Thai name: Ma-phrao
Season: all year
Coconuts, available throughout the year, are inescapable at a Thai meal for in some form they figure in almost every dish. Coconut milk is a prominent ingredient of curries and soups,and the sliced or grated flesh turns up in many as well; it is even more ubiquitous in desserts, appearing as the basis of delicate custards, in the form of candy, as crispy strips cooked in brown syrup, and in countless other confections. For a visitor, an especially exotic treat on a hot day is a freshly opened young coconut, whose tender white flesh and sweet juice can be enjoyed whenever the mood strikes.
To the north of Patong are Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong.