After two nights in Phuket Town, I relocated to Patong Beach. I picked a Mexican run guest house, Banana's Tacos, for my base camp. The plan was to spend a few nights in the thick of the Phuket tourist scene before heading to quieter Kata (surf) beach, and then Koh Phi Phi Don.
I wasn't interested in hanging out at the beach, or going crazy in the discos at night. Instead, I focused my energy on eating great food at the many restaurants. I had a great sushi lunch at a Japanese restaurant in the Jungceylon mall.
The mall also contained a small gun range. I'd first seen a gun range in a mall at Surfer's Paradise in Australia, however the costs were too high (starting at around $100).
Thailand, of course, is far cheaper. I really do not like guns, however my trip is all about new experiences so I paid about $30 to fire ten 9mm rounds from a Beretta. I was extremely nervous and tried to be overcautious handling the weapon. The instructor was quite good, showing me how to hold the gun. I thought the recoil would knock me backwards but it wasn't so strong.
The little shells popped out of the chamber after each shot. I wondered if I should have been wearing close-toed shoes. After a few pulls of the trigger, my hands began to sweat. I almost didn't want to continue…but being the trooper that I am, finished off the clip and scored a 68% on the target.
The photo of the shotgun was just the instructor's idea of fun.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
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Bryanjeremytait
Sunday 26th of June 2011
Does anyone know if the guys from banana taco opened a new resturant?
Kango Suz
Monday 25th of August 2008
We went for sushi this weekend for my B-DAY! It is about the best food there is, I think. I'm always amazed at how much it fills you up too.
Good job with the shooting. It's very scary at first- you're holding something that's so harmful, but you're the one in controll, but it is also very exilerating. When I was in High School I worked at a local gun range (mostly to shock my mother) and it was a very fun environment to work in. Great job with the target practice!
Kango Suz
Monday 25th of August 2008
We went for sushi this weekend for my B-DAY! It is about the best food there is, I think. I'm always amazed at how much it fills you up too.
Good job with the shooting. It's very scary at first- you're holding something that's so harmful, but you're the one in controll, but it is also very exilerating. When I was in High School I worked at a local gun range (mostly to shock my mother) and it was a very fun environment to work in. Great job with the target practice!
Pokin
Monday 25th of August 2008
That was a really random selection of activities from tacos to sushi to a shotgun range! Even more random that the gun shooting range is in a mall. The sushi actually looks really good in that photo. Mmm. sushi. :)
Dave
Monday 25th of August 2008
I'm so glad I gave sushi a second chance a few years ago. Yum.
Pokin
Sunday 24th of August 2008
That was a really random selection of activities from tacos to sushi to a shotgun range! Even more random that the gun shooting range is in a mall. The sushi actually looks really good in that photo. Mmm. sushi. :)
Dave
Monday 25th of August 2008
I'm so glad I gave sushi a second chance a few years ago. Yum.