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Useful Telephone Numbers
Emergency Calls
| ( 24 hrs )
| 191 (police)
199 (fire)
1699 (tourist police)
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Helicopter Emergency Service
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| 1719
See Bangkok-Phuket hospital
Phuket
(lands at Seaview Resort,
Khao Lak)
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Diving Emergency Service
(SSS Recompression Chamber Network)
(Global Hyperbaric Medicine)
| 24 hrs
| Tel + 66 (0) 81 081 9444
24 hrs but operates from
Phuket from May to
September
http://www.sssnetwork.com
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| Police stations |
Khao Lak |
076 420558 |
| | Khuk Khak | 076 420519 |
| Takuapa
| 076 421116
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Phang Nga provincial police
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076 412075 |
Muang police
(Phang Nga)
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076 412073 |
General hospital
(Phang Nga town)
|
436 Phet Kasem road, T. Thai Chang, Mueang Phang Nga 82000 |
076 412032, 411616-9
Phang Nga hospital website
Phang Nga hospital website
Phang Nga Provincial Public Health Office website
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General hospital
(Thai Muang town )
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Rongphayaban Hospital
166 Phet Kasem Road, Thai Muang town |
076 571505 (Mon - Fri)
Thai Muang Public Health Dept. 076 571 492 |
| Takuapa General Hospital | 39/2 Moo 1, Phetkasem Road, T. Bang Naisri
Takuapa town |
076 442443, 431488
076 431513-6
076 421080
Takuapa hospital website
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Clinic Dr. Chusak
KhaoLak | 10/1 Moo 7
Petchkasem Road
Ban La On
| 076 485738
081 737 6098
081 968 9702
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Clinic Dr. Sumet
KhaoLak | Petchkasem Road
Bang Niang
| 086 946 7638
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Clinic Dr. Seree
KhaoLak | (towards the beach)
Ban La On
| 076 420149
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Inter Clinic
KhaoLak | (entrance road to Bang Niang beach)
Bang Niang
| 076 486551
087 628 3577
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Dental Home
clinic
KhaoLak
| 21/20 Moo 7
Petchkasem Road
Ban La On
| 081 135 3559
076 485895 |
Dental Clinic
KhaoLak
| 5/9 Moo 7
Petchkasem Road
| 076 420571 |
Bumrungrad
Hospital (BH)
Bangkok | 33 Sukhumvit 3
Soi Nana Nua
Wattana Bangkok 10110 | (02) 6671000 |
( The Bumrungrad Hospital is truly internationally acclaimed )
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Emergency Calls
| ( 24 hrs )
| 199 and 1699
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Phang Nga provincial police
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076 412075 |
Muang police
|
Phang Nga |
076 412073
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| Police station |
Khao Lak |
076 420558
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Public Health Office
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076 412041
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| Immigration Office |
37 Moo 3
Tambon Thamnamphud
Ampur Muang
Phang Nga 82000
|
076 412011
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| Labour Dept. |
Phang Nga |
076 413947
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| Governor's Office |
Phang Nga |
076 411401
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Governor's Office
Receptionist |
Phang Nga |
(081) 9709696
(mobile)
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| Phan Nga Town Municipality |
Phang Nga |
076 412013, 411164
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| Provincial Hall |
Phang Nga |
076 412140
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Muang District
Office |
Phang Nga |
076 412053
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| Bus terminal |
|
076 412014
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Transportation Office
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076 412064
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| Post Office |
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076 412171
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Making telephone calls
Use the red phone booths for making calls within the same province only; they accept 1 Baht coins. Blue booths (5 and 10 Baht coins) and green (card) booths can be used for calls anywhere within Thailand.
Oversea calls can be made from the telephone office. Hotels and agencies will make a surcharge.
The international dialing code from Thailand is 001.
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Useful Thai phrases
Mayor's Office - Nai Amphur
Provincial Office - Salagaan
(Colloquial for) Immigration Office - dtaw maw
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Climate
Thailand's climate is governed by a tropical monsoon pattern, which produces two seasons in Southern Thailand and three seasons in the other regions of Thailand.
Accordingly, there is a "dry" season from November to May, (as a result of the N.E. monsoon). This period starts with slightly cooler temperatures, followed by higher temperatures from March to May.
By the end of June the "wet" season officially begins, with the onset of the S.W. monsoon. However the actual week or month depends on the monsoons in any given year.
Temperatures are warm throughout the year, with only slight variations in highs and lows.
The most popular time to visit is from November through to March, when the temperature and humidity are slightly
lower. At this time there is a comfortable cooler breeze, with generally clear blue skies and very calm seas. Temperatures typically reach 32C and drop to 24C at night.
The hottest months are April and May with temperatures ranging from 27C upto 36C.
There can be short heavy thundery showers, which actually provide a welcome relief from the temperature and humidity.
June, July and early August are slightly less hot ( 24C to 33C ) with generally fine weather and plenty of sunshine between brief heavy downpours.
By the end of August, through to October inclusive, the wet monsoon sets in more noticeably, but, even then, there are still long sunny intervals between the heavy showers.
September is the wettest month. Beaches are slightly windswept and less picturesque looking,
and some water-based activities are restricted (eg. visits to the Surin and Similan islands). Nonetheless, Thai Muang is very enjoyable at any time of the year with a wide range of attractions and excursions.
And of course the low season brings with it some bargain prices.
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Shopping
Bargaining is the norm when shopping at markets, small stalls and shops or from street vendors. Depending on your skills, you can expect to pay around 10-40% less than the original asking price.
But a larger retail outlet will sell only fixed price merchandise.
Also please refer to some of the items offered for sale by small local community groups
in our community section page.
There are a number of superb items to be had, from handicrafts to jewelry, silks, and clothes and tailoring. Many of the crafts originate from other regions of the country. The low prices will weaken whatever sales resistance you may possess!
The following is a selection:
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Thai Silk
This iridescent cloth has achieved world fame, and for good reason. It can be cut into scarves, ties, pillow slips as well as outstandingly beautiful dresses. It is also sold in lengths.
Clothes
There is a very wide range of summer evening wear and beach clothes at very reasonable prices. You could
arrive with the barest wardrobe and find everything you need right here. Many beautiful and artistic, good quality cotton, T-shirts make excellent gifts.
Tailoring
You can find several highly qualified tailoring shops. Have an excellent quality suit made at a fraction of the price back home, and in a fraction of the time.
Purses
Southern Thailanders weave a fine grass (Yan lipea) into beautiful purses. This is an old art which has been revived by Queen Sirikit to bring prosperity to village women.
Batik
The South is a major batik center. Both ready-made clothes and lengths are available.
Leather
The hides of a wide range of animals (including snakes, frogs, lizards, crocodiles, armadillos, cows and even chickens) are used to make shoes, belts, wallets, bags and attache cases.
Nang Thalung (Puppets)
These bright coloured shadow puppets are made from buffalo hide and are produced locally.
They make excellent wall decorations.
Umbrellas and Fans
There are some lovely umbrellas and painted fans made from silk or Sa paper from tree bark, mainly from Chiang Mai.
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Gold
For Thais, gold is not just an important precious metal, but is considered an ordinary article of merchandise with social kudos, as a guarantee for financial liquidity and at the same time as personal security in times of need.
In Thailand there is a unique unit of measurement for weight, called "Baht" (ie the same name as the currency).
One "Baht" weighs 15.16 grams.
Thai gold is 96.5% pure (equivalent to 23 carat); the remaining 3.5 per cent consists of alloy metals
added to make the gold harder and more solid for processing, as well as more robust in day-to-day use.
International standards apply to gold and they are followed in Thailand. All gold items are of course hallmarked.
Gold jewellery is (or should be) sold almost exclusively on the basis of weight. Only small sums (approx. 150 - 250 baht) are added to the gold price to cover the cost of labour. (Compare this to some countries where the work of a skillful goldsmith has a price all of its own).
One exception might be Bangkok International Airport, where the prices seem very inflated.
Gold with a level of purity less than 23 carat is considered inferior and Thais regard 10, 14 or 18 carat gold as utterly worthless; in Thailand such gold is never accepted as security.
All reputable gold shops will have the price of one Baht weight clearly advertised (eg. 14,000 baht per Baht). The price should be the same in all shops for the current day.
Such shops will have on display rows
of 1 Baht, 2 Baht, 3 Baht and 5 Baht necklaces, and 0.5 or 1 Baht rings for example.
There are some spectacular and intricate designs, and as already stated the labour should only be a few hundred baht.
Metal art objects
Bronze dieties, animal and abstract figures are cast and clad in gleaming brass skins.
Bronze is also crafted into cutlery sets.
Gold and silver are pounded into jewellery items, boxes and other decorative items.
Lacquerware
Items include wooden figurines, ornate containers and trays and other items. The usual varieties are either in gleaming gold and black, or in matte red with black or green details.
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Gems and Jewellery
Thailand has a huge jewellery industry and is the world's largest coloured gem cutting centre. Prices are relatively low. There are some
fantastic designs and the labour is cheap.
Pewter
Pewterware is an amalgam of lead and tin. Thailand is the world's third largest exporter of tin and a good deal of the metal still comes from nearby Ko Phuket. Plates, steins and other items can be found.
Pearls
You may come across pearls for sale. Again, nearby Ko Phuket produces international standard natural, cultured, teardrop and artificial pearls. The latter are made from glued pearl dust to form a globule
Baskets
Wicker and grasses are made into tissue boxes, storage boxes, mats and other practical household items.
Wood
Antiques are in short supply but there are various copies (sold as copies not originals). Images of animals, gods, precocious children and betelnut boxes in a variety of finishes are quite popular. For the most varied range of wooden furniture, one really needs to visit Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand.
All wooden items have remarkable craftmanship.
Home decor items
Artificial flowers and fruits made of paper and fabric are almost indistinguishable from fresh varieties. Burmese kalaga wall hangings (stuffed with cotton to create a bas-relief effect) depicting kings, mythical animals and gods
are also to be found. Paper mache products excellent gifts and home decor items.
Ceramics
These range from jade green glazed celadon pottery to earthenware, stoneware, and (Chinese) blue and white items. These originate from Northern Thailand.
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