Wat Chalong and Ska Bar

Ok, so, Wat Chalong. Wat Chalong is Phuket's largest Buddhist Temple, located about 6KM south of Phuket Town. I took a walk down in the morning from the hostel, on a very hot day. The hot day thing is significant, because being a worldy traveller type person I was fully aware that you should be covered up when visiting a temple (shorts and T-shirts aren't really acceptable) so I was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I lost about 5 kilos on the walk.

I got to Wat Chalong and decided to have a walk around the grounds, doing my best to avoid the stray dogs which were lying around everywhere (they get well looked after by the monks) and admiring the various buildings. Someone decided to let off about a thousand firecrackers in a special firecracker-setting-off-hut just as I walked past, scaring the bejesus out of me and half a dozen farang standing nearby. Walking around I was appaled at the number of ignorant tourists who were dressed completely inappropriately - strappy tops, tight shorts etc. I wondered briefly if they would go to church in the UK dressed like that, scowled at them and made my way to the temple itself. I think.

I say I think because there were so many buildings it was hard to tell what was what. I'm pretty sure the building I headed for was the main temple as there were people praying there, which is usually a small clue. That said, there was a larger building with a couple of people praying, but I think that was something else.

The various temple buildings are unbelievable - gold and red with intricate details, large statues and all sorts of other things. I spent ages walking arounf the insides of the various buildings, doing my best not to offend anyone inadvertently (taking my shoes off, not pointing my feet at any Buddha images, not climbing the statues and mooning people, that sort of thing).

I guess really a guide would have been usefuol so I actually knew what I was looking at but it was very interesting nonetheless, and somehow calming too. Except for the firecrackers.

In the evening I popped back down to Kata beach, and this time I was successful in finding Ska Bar. Tucked in to the rocks at the south end of Kata Beach and built around a huge tree it's got to be one of the most chilled out bars in the world. They play reggae constantly and you can sit there enjoying a cold Singha watching the sun set over the sea. I recommend.