Surin Beach
A kilometer north
of Laem Sing Beach lies the popular Surin Beach. As of now this beach has not
been developed and it is a quiet and peaceful bay lined with a row of stately
Casuarina trees.
A tropical beach with pine trees rather
than palm trees may seem out of place to many but the local Thais flock to this
beach on weekends and holidays and bask in the shade provided by these unusual
trees. The middle of the beach front is occupied by a dozen Thai beach-style mini
restaurants serving up sizzling seafood to hungry visitors. Surin Beach is usually
the second stop on the north beach safari and a good place for lunch because the
next beach stop does not serve food.
For
the careful swimmer Surin offers some good snorkeling opportunities at both ends
of the beach but during the rainy season the water visibility is not very good.
Big waves that are common on Surin beach during the monsoon season have caused
a steep drop from the shore to the water line and can create dangerous undertow
conditions. During high tide when the swells are big and running swiftly good
surfing conditions exist here and is becoming an increasingly popular sport. There
are no vendors renting surf boards at the beach yet but that may change in the
future. Good surfing conditions can make for hazardous swimming and care must
be taken with children and non-swimmers.
Is the traditional heart of Phuket’s
Muslim community. As you pass through this picturesque village strung out along
the highway you will see the Ban Thao Mosque. This impressive and ornate structure
is the largest mosque on the island. Visitors are allowed and discrete photos
may be taken, but care should be exercised and avoid going on Fridays the Muslim
holy day. The village offers several roadside markets that offer up delicious
Muslim food and fruit picked fresh from the many nearby orchards. When ordering
food or buying fruit you may have to resort to "point and smile technique",
because English is for the most part only spoken by the younger generation. At
the traffic light you can continue straight to the Heroines Monument and the main
road to Phuket Town or turn left onto highway 4020 and continue your tour of the
northern beaches.
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