 THAILAND
In the "smiling country",
young women show the putting line
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Phuket and the southern region
Phuket is an island connected
by bridges to southern Thailand Andaman Sea coast on the Indian
Ocean. It is the largest Thai island and is surrounded by
32 smaller islands. Before becoming the "Pearl of the
South", favoured by holidaymakers, Phuket was a way station
on the route between India and China where seafarers stopped
to shelter. It also has been famous for its rubber plantations,
which are still present, but for how long?
In fact the exceptional natural beauty of Phuket with thick jungle covered hills, steep
cliffs over secret cricks and so many magnificent bays and beaches along the crystal-clear
waters of the Andaman Sea has transformed the island into a major tourist attractions in
southern Asia. Moreover some international charters companies are landing directly at
Phuket airport.
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What to see
Due to a good road network, moving around the island is very
easy by buses, taxis or the very popular tuktuk or by car,
cycle or motorcycle rental. And there are many places of interest
out of the beaches and the nightlife.
Of course, the skyline of Patong Beach, the central
tourist and night-time entertainment district, is gradually
dominated by modern skyscrapers and extends right up to the
beach in front of the long lines of tuktuk and the flotilla
of motorboats. But Phuket Town and all the main cities
of the island have conserved their colonial-style buildings
with Chinese houses and Portuguese villas. And in their colorful
markets, you still find all scents of Asia from fresh vegetable
and fruit, seafood and fish, to exotic flowers, chillis and
nuts, flavors and spices. And the numerous temples and 29
monasteries prove that the Phuket residents are respectful
to Buddhist rites as the whole Thai People.
But the Phuket western beaches are the most attractive places.
If Patong, the most famous, is on the way to become a sort
of local Pattaya, many other beaches are not so busy:
Karon, Kata Yai and Kata Noi, and the semicircular
bijou of Nai Harn at the southwest tip of the island
with the luxurious Phuket Yacht Club.
At the northwest, the old ugly abandoned tin mines have been
filled with sea water and transformed in a modern Florida
style complex called Laguna which is an environmentally
success of tourism development.
On the eastern coast are located the new harbors for sailing
and for cruising to Phang Nga, Phi Phi,
Krabi and others many rock islands and caves where James Bond
found spectacular scenery for his adventures.
The island offers also some other attractions, a Buterfly garden and aquarium, an Orchid
Garden and Thai village, a zoo and a magic show, Fanta Sea (Tourism awarded in 2000)
for children (and adults).
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Patong beach skyline
Phuket's reclined Buddha
Laguna Beach resort
James Bond rock at Phang Nga
Andaman sea beach
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