Happy 2014

And that's it for now.

Although old Phuket town, half an hour away from Patong, does retain some charme, the impact of mass tourism on this part of the country is not for the better.

Farewell Phuket.

Patong

There are probably other places like this one or maybe even worse ones . Yet it has something disturbing, in its atmosphere of total disregard for nature and architecture, for people's body and soul, for respect or dignity, all in the name of what some consider to be big fun.

It did not help that the organiser commented with a pinch of pride her successful booking in the famous and beautiful Patong beach, promising dreamlike midnight swimming, just minutes before finding ourselves stuck in hoards of drunk crowds, scooters, touts, hookers and rubbish.

Our accommodation also gives clear hints of its target customers. Mostly sport channels on (free) TV, dark towels and slippers, and an inside window with a view on the shower to be enjoyed while comfortably lying on your bed.

But New Year's Eve party sports thousands of paper lanterns beautifully raising from the beach to the sky. Better to look up at them, forgetting about the dump and the drunken staying down on earth.

Hopefully 2014 will be a better year for all.

Happy new year.