Some time back in 2008 I posted about the Hua Hin Jazz Festival, now it’s the turn of Phuket to host a musical festival but this times its the blues.

The Phuket Blues Festival is now in its 4th year (missing 2006) and this year is being held at The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, on Karon Beach. This hotel is an ideal location for this large outdoor festival and with Eric Bibb headlining the 2009 show they will need all that space.

If you never heard Eric, or even heard of Eric, then you are in fro a treat. You can find some of his best works at other festivals on you tube, look out for “Don’t let know body drag your spirit down”, a masterpiece in blues playing and singing.

If you are on or around Phuket between February 19 and 22 you should definitely take advantage of this blues festival, with tickets costing 1,200Baht (about £24 at the current exchange) for 2days buy at only 3000Baht (£60) you could have the VIP treatment at the festival for the full2 days.

The un-official kick off for the 2009 Phuket Blues Festival starts at 10pm on Thursday 19 in the Rockin’ Angels Jammin’ Cafe in Phuket Town with a warm up. The main events happen across the next two days at The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa with the end of the festival being played out at the Royal Phuket Marine from 6.30pm to 10.00pm on the Sunday.

The video below is highlights from the Phuket Blues Festival 2008, not only does it show the wonderful acts  on stage last year but it also shows how hot the weather is during February in Thailand. If you happen to be on holiday to Thailand or planning a last minute get away to the tropical island of Phuket during the last week of February definitely look out for this treat.

Edit :- The video on the page seem to be breaking this wordpress theme. So I have had to remove it and just place the link to it HERE

It was recently been reported that thirty false killer whales swam ashore in Thailand on the isle of Phuket. With fast help from local residents and hotel staff all but one was saved. The whales, upto 4.2m in length, came ashore on one of the tourist Thailand beaches on Racha Island in the Andaman Sea were the residents and hotel staff acted quickly and together to carry them back to the rough seas.

It was decided that for the safety of people ten of the whales would be loaded onto trucks and transferred to another beach about a mile away, where calmer waters made it easier to return them to sea. Unfortunately during this transfer one of the whales died from shock.

Staff at the Phuket Marine Biological Center are not sure why the whales ran aground but have said “They may have done so because of the strong waves, or they could have been misled by their leader’s sonar signal.”(src) This is not the first time false killer whales have ran aground on Thailand beaches but this was a very large number to be beached together. Scientifically classified as dolphins these social creatures and are well known for stranding themselves.

Direct Contact Details

43/2 Raj-U-Thid 200 Pee Road.,
Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand.
Telephone: (66) 76 341414, 341415, 341705
Direct E-mail: info@deevanapatong.com
Website: www.deevanapatong.com
Website 2: www.deevanaphuket.com

Hotel Sales Line

Surrounded by twelve secluded acres of lush tropical gardens on Patong Beach, Deevana Patong Resort and Spa offers tranquillity and a relaxing pace of life away from the bustling crowds yet still within easy walking distance of the vibrant night life and entertainment that Patong is renowned for. Experience the ultimate in relaxation and get a real taste of Thailand in this tropical oasis just 45 minutes from Phuket International Airport and a 10 minute walk to Patong beach.

My Review

The best point about this hotel is its location. That is not to say that everything else is poor, far from it, but finding a hotel in Patong that is close to the beach, close to the nightlife and close to the shops yet, far enough away that you could be in some secluded location is almost impossible. But not with the Deevana Resort and Spa hotel.

You are greeted by one of the best hotel reception areas I have seen, this opens up into the restaurant and then onto the swimming pools. The hotel is split into 2 wings, the Garden wing and the Spa Wing. The rooms in the Garden wing are a little basic but have all a veranda that opens onto a tropical lush garden. The Spa wing rooms are spacious and all have a pool view but the rooms on the ground floor go even better. As well as having pool access from your veranda you also get your very own outdoor jacuzzi.

For our family this has been the best hotel we have stay at while in Phuket. It doesn’t break our budget, it is large enough for the kids to run about in and the pool has a bar that serves drink and food, so days by the pool can really be one of luxury, especially if you splash out and get a room with a jacuzzi.

Diver Review

If planning on day dives from this hotel you may want to book a Garden Wing room as you will not be using the pool as much during the day and with no lift, getting your dive kit up one or two levels is a struggle. If only stopping before and after your liveaboard then splash out and get a Spa Wing.