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Phuket Town
serves mainly as a dormitory and shopping centre.
For the culmination of your historical tour , there in the lobby
of the Thavorn Hotel is one of the most quirky and charming
collection of
turn-of-the-century up to 1960s memorabilia that you’re likely to
find anywhere. Here you’ll find sewing machines,
keyboard, pianos, safes and just about anything that had
anything to do with Phuket
is tin boom and subsequent growth during the last century. There’s
also a superb collection of Thavorn family and WWI I
photos (a theme poorly represented elsewhere).
As luck would have it, there’s also a bar enroute. This is a
hugely recommended venue before heading back out into the night to
sample the many coffee shop and excellent restaurants that line the
roads where you’d just taken in the sights.
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Antique Buildings
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Many buildings in Phuket were built over hundred years since
the beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century.
The architectural style, typical of the region, is described
as Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean
character. Shops present a very narrow face on the street
but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd
(name of Tin)., have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork
carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old
Phuket", with similar structures
are Phang-nga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking
tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old
European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall
(Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Siam
City Bank.
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Phuket
Aquarium
is located at Cape Panwa, on the island’s extreme southeast
The aquarium displays hundreds of exotic, grotesque and
flamboyantly colorful
marine species found in Phuket’s teeming waters. Open daily
from 8.30 in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. A
local bus can be taken from the town’s fresh produce
market. |
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Phuket Butterfly Farm and Aquarium
is only 3 kilometres from town via Yaowarat Road and the Sam
Kong intersection. It has a fascinating collection of such
tropical creatures as butterflies, insects marine life all
arranged in natural surroundings. It is open daily from 9
p.m.-5 p.m. |
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Thai Village And Orchid Farm
on Thepkasattri Road about 3 kilometres from town, serves
daily a typical southern Thai lunch that is followed
by a spectacular cultural show including Thai dances,
sword-fighting, Thai boxing southern customs and elephants.
Handicrafts are also on display. |
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Chalong Bay
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Phuket’s
principal baot anchorage and the islands lareast bay, is 11
kilometres south of the town. It is very picturesque but not
suitable for swimming. Boats can be chartered to go to some
small island south of Phuket. A number of restaurants are on
the road leading to the bay. A few kilometers from the bay
is Wat Chalong where statues of Luang Po Chaem and Luang Po
Chuang, Phuket’s most revered monks, are enshrined. |
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Chalong Temple
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is about 8 kms. outside town. Take
Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and
drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left.
This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who
helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese
Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There
are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam.
Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later
times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of
the offerings by Phuket people generally.
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Laem Ka
at the extreme southwest of Chalong bay, is suitable for
swimming |
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The nearby Phrom
Thep Cape
forms Phuket ‘s
southern most point and is the perfect place from
which to enjoy spectacular sunsets
and the sea.
People usually say that the shape of Laem Phrom Thep looks
like a dragon head of Indian Ocean. |
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Nai Han Beach
is located next to Phrom Thep Cape about
18 kilomatres from town. Although not so long , the
beach has white , clean sand and Nai Han Beach sometime look
lively when many yachts float in the sea ahead of the shore.
Beyond the beach is a swamp called Nong Han. Not recommended
for swimming during May-October because of the Monsoon
season. |
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The View Point or Sam Ao Viewpoint
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is located mid-point between Nai Han and Kata beach nestle
beside one another forming the picture of the crescent moon
which is the marvelous nature creation. The scenic Kata Noi,
Kata and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu Island can be viewed from
this point. |
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Kata beach
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The quiet
charming beach, good and safe for swimming various kinds of
activity are provided like diving, playing banana boats or
strolling along the shore. |
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Karon beach
The white sandy beach which is one of Phuket’s most
beautiful beach. Both are long and peaceful and eminently
suitable for swimming and sunbathing. |
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Patong Beach
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Phuket’s
most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting,
shopping and recreational options along its 3-kilometre-long
crescent bay. Windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, swimming and
sunbathing number among popular daytime
activities. Patong is equally well known for
its vibrant nightlife, among which seafood restaurants
prominently feature. |
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Kamala Beach
is a 12-kilometre-long beach north of
Patong. The famous charming baech where Phuket
Fantasea , the park that features cultural show is situated.
The beach is beautiful and quite. Accommodation and seafood
restaurants are available. |
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Phuket Fantasea
A large-scale nighttime amusement centre on 140 acres near the village of Kamala Bay, 4
kilometres north of Patong.
Thai cultural traditions are mixed with the latest modern
technology in “Las Vegas style”. Magic elephants
disappearing into thin air, gymnastics, musical fountains,
and a circus are among the many attractions. |
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Wat Phra Thong
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is where only the upper half of a large Buddha statue
emerges from the ground.
Legend has it that during the invasion of Thalang town in
2328 B.E. (circa 1785) , the Burmese tried in vain to
excavate the statue to take to back. Each time they dug into
the ground , swarms of hornets would swoop on them and they
had to give up. Later , the visible part of the statue was
covered with gold by the villagers and has remained as such
until today.
It is about 20 kilometres from Phuket town past the
Thalang district office. |
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Ko Kaeo
is and off- shore isle about
3 kilometres out from Rawai beach
and can be reached in 30 minutes by boat. It offers
picturesque beaches and underwater scenery. There is also a
replica of the Holy
Footprint on the
island. |
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Phuket is well-equipped to provide off-shore trips making it
a centre of tourism in the Andaman sea. Trips can be
arranged to see forests and mountains, rocky formation,
beaches, coral reefs and fishing. Most of Phuket’s 39
satellite islands are located to the east and the south.
Islands of special interest include: |
Ko Naka Noi,
just off Ao Por on the northeastern shore, is popular for its pearl
farm. There are fine sandy beaches suitable for swimming and a
seafood restaurant. Tourists can chartered a boat at Ao Por or
contact tour agencies for a tour package (generally including
Lunch).
Ko Taphao Yai
10 minutes by ferry from Ao Makham on Phuket’s southeast coast. The
island is home to the Bucerotes hornbill. Accommodation is
available.
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Ko Hey or Coral island, just
off Phuket’s south coast, is know for its two beautiful
beaches and coral reef. The island is part of a marine
preserve. Accommodation, restaurants, various watersports
and diving facilities are available. Boats leave Rawai
Beachor Chalong Bay. Package tours are also available.
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Ko Rang Yai,
lying off Phuket’s east coast, has been developed for the
out-of-doors minded tourist. Among various activities are sea
kayaking, mountain-biking, playing miniature golf, and visiting a
pearl farm. Package tours are available.
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Ko Racha Yai or Raya Yai
with
its gleaming beaches can be reached by chartered boat from
Ao Chalong.
Traveling time is about 2-3 hours during off-Monsoon season
(December-April). Sightseeing services are available from
tour operators in town. Accommodation is
available. A hilltop view point on the bay’s south
offers a magnificent view of the whole island. |
Koh Racha Yai
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Phang-Nga Bay(Ao)
located northeast of Phuket, contains scores of limestone
island, some riddled with aquatic grottoes. This picturesque
bay is an enduringly popular excursion. Tours are offered by
hotels and tour companies throughout Phuket. |
Ao Phang-nga
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Phi Phi Island
in Krabi province, is about 40 kilometres from Phuket. They
are made up of the Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le about 2.2
kilometres apart offering picturesque land and underwater
scenarios. |
Ao Maya
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Similan Island
are situated in Phangnga province. Phuket dive shops operate
daily excursions to the Similan islands the high season of
November- May When underwater visibility is at its
best. |
Koh Similan
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