Phuket - Kata and Patong Beach

We have been sunnying it up on the beaches for a week now and loving every minute! We arrived in Phuket last Friday and stayed in Hat Kata at the Serene Resort (care of our friend, Jane...) which was gorgeous and a welcome change to Bangkok (again) which we were stuck in to get our visas for Vietnam. Bangkok really does suck once you have left it and been anywhere else in Thailand. Hat Kata was a really touristy beach and was very laid back and fun. We had some rain the first day we were there and so there were a few jellyfish at the beach so we stuck to the pool. Nothing really to report. We headed over to Patong Beach at Grant's brother, Craig's, recommendation. And it was worth it. While our lonely planet paints Patong as a not so desirable destination, we really enjoyed it. There were plenty of neon signs and harrassing Thais (many of whom, hilariously, spoke with Aussie accents...) and the beach was gorgeous (although busy). The aftermath of the tsunami was clear with rubble and empty lots where buildings had once been and evacuation routes clearly marked. We thought of Craig the entire time we were there as he spent a month in Phuket and around Patong last year assisting the authorities in identifying victims. A hard and heart breaking thing to have done but very courageous. He is to be awarded a medal of service this week in Auckland which we wish we could be there for but we are thinking of him while we are here.