Phuket Critic

Regarding your article on Phuket island, Thailand (“Lovely Thai Island Still the Way It Was, Almost,” Aug. 8), I visited the resort for two weeks about 1 1/2 years ago. It is very beautiful and reasonably priced, but please alert the traveler to (what I observed).

The ocean water is so polluted it is deep yellow in color, foul smelling and the beaches are littered with much refuse, from (condoms) to empty oil cans. I found hypodermic needles and syringes all along the shore.

While I was walking to my hotel, a man was stabbed to death in front of me. People just walked over him, until I paid a taxi driver to take him to a hospital.

I would never return to that island.

NANCY PARKMAN

Huntington Beach