Golden
beaches on the Andaman Sea, national parks with sheer
limestone scenery rising above azure waters, lush
plantation country, a leisurely island paradise in
the Gulf of Thailand, and the seat of culture in Southern
Thailand - all may be included in tours that begin
in Phuket.
Originally known as 'Junkceylon', Phuket was a highly
valued source of tin in the Ayutthaya period from
the 14th century. Various powers threatened to take
over the island, including the Burmese who were driven
back from a siege of Thalang in 1785 by defenders
led by two women. Large numbers of Chinese arrived
in the 19th century, leading to the exhaustion of
the tin deposits. Rubber, first introduced to the
island in 1903, became the main source of income and
the town of Phuket with its distinctive Malaccan style
architecture was built. Tourism only began to evolve
in the 70s, but the industry now occupies much of
the island's current estimated population of 200,000.
Phuket
Island is 44 kms in length as the crow flies. Though
never long, distances can be greater than expected
as the asphalt roads (generally two-lane) twist between
the hills and around headlands.
A visit to Phuket City is a must for the Malaccan style
architecture of the old city (Dibuk and Thalang Roads),
and you may drive up to the telecommunications towers
overlooking the city for views south and east.
Near
the Suriyadet Fountain (the right turn off Phuket
Rd down in Ratsada Rd comes after a small clock tower
on the right) are the fresh food market and the Jui
Tui Chinese temple (Ranong Rd). The latter becomes
the focus of the noisy vegetarian festival held in
the first nine days of the ninth lunar month (usually
October). Several hotels and good local restaurants
including Sweet and Sour (Rasda Rd) and Khrua Thai
(Rasda centre) are located nearby.
Inland
and East Coast destinations
From
Phuket City trips may be made south-east to the aquarium
on Cape Panwa, east to the fishing (sea gypsy) villages
on Si Rae Island, and north to the Boat Lagoon (a
yacht marina) and H4027. H4027 leads from the Heroines
Monument past the National Museum (09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday
- Sunday) through rubber plantations to Bang Pae waterfall
and a gibbon rehabilitation project in Khrao Phra
Khaeo National Park. Side roads lead to the eastern
coast of the island.
Phromthep
Cape and the Western Coast
Starting in Phuket City, the most scenic drive on the island
goes south on H4021 to Chalong and Phromthep Cape
before following the west coast north. Wat Chalong
is one of the best Thai temples to visit on the island,
and Chalong itself has useful sea sport shops catering
to the residential expatriate population as well as
two well-known restaurants - Gan Eng and Jimmy's Lighthouse.
From
Chalong the road goes south to Rawai beach, where
Thai style restaurants can be found by the casuarina
trees and boats may be hired for visits to nearby
coral islands. Promthep Cape offers a viewpoint before
the road turns north to pass close to the less developed
Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233 to go to Nai Harn).
Hotels
and resorts line the beach from roads along Kata and
Karon beaches, but it is at Patong where seafood restaurants,
tailors, travel agents, souvenir and dive shops compete
on the grandest scale. Bars and discos promise wild
nightlife.
H4233
along the coast north from Patong leads to more tranquil
beaches. Restaurants in quiet spots can be found at
the north end of Kamala and on Laem Singh. True exclusivity
may be found around Pansea beach north of Surin.
Turn
left (north) at the lights at Ban Choeng Thalae for
the fabulous (Laguna), and the underdeveloped beaches
that lie to the north in the Sirinath National Park
(after approximately 3 kms. keep going straight on
a side road when H4030 turns sharply right at a village
for a route to Nai Thon). The southern end of Nai
Yang beach has local style seafood restaurants, but
Mai Kao beach and the headquarters to the north are
best visited when leaving the island on Day
1.
Overview
Corporate
Housing
