If you buy illegal drugs in a country with a government like Thailand's, you're asking for a bad time. I've spent over 5 months around TH with no problems at all, as have many of my friends. On top of that, Phuket is a terrible cesspool of scammers and partying tourists and should be avoided at all costs. Try a nearby smaller town if you're going for the nature. He gets no sympathy from me, but thanks for the story.
I'm planning to visit Thailand and I'm mainly interested in the scenery and nature. Since you had the experience what would be a good town to visit?
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Chiang mai you cant be wrong!
Krabi, HuaHin are nice places too!
I recommend steering clear of Phuket as well but there are some nice places down around that area. You can grab a ferry over to Ko Phi Phi for a day trip, there are a few nice islands around there. And if you want to stay somewhere nice and quiet grab a ferry across to Ko Lanta for a few days. Awesome wee island, nice and relaxed with bugger all to do, grab a scooter for a few days. You can do a lap in an hour or two.
You should read up on the law differences on everyday things in countries you are visiting before going there. Avoid breaking the law at all costs as a foreigner, cause even in more 'civilised' places going through the legal system isn't pleasant.
This guy broke the law, maybe he got scammed by corrupt police but he wouldn't have been in the first place if he abided by the law.
Besides the read being about an interesting experience that not many people will have, I hated the typos and the bottom social-chaos-bar.