Under the news stories there are more stories, only in
clearer focus. Take a closer look at Phuket life through
our Phuket Focus and keep a finger on the island’s
pulse. It’s hot and throbbing.
Past month Focus:
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Chaweng Beach is seven kilometres long and features for the most part powdery white sand. The sea is never rough and dangerous here and many people find strolling along at dusk after a hard day doing nothing a relaxing activity. Chaweng Beach at night seems worlds apart from the noisy hustle and bustle of the Beach Road with all its neon lights, hawkers and crowded bars whereas in reality it is no more than 300 metres away.
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One reason many tourists choose to return to Phuket again and again is because they love the food available on the island. The variety of dishes is huge but one type of food that plays a big role in Phuket’s Thai-and-international culinary culture is seafood.
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Railay is world famous for its climbing opportunities.
Amazingly, Railay and its environs have up to 1,000
climbing routes, ranging from easy to very challenging.
In actual fact the fabulous rock climbing here is because
of the striking limestone outcrops – actually part
of the world's largest coral reef, stretching all the
way from China down to Papua New Guinea.
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Sports Bars in Phuket generally divide into two concepts:
Those with large TV screens and pool tables along with
a darts board and those with just large TV screens.
You will be informed ahead of time about sporting events
by announcements – generally outside the bar. If
the match you were hoping to see is not on in one, just
keep on looking and you'll find it.
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Khao Lak, a one-hour drive north of Phuket, has one
major resource to fall back on; an asset so in demand
that it is worth its weight in gold – its beautiful
natural and unspoiled beaches. Mile after mile of glorious
golden stress-free strand awaits the visitor with views
out over the turquoise Andaman that no artist's brush
could better. Read more... |
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It's rare to see a Thai family spend a day out on a
west coast beach if the sun is shining, so where do
they go? The answer is to Phuket's shadier east coast
beaches, the parks and the waterfalls. This is where
to really cool off and socialize, Thai-style. The three
best-known waterfalls in Phuket are Bang Pae, Ton Sai
and Kathu Waterfall. A lesser-known one is just by Ao
Yon Noi Beach, near Cape Panwa. Read
more... |
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It's been four years now that Body & Mind day spas
have been operating in Phuket and the prospect of an
afternoon being pampered by professionals at one was
too much to resist for my wife and I. Read
more... |
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Just like anyone else, single girls coming to Phuket
expect to have some fun nights out without any hassle.
So, in the interests of these visitors, We put in long
hours of on-the-ground research – and had a lot
of fun doing it. Here are our top picks. Read
more... |
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The Phi Phi islands are some of the most idyllic, postcard-perfect
islands in the world. The recipe is all there: nodding
palms, white sandy beaches. Add to this warm and friendly
people, lots of sunshine as well as attractive accommodation
and you get something approaching tropical perfection.
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In a tiny alley off Rassada Rd in Phuket City, just
a few steps from Salvatore’s Italian restaurant,
is the Phuket Buddha image and amulet centre, a specialised
market that attracts many local and overseas Buddhists.
Phuket.com went to see what is available there and talked
with Sorn Chanrung, head of the centre. Read
more... |
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Phuket figures in many travel publications’ ‘Top
10 Best Islands in the World’ lists and it does
so well largely because of its beautiful west coast
beaches. Here’s a brief summary of Phuket’s
most popular beaches along with beaches you either have
never heard about or have heard about and haven’t
visited yet. Read more... |
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The 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach may not have
broken box office records but it did help Phuket and
the surrounding area break previous tourism records
as travellers flocked to the Andaman coast to swim in
the same green waters and frolic on the same white sand
as “Leo”. Read
more... |
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Think surfing. Think waves as big as houses, curling
breakers with surfers shootin’ the tube, spectacular
wipeouts. Think Phuket. Surfing? Hmm. Nah. But if you
think that, you’re wrong. Phuket has a small but
lively community of surfers. Some live here. Others
have been coming back time and again for as long as
20 years. Read more... |
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Many foreigners know something about Thai food from
going to Thai restaurants in their home countries. Others
have never tried it but have heard of its reputation
for gorgeous if mouth-searing tastes - and plan to give
it a try while in Phuket.
Read more... |
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Sweaty bodies bump against each other in thumping clubs.
Somebody in an open-air bar turns the conversation to
politics, and the exchange gets heated. Irish pubs serve
Guinness by the pint and crank out live tunes, fiddle
and all. Read more... |
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What would a holiday be without a bit of shopping? Gifts
for family, friends and colleagues, something to hang
on the wall or put on the mantelpiece to remind you
of warmer times, something nice and skimpy to wear around
the pool on those occasional warm days back home. It’s
all here in Phuket. Read
more... |
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Not many years ago, there was considerable debate about
elephants in Phuket. Elephants are not native to Phuket
– they come from the cooler northern part of the
country – but were brought here to work in the
tourist industry. As Thailand’s logging industry
declined, out-of-work elephants and their mahouts headed
for Phuket. It was not unusual to see them on hot roads
on their way to the beaches in the hope of making some
money from tourists wanting to have their photo taken
with these magnificent beasts. Read
more... |
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Islands are undeniably romantic; the word ‘honeymoon’
conjures up images of a young couple frolicking on endless
stretches of deserted beach. But why wait until the
wedding is over to enjoy paradise? Phuket has an abundance
of locations ideally suited for Thai- or Western-style
marriage ceremonies – and not all are on the beach.
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It’s a spectacular display of colour, originality
and fun. Phuket’s Simon Cabaret has become one
of Southeast Asia’s outstanding entertainment attractions
drawing a thousand enthused visitors from around the
world each evening.
Read more... |
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A must-do in Phuket is a walk in the old part of Phuket
City, around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. The beautiful
architecture along these roads will take you back the
charm of a century ago. According to Pranee Sakulpitpatana,
one of the island’s premier historians, the architecture
is a reflection of European influence on the island.
Europeans including the Portuguese and the British,
had been interested in Phuket’s tin wealth since
the 16th century. Read
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Wats - or Buddhist temples - are among the most important
symbols of Thailand, partly because the majority of
Thais are Buddhist and partly because they are so beautiful.
In Phuket alone, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread
around the island. In fact, this small island is also
home to many other religions. There are Hindu and Sikh
temples, Christian churches, mosques and Chinese shrines.
Outside the wats there are also many more Buddhist shrines.
Read more... |
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There's a saying that if you really want to get to know
a country, you should go to the market. In Thailand
that's certainly true; you can soak up a whole lot of
local flavor - and eat some too - just by walking around
the local market. Thais just love to eat - they snack
all day - so in any market you'll find cooked food along
with a huge variety of vegetables, all kinds of meats
and every spice and herb you can think of, as well as
a load of them you never even knew existed. Read
more... |
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