Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GAY PRIDE IN PHUKET
Although there are big gay pride celebrations in Bangkok and Pattaya, the
Phuket Gay Pride Festival
is con-
sidered by many to be the best in Thailand, maybe even Southeast Asia. The date has changed several times, but
it usually lands between February and April. Whenever it blooms, the whole island - but the town of Patong spe-
cifically - is packed with (mostly male) revellers from all over the world.
The main events of the four-day weekend party are a huge beach volleyball tournament and, of course, the
Grand Parade, featuring floats, cheering crowds and beautiful costumes in the streets of Patong. In recent years,
the festival has also included social-responsibility campaigns to increase awareness of child prostitution, sub-
stance abuse and HIV.
Any other time of year, the network of streets that link the Royal Paradise Hotel with Th Rat Uthit in Patong is
www.boatbar.com
; 125/20 Th Rat Uthit; 9pm-late) , Phuket's original gay nightspot and still its only disco, is
usually jumping with a lively, mostly gay crowd. Make sure to arrive before the midnight cabaret! There's anoth-
Rat Uthit; 9pm-late) . For updates on future festivals or for more information about the scene in general, go
to
Gay Patong
(
www.gaypatong.com
n) .
Entertainment
Cabaret and Thai boxing are something of a speciality here.
Phuket Simon Cabaret
( 0 7634 2011;
www.phuket-simoncabaret.com
;
Th Sirirach; admission 700-800B; performances 6pm, 7.45pm
& 9.30pm nightly)
About 300m south of town, this cabaret offers entertaining transvestite
shows. The 600-seat theatre is grand, the costumes are gorgeous and the ladyboys
(gà·teu·i)
are convincing. The house is often full - book ahead.
CABARET
Bangla Boxing Stadium
( 0 7282 2348; 198/4 Th Rat Uthit; admission 1000-1500B; 9-11.30pm Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun)
Old name,
new stadium, same game: a packed line-up of competitive
moo·ay tai
(Thai boxing) bouts.
THAI BOXING
Jung Ceylon
CINEMA
(Th Rat Uthit)
You can catch new Hollywood releases in pristine, amphitheatre-style cinemas
at the shopping mall.
Information
