What are the best and worst things about living in Phuket?

worst things are guys like jitagong , the best things mate are numerous.

best:

Everything you could possibly want shopping wise is here. (except large man size shirts, but the new mega shopping centre is nearly finished)

Hospitals are very good.

The beaches are nice and not busy in low season.

You can live anywhere on the Island and your still only 1 hour from everywhere.

You do not get many backpacker types.

Very easy Island to navigate as there are really only 4 or 5 main arterial roads.

You can live like a tourist or like a local, both in price wise and locations.

International airport.

The surrounding Islands and other spectacular scenery within 1.5 hours.

The tight expat localised community ( I also live the southern end of the Island).

The weather.

World class movie theatre.

Great fishing.

Nice southern people.

really fesh seafood, caught same day.

Beach restaurants.

Some great bars and clubs of all types.

International schools.

and a lot more as this is off the top of my head.

You will enjoy mate - good luck!

Everything is dammnn great in Phuket as long as you have a sense of humour, smile a lot, and have enough money to get by.

The bad things for me would probably be the excess factor, too much of a good thing, you need to be aware of it and have your feet firmly on the ground. If you put a toothpick in the corner of your mouth and swaggered around a bit you could be considered cool, if you put two toothpicks in your mouth, one in each corner and swaggered around a bit you could be considered a bit loopy, if you had forty five toothpicks in your mouth and swaggered around a bit, you'd probably have very badly bleeding gums, my point being there really aren't any limits except for the ones you set for yourself.

Sometimes I amaze myself with the rubbish I come out with.

Sometimes I amaze myself with the rubbish I come out with.

I actually thought you made some good points regarding excess mate as yes it is all avaiable at any time. First two years were a blur.

Pros:

island

low season beach loneliness (I'm often the only person, tis a shame...ha!)

many areas available with clean air

western food

good people

proximity and transportation options to smaller islands

golfing

me

Cons:

traffic retards

too many big trucks and buses

poor infrastructure (all types)

zoning laws? are there such things?

annoying power outages

tourists

Cons:

Phukets power supply is a bit dodgy, semi-regular power out's (only usually 30mins or so)

Phukets lack of cheap, accessable broadband (in the south at least)

Traffic, roads and idiots with no common sense (suppose thats global, not just phuket)

Hard-core, tight trouser wearing coppers on the take.

Pros:

Beaches,

Sun

Lots of friendly people,

Cheap as chips to live here (if your sensible)

Some great bars

i could go on, but i've got stuff to do...

Thanks for all your input but I am surprised there was no mention of Patong being a bit of a downer though, but I suspect you all live in the south or east side.

So where did you say was the best place for fishing Tornado?