It looks like there was an oil spill nearby.  For the past couple days, there have been blobs of tar all over Patong Beach.  They're extremely sticky and cause a burning sensation on my feet.  They can't be washed off with soap and water, only an oil-based solvent.

 

Has anyone seen them on other Phuket beaches as well?

 

1 hour ago, alw22 said:

Has anyone seen them on other Phuket beaches as well?

 

Maybe we'll start to see some photos of it tomorrow, if Phuket sandbox thing works out... 

Karon beach today in a terrible mess. Kata Noi beach was the same yesterday. How can the PM come here and declare that 'Phuket is ready for business' ? How can there be no mechanism in place to clean these beaches ? If anyone does make it here in July expect some adverse publicity.

Anyone who is coming here is out of their minds, so they'll get what they deserve I'm afraid.  These "tourists" must be masochists.  Which leads me to believe that virtually everyone arriving are actually expats with connections seeking an easier method to enter the country and then go to their Thai residences after Sandbox Lockdown.  If people are actually coming here to vacation?  Tarballs will probably be the highlight of their trip.  ????  Amazing Thailand! (not)

20 hours ago, Upnotover said:

 

Great opening of the Sandbox.....????

Bangtao beach is no better. The kids have had oil all over their feet 3 times in the past few days 

 

The rubbish on the beach is awful too. Absolutely no visible efforts from anyone - not even the staff of 5 star hotels in Laguna area to clean up in front of their resorts.

 

 

Perhaps Phuket can market the tarball as a skin-cream or Covid deterrent. 
"Well you see farang, the oil soaks up Covid from the beach sand causing it to coagulate in the tarball and the hydrocarbons in the tarball kill the viruses making all you beach dwellers safe from the Plague.  Don't worry about the dead fish and plastic bottles.  Blame Malaysia and Myanmar.  Not our fault!  By the way.  Can we see your passport, you phone and your GPS tracker? 

Thailand is, and always will be, because education and the will to educate is lacking, it's times like this I miss Sydney's pristine beaches.

21 hours ago, lolalol said:

 

Maybe we'll start to see some photos of it tomorrow, if Phuket sandbox thing works out... 

I’ve seen them on kata and kata noi over the course of the last week. They seem to be diminishing though

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

Sydney's pristine beaches.

& bikinis!

29 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

& bikinis!

 

Half bikini's, Bondi Beach, Tamarama, Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, etc 

And the winner is Patong beach!