
Tasty / Delicious	Arroy	1,700
Where are you going ?	Pai Nai	A common Thai conversation opener
What are you doing ?	Tam arai	Another common conversation opener
Westerner	Farang	Not in itself an insult despite what some claim. Of course it can be used in an insulting way.
Baht	Baht	Thai Currency
This	Nee
That	Nun
How much does this cost?	Nee gee baht
Can you reduce the price?	Lot noy dai mai
Want	Ow	'Ow' rhymes with cow (as in 'ow that hurt')
Don't want	Mai ow

Numbers
zero	soohn	eleven	sip et
one	nerng	twelve	sip sorng
two	sorng	thirteen	sip sahm
three	sahm	twenty	yee sip
four	see	thirty	sahm sip
five	ha	forty	see sip
six	hok	hundred	roy
seven	jet	thousand	pan
eight	pairt	ten thousand	mern
nine	gow	hundred thousand	sairn
ten	sip	million	lahn

Thai Food
Food	Ah-hahn
Spicy	Pet
Sour	Bree-oh
Salty	Kem
Sweet	Wahn
Bitter	Kom
Do not want spicy	Mai ow pet
Only a little spicy	Mai ow pet mahk
Shallow fried	Pat
Deep fried	Tort
Boiled	Tom
Grilled	Yang
Baked	Op
Steamed	Nerng
Rice	Kao	rhymes with 'cow', often transliterated as Khao
Boiled Rice	Kao Suay
Fried Rice	Kao Pat
Rice Soup	Kao Tom
Egg	Kai
Chicken	Gai
Pork	Moo
Beef	Neua
Fish	Plah
Prawn	Goong
Squid	Plah merk
Sea food	Ah-hahn talay
Vegetarian food	Ah-hahn jay
Noodle Soup	Groat tee-ow
Thai Omelette	Kai jee-ow	deep fried omelette
Fried egg noodles	Pat thai
Spicy papaya salad	Somtam
Sour salad	Yam	eg Yam talay (seafood)
Spicy sour soup	Tom yam
Coconut chicken soup	Tom kah gai
Sweet green curry	Gairng kee-ow waan
Spicy red curry	Gairng pet
Masaman	Masaman	a creamy curry with meat and potato
Sour ground pork	Lahp moo
chicken and basil	Grapow gai
Grilled chicken	Gai yang
Fish in sweet chilli	Plah raht prik
Steamed fish in lemon	Plah Nerng Manao
Fried sun dried fish	Plah samlee
Crab in curry sauce	Boo pat pong garee

Drinks
Water	Naam
Ice	Naam kairng
Orange Juice	Naam som
Coca Cola	Coke
Coffee	Gahfair
Iced Coffee	Gahfair yen
Tea	Chah
Iced Tea	Chah yen
Beer	Bee-a
Spirits	Lao	rhymes with 'cow', usually refers to whisky or rum
Wine	Wai	'Wine' will be generally understood
One bottle of beer	Bee-a nerng kuat
Two bottles of beer	Bee-a sorng kuat
Three bottles of beer	Bee-a sahm kuat

Further Thai Learning Resources

Thai Language – another good starting point with lots of Thai audio clips and an extensive dictionary.

Thai2English Dictionary – a two-way online dictionary. It is an excellent translation tool. It will translate English into Thai giving both the Thai spelling and a transliteration. If you have a Thai language keyboard, it will translate Thai alphabet words into English. It will also attempt to translate transliterated Thai words into English.

Thai Language information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

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Phuket Map & Geography – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:04:00 +0000

Geography of Phuket

Phuket is on the southwest coast of Thailand. It is 860km south of Bangkok and 830km north of the equator (7.5 degrees latitude). This puts it on a parallel with countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Venezuela.

Phuket lies in the Andaman Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean. Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand and the only island big enough to be a province in its own right. The island is 49km long and 21km wide comprising a total area of 570 sq km. including 70 sq km from 39 smaller islands around Phuket. Phuket is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel and connected by the 600-meter Sarasin Bridge.

The geography of Phuket is varied. The island is mostly granite and sedimentary rock. There are many hills some rising above 500 meters. The main hill ranges run down the west coast of the island but there are hills everywhere. The flatlands are mostly used for agriculture such as rubber and coconuts. There are also mangroves and tropical rainforest in Khao Phra Thaew National Park.

The best beaches are along the west coast of the island. They have been forged by the waves that beat into this side of the island through the rainy season creating spectacular beaches in bays split by rocky headlands. The east coast of the island has smaller stony beaches and limestone shoals.

There are two types of island around Phuket. There are the granite islands that lie to the west and close to the south and east coasts. They tend to be forested low lying islands with beaches such as Koh Racha Yai and Koh Hee (Coral Island). Then there are the limestone islands to the northeast, and further out to the east and south. These islands tend to rise vertically from the sea producing dramatic scenery such as the Phi Phi islands and Phang Nga Bay. The limestone platform that produces these islands runs east of Phuket from Phang Nga province, through Krabi province and into Trang producing spectacular scenery all along this stretch of coastline.

Geography courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

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Weather & Climate in Phuket – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 15:40:53 +0000

The result is a fairly predictable weather pattern.

The Cool Season

The cool season is from November to February. The northeast winds start sometime in November bringing an end to the rainy season. The cool season is the best time of year to visit Phuket. There is lots of blue sky, very little rainfall, lower humidity and the temperatures are comfortably hot. This is Phuket’s high-season with the peak of visitors coming over the Christmas and New Year period.

The Hot Season

The hot season is from March to early May. The weather is dry and the skies blue but some people find the temperature is a little too hot for comfort. This is mid-season for Phuket. There are still a lot of visitors but the hotels start to lower their rates around this period as demand drops.

Phuket’s Rainy Season

The monsoon winds from the southwest start in April or May and bring the rain. The highest rainfall comes in May, September and October. In these months it can rain for long periods. These three months are definitely not the time of year to come if you want sun or outdoor activities. However, June, July and August are good months to visit. During these three months, there will be plenty of rain but it usually falls in short heavy bursts. In between, the weather is pleasant with comfortable temperatures and a cooling breeze. There will often be periods of several days without any rain.

The six months of the rainy season are Phuket’s low-season. Hotel rates are slashed and you can generally get lower prices from tour operators, vehicle rentals, boat trips, etc. The months June, July and August are still a popular time to visit as people take advantage of the low season prices. May, September and October are quieter as it is just too wet for most people.

This is definitely the time of year when you should consider renting a car to explore Phuket, many accidents are caused on the roads due to the wet weather, the roads become slippery, driver travel too fast and riding or hiring a motorbike is not a safe option.

One important warning. The rainy season winds bring large waves and dangerous undercurrents to Phuket’s western beaches. Every year around 20 people drown during Phuket’s rainy season. Red flags are raised on the beaches to warn of dangerous conditions. Do not swim in the sea if there are red flags.

Phuket’s Average Monthly Rainfall

December to March is dry and sunny. May to October is rainy with May, September and October having the most rainfall. April and November are transitional months where you can not be certain exactly when the rainy season will start or end.

Phuket’s Average Monthly Temperature

Temperatures in Phuket are fairly constant throughout the year. The average high temperature ranges between 29 and 33 degrees centigrade. The average low temperature ranges between 22 and 26 degrees centigrade. The months March and April can be a little too hot for comfort.

Phuket’s Average Monthly Humidity

Humidity levels are distinctly lower from December through to March. During the rainy season, humidity levels are high and it can feel a little clammy but generally, when it is not raining it is comfortable.

January

It will be beautiful. Lots of blue sky, very little rainfall and temperatures are comfortably hot.

February

It will be beautiful. Lots of blue sky and very little rainfall. The temperatures are starting to rise but still in the comfortably hot range.

March

It will be beautiful but the temperature starts to get a little too hot for comfort. There is lots of blue sky and very little rainfall.

April

Temperatures can reach a level that is too high for most people’s liking. The month starts with plenty of blue sky but usually, at some point towards the end of this month the rainy season arrives.

May

The rainy season well and truly arrives. This is the second wettest month of the year. It will rain often and sometimes for long periods. On the plus side, the temperature drops back to levels that are more comfortable.

June

The rainy season is here but it settles down to a less annoying level. It will rain often but usually they are only short downpours. There are often several days without rain and there is some blue sky in the breaks. Temperatures are comfortable with a cooling breeze.

July

The rainy season continues. The downpours are an inconvenience but not a major annoyance. There may be several days without rain and there is a little blue sky in the breaks. Temperatures are comfortable with a cooling breeze.

August

This is almost a mini high-season month. The school holidays in Europe mean a lot of people choose this month to visit and take advantage of the low-season prices. There are also a lot of Australian visitors this month. The rainy season continues but the downpours are an inconvenience rather than a major annoyance. There may be several days without rain and some blue sky in the breaks. Temperatures are comfortable with a cooling breeze.

September

This is the wettest month of the year. It will rain often and sometimes for long periods. There will be very little blue sky. This is also the coolest month of the year although average high temperatures are still close to 30 degrees centigrade.

October

The rainy season continues to soak Phuket. This is the third wettest month of the year. It will rain often and sometimes for long periods. There will be very little blue sky.

November

This is the official start of the high season. At some point in this month the rains should stop. There will still be showers and the occasional heavy downpour but the main rains have finished. The sky will be a mixture of cloud and blue. Temperatures start to pick up towards the comfortably hot high season level.

December

The high season and the crowds are well and truly here. There will be an occasional shower and perhaps even a few heavy downpours but generally, it is dry. The sky is mostly blue but there is still plenty of passing white cloud. The temperatures are now reaching the thirties.

Having stated that the weather patterns in Phuket are predictable, there have been a couple of recent exceptions. Years 2005 and 2010 both saw the rains hang around all the way through to Christmas and the New Year – putting a damper on a lot of people’s holidays. Is this a sign of things to come? An effect of global warming? Who knows? Certainly weather patterns around the world seem to be less predictable.

Climate courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

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Phuket Accommodation – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 15:31:06 +0000

Villa and Apartment Rental in Phuket

You will find a variety of accommodation choices on the island of Phuket ranging from backpacker hostels to 5 star hotels plus a wide selection of private rentals starting from budget apartments up to luxury fully staffed villas.

From May to October the island experiences the much needed monsoon rains and rates are at their lowest even though there is still plenty of hot sunny days to enjoy your tropical vacation. High season is from November to April with prices increasing during the Christmas, Chinese New Year and Easter holidays when accommodation is generally fully booked well in advance.

Phuket now caters for people who prefer the option of staying in a private apartment or villa especially when travelling in larger groups and with their family as this can be a much cheaper option than a hotel and offers more privacy and freedom. Many properties on Phuket come with a daily maid and options to have a private chef, in house massages, child minders and some even have a car and driver to take you wherever you want to go. Villa Managers can book tours and excursions, advise on restaurants and make sure your vacation runs smoothly.

If you intend to stay longer, again there is a wide choice of properties from a basic thai house to luxury villas on secure private estates. We recommend going through a reputable real estate agent to ensure your booking is guaranteed and that you have a number to ring should you require any help or assistance during your stay.

Phuket Budget Accommodation

It is now fairly difficult to book budget accommodation in advance, online when visiting Phuket as agents find it difficult to negotiate suitable deals, the best way is to hop into your Braun rental car and drive around. In general you can find small villas and apartments with signs outside advertising rooms to let and a phone call or knock on the door is all it takes to set yourself up. The further from the beach you are the cheaper the rental will be, in theory! Walking the side streets in the larger towns such as Patong, Phuket City, Kata, Karon, Chalong, Thalang, Kamala and Kalim will present you with a wide selection of rooms, guesthouses and backpacker hostels.

Mid Range Hotel Accommodation

Some might say that a mid range hotel in Phuket would be classed as top of the range elsewhere. The service you will be treated to is top notch with a typical Thai welcome, the rooms will be clean and well equipped with en-suite bathrooms and air con. You may usually expect a pool, restaurant and bar. Visit a site such as www.phuket.com to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Top of the range Hotels in Phuket

If you are going to treat yourselves to a truly amazing hotel Phuket has some of the best choices in the world. Hotel brands such as JW Marriott, Movenpick, Centara Grand, Banyan Tree, The Surin, Twinpalms and Trisara are but a few of those on offer or catch a glimpse of a celebrity at the Amanpuri. Your room will be amazing with rain showers, wifi, balcony, king size beds and fully stocked mini bar with turn down service and 24 hour room service. You can expect stunning pools, luxurious spa facilities, fitness centres, tennis courts and private beach areas. If it is within your budget it is a must have experience!

Also if you like to enjoy the sun and sand in Phuket and need a fantastic saving for Phuket Hotels , you can visit Wotif.com. They have a wide range of accommodations to choose from … 2 stars to 5 stars rating, hotels, serviced apartments and guesthouses.

Hotels Combined:
This Australian based website is not itself a hotel booking agency. What it does is compare prices across 30 of the major internet booking agencies. It lists the lowest prices available for the hotels you select and connects you to the sites offering those prices. They list more than 300 hotels in Phuket from the bottom price range all the way to the top. We did a price comparison between them and some of the other major internet booking agencies and they consistently found the lowest price. They can save you time & money searching for the best deal.

Finding the right accommodation is now much easier using the internet sites such as Airbnb, Travelmob, Agoda or Booking.com, all have a good choice of hotels, apartments and private villas to suit all budgets.

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Phuket Events & Festivals – Braun Car Hire

BraunCarRental — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 15:16:56 +0000

Phuket Vegetarian Festival – Piercing Ritual (main) Songkran Water Festival (insets)

Phuket hosts many special events and festivals. There are religious festivals, sports events, cultural events, fairs, carnivals and more. Of all these events, undoubtedly the most extraordinary is the vegetarian festival.

September / October

Vegetarian Festival

This event is one of the most extraordinary religious festivals in the world. There are not many countries that could stage this event. It requires a people that embrace the festival with enthusiasm. A people that have the reckless abandon to throw firecrackers at each other and that have the good humour to accept such madness with grace.

It is held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar which means it falls in September or October. That puts it at the height of the rainy season so sadly you cannot expect to combine a trip to the festival with a beach holiday.

There are conflicting stories about exactly how this bizarre festival started. It certainly dates from the early nineteenth century and originated from Chinese migrants involved with the tin mining industry. The most popular story is that a traveling troupe of Chinese entertainers fell sick in Phuket. To cure themselves they went on a strict vegetarian diet and practiced abstinence from sex and alcohol. To the amazement of the locals they all recovered. From then on the locals repeated the festival every year and it has since developed into a huge event that draws visitors from around the world.
The 9-day festival is centered around the Chinese temples in Phuket. Each temple hosts daily events such as walking on hot coals or climbing blade ladders. There are food stalls around each temple selling an incredible range of vegetarian food.

There are daily street processions from the various Chinese temples around the island to the main Chinese temples in Phuket Town. The focal points of the processions are shamans who go into self-induced trances. After the first few days of the festival, these shamans start piercing themselves, usually through the cheeks, with swords, spears and other objects. The marches are a cacophony of noise with drums and firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.

On the last night, the final procession reaches a midnight crescendo with enough firecrackers and smoke to simulate a war zone. If you are only going to make one visit to the festival then this is the one to see. The clock circle outside Metropole Hotel is a popular viewing point. The crowds start gathering from the early evening entertaining themselves with fireworks and firecrackers. The final procession starts coming through around 11pm. This time they come through fast – not surprising since they are under a barrage of firecrackers exploding around their heads and feet and fireworks whistling overhead. The onslaught is so intense that acrid smoke fills the air. It is a truly spectacular sight to see the procession charging through the smoke and firecrackers. Ear-plugs are a good idea.

During the 9 days of the festival, the participants must follow 10 rules. These include wearing white clothes, not eating meat, self-discipline, no alcohol and no sex.

For the date of this years festival and a full schedule of events check the official website – Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

November

Patong Carnival

The start of the high season is marked in Patong with a carnival. From November 1st to 3rd, there are many events including processions, walking streets, food stalls and entertainments.
Thalang Walking Street

In Phuket Town, they celebrate the start of the high season in the first weekend of November by turning Thalang Road into a walking street. This is one of the old roads where the buildings are in the Sino-Portuguese architecture style of old Phuket Town. Stroll along the street enjoying the character of these old buildings. There are lots of stalls, food vendors and entertainments.
Loy Kratong

A national celebration on full moon night in November. After dark, Thais flock to any stretch of water; river, lake or sea, to float their bad luck away on small floats carrying candles. ‘Loy’ means ‘to float’ and ‘kratong’ is the name of the small floats made from banana leaves, tree bark and decorations. It is a beautiful little festival as you watch the flickering lights float away into the distance.

December

Phuket Seafood Festival

December begins with a seafood festival. Phuket is renowned for its great seafood and this is a chance for the local culinary experts to show off their skills. There are food stalls all along Patong beach.

King’s Cup Regatta

There are a few yachting events in Phuket’s waters but this is by far the biggest event of the year and attracts top-class competitors from all over the world.

Laguna Triathlon

Another top-class sporting event, the Laguna Triathlon attracts top class triathletes from all over the world. The 1.8km swim starts at Bang Tao Beach around the sea and into the lagoons behind the beach. The 55km cycle runs up the coast road and through the rubber plantations in the north of the island. And as if that is not enough they finish with a 12km run around the roads of Laguna.

January / February

Chinese New Year

The date of the Chinese New Year varies from late January to mid February. Phuket’s large Chinese population makes it a celebration to remember. Two days of processions, firecrackers and dancing dragons make a colourful spectacle. There are shopping discounts and lots of great food. Go to the old town area of Phuket Town to fully appreciate the celebrations.

Wat Chalong Fair

Wat Chalong Fair coincides with the Chinese New Year. This is a huge fair including shopping stalls, food vendors, games and entertainments. It takes place in the grounds of Wat Chalong which is the most important temple on the island. It is on Chao Fa West Road approx three kilometers from Chalong Circle.

Phuket Old Town Festival

Thalang Road is turned into a walking street for the weekend. There are lots of street stalls and entertainments. Some of the old houses open to visitors.

Phuket Gay Pride Festival

They claim it is the biggest gay festival in Asia. There is a three-day street party around Patong’s gay district at Soi Paradise. There are also parades and a volleyball tournament. It is a colourful and flamboyant event.

April

Songkran Festival

Celebrate the Thai New Year with a good water fight. In northern Thailand, this celebration goes on for a week but in the south, it is a single day – April 13th. Everybody gets loaded up with water guns or buckets of water, and goes out for a good soak. It is a happy, mass water fight. Do not carry electronic goods or passport. Be very careful on your motorbike.

Turtle Releasing Festival

Coinciding with Songkran is the turtle releasing festival. This is an attempt to replenish the diminishing turtle population that lays its eggs at Nai Yang and Mai Khao beaches.

August

Phuket Fireworks Display

A huge fireworks display in Saphin Hin, Phuket Town. You can see this from a distance but the closer the better.

Phuket restaurant information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

Braun Car Rental Phuket

Two Tier Pricing in Thailand – Braun Car Hire

Price for Thai vs Foreigner

There are two viewpoints on two-tier pricing:

A Guide to Thai Cuisine – Braun Car Hire

Top 10 Thai dishes among tourists

Useful Phuket Telephone Numbers – Braun Car Hire

Emergency & Helpful Contact Numbers

At the time this site was published the numbers below were current:

Practical Information for Phuket – Braun Car Hire

Visas

If you want to stay longer than 37 days, you have two options:

Immigration Offices

Phuket Town Office,482 Phuket Road,Phuket Town, 83000Phone: (66) 076.221.905

Patong Beach Branch,Beach Road,Phone: (66) 076.340.477

Tourist Office

Money and Banks

Telephones

Internet

Post

Taxes

Electricity

Health

Airport Tax

Useful Numbers

Phuket History – Braun Car Hire

Thalang National Museum

Thai Language – Braun Car Hire

Understanding Thai

Introduction

Tonal System

Thai Alphabet

Thai Regional Dialects

Krap and Ka

Further Thai Learning Resources

Phuket Map & Geography – Braun Car Hire

Geography of Phuket

Weather & Climate in Phuket – Braun Car Hire

The Cool Season

The Hot Season

Phuket’s Rainy Season

Phuket’s Average Monthly Rainfall

Phuket’s Average Monthly Temperature

Phuket’s Average Monthly Humidity

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Phuket Accommodation – Braun Car Hire

Villa and Apartment Rental in Phuket

Phuket Budget Accommodation

Mid Range Hotel Accommodation

Top of the range Hotels in Phuket

Finding the right accommodation is now much easier using the internet sites such as Airbnb, Travelmob, Agoda or Booking.com, all have a good choice of hotels, apartments and private villas to suit all budgets.

Phuket Events & Festivals – Braun Car Hire

Phuket hosts many special events and festivals. There are religious festivals, sports events, cultural events, fairs, carnivals and more. Of all these events, undoubtedly the most extraordinary is the vegetarian festival.

September / October

Vegetarian Festival

November

Patong Carnival

December

Phuket Seafood Festival

King’s Cup Regatta

Laguna Triathlon

January / February

Chinese New Year

Wat Chalong Fair

Phuket Old Town Festival

Phuket Gay Pride Festival

April

Phuket Town Office,
482 Phuket Road,
Phuket Town, 83000
Phone: (66) 076.221.905

Patong Beach Branch,
Beach Road,
Phone: (66) 076.340.477