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Originally Posted by AU101
Bucknaked - god you've been going there a long time, you woulda seen heaps of changes? Busy tourist spot in the 80's? etc??
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Dad was in the RAAF and we were stationed in Butterworth. Twice a year we would fly over to Phuket for a weeks break. We always stayed on Patong. In the 80's it was primarily a port for the US Navy to drop anchor in the Harbour. Beach road was a dirt road and the bridge at the South End of Patong was a timber foot bridge. The bars were situated on the South End of Patong along side the beach. Club Andaman Beach suites was one of the original hotels. The road which runs at the back which Jungceylong and Top O Markets didn't exist. It was farm land and you had to watchout for Water Buffaloes. Patong in the 80 was a paradise. You could hire motorbikes, but you were never hassled or harassed and there were only a few places to stay and eat. It really was an escape from the city. While we still love It, I much preferred the Patong of old.
One of my best memories was a trip we did when the US navy were in harbor. Dad being military, he managed to get us onto the USS White Plains via long boat in which we got a tour of the boat by the Commander of the ship. A great experience.