Kamala - Good for Expats?

[CeltNYC]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their great advice on prior threads. Narrowed down our search to a nice place in Kamala. I've searched some other threads on here about Kamala and seems like a great spot as the beaches seem nice and is quieter than Patong. It will be myself, my wife and our 1 year old son. Our new place is near the Two Chef's Restaurant and it is a 5 minute walk to town and the beach. Just wanted to know what the quality of life was like for ex-pats there? Groups to join, stuff to do? Working in Kathu so will be driving to work from there. Google maps say it's a 25 minute door to door drive but will I hit traffic if I leave around 6:50 am in the morning and start my return leg around 4pm each day? Thanks.

[benalibina]

You work in Kathu but live in Kamala.......good luck.

[Kaymcdonnell]

Well Kamala is either a place you love or a place you hate.  I lived there once and would never go back but i have friends there who love it.  The biggest problem is the fact that you have to commute to Kathu everyday, that will be a bit of a nightmare especially in high season.  Are you traveling by motor bike or car?  Also if you are traveling when it has gone dark a bigger worry.

Anyone who works in Kathu usually live in Kathu.

[steelepulse]

I have to agree about the commute, it will become a pain after a while.  If you are going via Patong, you will be against traffic in the morning, so that won't be too bad, but it is still not something that I would want to have to do on a daily basis. Keep in mind the rush hour starts around 7 am or so with parents taking their kids to school and people heading to work.

[phuketrichard]

i have lived here since 1997 ( except for a year in the states and 1 in Cambodia) still love it here,

small enough to be known, a few good local places to eat, Big c, lotus, 7/11's  nice beach, a few bars, laid back, nice people ( most of the locals that live here were born here unlike other beach areas on the island) Friday night market , 2 day /week food market

 

I used to commute to take my daughter to qsi every day ( took her in the morning an picked her up in the afternoon ( thats over by the big lotus)

75Kms/day

didn't bother me

 

Kamala to Kathu less than that,i usually average 30 minutes to Central.  depends on time but most people drive INTO patong in the morning and are leaving between 4-6.

[phuketandsee]

I live in Kamala and I love it, but then I don't commute to Kathu.

 

"If you are going via Patong, you will be against traffic in the morning"

 

Not really, you will be going with the traffic on your way into Patong and that can be real bad, especially now trucks/buses can't use Patong hill and must come via Surin. Getting stuck behind a slow mover on the hills before Patong is not fun.

 

[KarenBravo]

Kamala very nice, but, probably the most inconvenient place to go anywhere else from.

[NomadJoe]

Kamala is a nice area, but it's got a large Muslim population so suss out the mosques before you choose a place or you may be bothered by the multiple, daily calls to prayer starting at 0445.

 

I would not like to do that commute everyday. Patong hill is quite dangerous.

 

Just so we are clear, Patong is also part of Tumbon Kathu. Business addresses in Patong often say "Kathu" though it is understood that Kathu usually refers to the bit east of the Patong hills. If google says 25 minutes then your job probably is in Kathu proper, but if you are working in Patong, then a commute to and from Kamala would be no problem.

 

Going via the heroines monument circle would be a bit longer but easier, safer drive.

Edited August 9, 2014 by NomadJoe

[CeltNYC]

Kamala very nice, but, probably the most inconvenient place to go anywhere else from.

 

Terrific to hear about it being nice. It looks beautiful. Why do you say it;s inconvenient? I didn't have much problem driving down to Karon or Kata beach from there.

 

Everyone except Richard, who has actually lived there and done the commute to Kathu, said it's a mental commute. I am coming from doing an hour door to door commute in the states so if he is saying it's a half hour drive on average that's not bad. 

 

I'll have plenty of recordings like Thai language lessons, History and other assorted things to learn and listen to so a half hour in the car is not so bad. If I leave a little before 7 and then leave at 4 pm will I miss most of the heavy traffic?

 

Also looked on Google Maps and there is another way to go. There is a route going north that is longer than going through Patong. This route goes "via Route 4025 and ถนน เทพกระษัตรี" and it says it's 28 minutes via google maps. Google maps is often unreliable with times but would this route make more sense traffic wise?

 

Just wanted to hear more about Kamala in general as we want to make sure it's a good place for our family. Thanks.

[grumpyoldman]

Due to the bottleneck that is the circle there where they have just installed a fancy new dolphin statue,I have seen the traffic back up past Indochine.

 

OP, I think you have it backwards, live in Kathu and commute to Kamala during your free time.

[CeltNYC]

Kamala is a nice area, but it's got a large Muslim population so suss out the mosques before you choose a place or you may be bothered by the multiple, daily calls to prayer starting at 0445.

 

I would not like to do that commute everyday. Patong hill is quite dangerous.

 

Just so we are clear, Patong is also part of Tumbon Kathu. Business addresses in Patong often say "Kathu" though it is understood that Kathu usually refers to the bit east of the Patong hills. If google says 25 minutes then your job probably is in Kathu proper, but if you are working in Patong, then a commute to and from Kamala would be no problem.

 

Going via the heroines monument circle would be a bit longer but easier, safer drive.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Would this be the route you describe via Heroine's Monument circle? That's going north and then around to Kathu. It says 28 minutes via google maps but again it's prob longer. Would this make more sense than going through Patong? Thanks. 

Continue to Route 4233

 

600 m / 2 min

 

 

 

 

 

Take Route 4025 and ถนน เทพกระษัตรี to ถนน แม่หลวน in ตำบล ตลาดเหนือ เทศบาลนครภูเก็ต

 

27.9 km / 26 min

 

Sharp left onto Route 4233

 

2.5 km

 

Continue onto Route 4025

 

13.2 km

 

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto ถนน เทพกระษัตรี/Route 402

 

  Continue to follow ถนน เทพกระษัตรี

 

11.7 km

 

Turn right onto ถนน ทุ่งคา

 

450 m

 

Continue onto ถนน แม่หลวน

 

  Destination will be on the left

 

Edited August 9, 2014 by CeltNYC

[Shot]

I do that drive twice a day. I keep my brain busy with audio books, or Thai language skills. The drive isn’t too bad, and Kamala is very nice. I live on the north end and can get past Central in about 35 minutes (high season longer). Same on return. Patong Hill is a bit crazy; just keep your eyes peeled for the crazies. The key to an easy afternoon drive is being on the road my 4:00. Not 4:15. Not 4:07, not 4:02, but 4:00.

 

You say you’re near Two Chef’s so you may have some noise from the Mosque, but it’s not bad. I lived in that area for a few years. You’re close to BigC, you have the Saturday and Wednesday market on the corner, and if you need something quick there is a small mini mart opposite Royal Embassy Suites.

[Pomthai]

The Heroines circle is a disaster in the mornings.

 

They close the circle at about 7am and all traffic coming from the west wanting to go south at the circle is forced to go North and que for a U turn to head south. You cannot take the third exit. Then there is another bottleneck at the lights about 2ks south of the Isuzu showroom.

Once you eventually get to the Toyota place to turn right onto the bypass road you will be stuck yet again at the other end where they are digging the underpass next to the Tescos in Samkong.

 

If in Kamala via Patong would definitely be the better route in the mornings. Coming home via the Heroines circle would likely be fine at 4pm. But after 5pm a lot more traffic.

[phuketandsee]

Not only do they close the monument roundabout but there are road works right now just before and you are diverted through a small village. You do come out closer to the U-turn but tough to get across the traffic flow.

 

Kamala is well situated for points north and for Patong and only 30 minutes from Central. Bit of a schlep to Chalong and Rawai though.

 

I like its villagy feel and proximity to the beach without being too crowded even in the high season. And Kamala bakery has the best breakfast on the island.

[grumpyoldman]

No way do you go Heroines Monument. Patong hill is the route.

[KarenBravo]

No way do you go Heroines Monument. Patong hill is the route.

 

Agree, but, one little fender bender on the hill and you're screwed.

[LivinginKata]

No way do you go Heroines Monument. Patong hill is the route.

I completely agree. Makes no sense to go via Heroine's - longer and much busier.

[phuketandsee]

Like GOM says, much better to live in Kathu then choose your beach for weekends. That commute is going to drive you crazy after a while - or kill you. You will need all your concentration to survive that trip so don't be distracted by Thai lessons. Driving here is very different to the US.

[Pinot]

Don't come here. It's a terrible place. 

[phuketrichard]

Kamala very nice, but, probably the most inconvenient place to go anywhere else from.

 

and that is why we like it!!!!

[CeltNYC]

Ended up moving to Kamala and enjoy it. 

However there is a big problem. Our baby gets woken up terrified by the insanely loud mosque call to prayer at 5 am. It goes from 5 am every morning until around 5:04 and I've never heard of a call to prayer this loud in all my travels. 

My wife and I have to go downstairs to cradle the baby who is inconsolable for about 15 minutes each time. This is going to be ridiculous for an entire year. I wonder if there is any way to get out of our lease contract due to this as it's totally insane. The noise is similar to the music pysch ops the US used against Noriega in 89'.

[KarenBravo]

You were warned about this by Nomadjoe in post #8.

You should have listened to him.

[schlog]

Talk with the owner. You will loose your deposit and 1 or 2 month rent. Move out and learn something from this.

[LivinginKata]

Talk with the owner. You will loose your deposit and 1 or 2 month rent. Move out and learn something from this.

For sure you will loose your deposit, and any prepaid rent if you move out immediately. This is one of the problems in certain areas of Kamala.

[RawaiPlaBoyz]

Ended up moving to Kamala and enjoy it. 

However there is a big problem. Our baby gets woken up terrified by the insanely loud mosque call to prayer at 5 am. It goes from 5 am every morning until around 5:04 and I've never heard of a call to prayer this loud in all my travels. 

My wife and I have to go downstairs to cradle the baby who is inconsolable for about 15 minutes each time. This is going to be ridiculous for an entire year. I wonder if there is any way to get out of our lease contract due to this as it's totally insane. The noise is similar to the music pysch ops the US used against Noriega in 89'.

SO Rawai. I live on the beach and have an open screened window.....I got use to it.. My cat thinks its a call for food|!

[Shot]

Ended up moving to Kamala and enjoy it. 

However there is a big problem. Our baby gets woken up terrified by the insanely loud mosque call to prayer at 5 am. It goes from 5 am every morning until around 5:04 and I've never heard of a call to prayer this loud in all my travels. 

My wife and I have to go downstairs to cradle the baby who is inconsolable for about 15 minutes each time. This is going to be ridiculous for an entire year. I wonder if there is any way to get out of our lease contract due to this as it's totally insane. The noise is similar to the music pysch ops the US used against Noriega in 89'.

 

What's done is done. Relax. Give it a week or two, and you won't hear it, just like a coo coo clock.

[simon43]

[quote]

,I have seen the traffic back up past Indochine.[

/quote]

Good Heavens!!  Saigon or Hanoi??