An introduction to Phuket Pearl of the South
| The biggest draw of the South cannot be any other place than Phuket, Thailand's dreamy island province in the Andaman Sea. | The word Phuket was formerly believed to have come from the Malayan word Bukit, which means a mountain. However, it has recently been discovered that Phuket is actually a Thai word meaning a mountain ( phu) of jewel (ket). The name is recorded in a Thai chronicle. | |
| Formerly known as Koh (island) Thalang, Phuket was only noted for its rich tin ores, from which its wealth was derived. Today, it is better known as a tourist paradise, a most rewarding place for holiday makers. With its magnificent long white beaches, its luxuriant vegetation, its crystal blue sea water, its fantastic undersea scenery, its calm and relaxing tropical atmosphere, and its fresh prawns, lobsters and other kinds of seafood, Phuket - the Pearl of the South - entices many travellers to visit her again and again. | Phuket AttractionsThe numerous places of attraction in Phuket can be conveniently grouped into the following routes: In-town, Northern Route, Western Route and Southern Route. (see the map of Phuket) | In-Town/Western Route Southern Route Northern Route Islands around Phuket |
 For Zoomed image click HERE | Accessibility:By road, 862 km. from Bangkok by Highway No. 4 (Bkk to Ban Khok Kloi, Phang- nga Province), then by Highway No. 402 (Ban Khok Kloi to Phuket town), about 13 hrs. drive. Daily coach service between Bkk and Phuket available from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal. By air, 1.10 hrs., several flights daily. No rail service. (see Useful Calls Bangkok, for telephone numbers)Accommodation in Phuket check here | Transportation: Airport to Town and BeachesBy mini-bus to Phuket town, 70 Baht per person; to Kata, Karon, Patong, 100 Baht per person. By Taxi, to town, Kata, Karon,Patong, 400 Baht. By limousine to town, Surin, 400 Baht; to Kata, Karon, Patong, 600 Baht.In TownNo public buses, but there are mini-buses which operate a communal service. Just tell your destination to the driver, In the town area the fare is 10 Baht. |
Eating outVisitors to Phuket should not miss the opportunity to have a taste of Phuket many kinds of famous seafood which are always fresh and palatable. Prices are also very reasonable. Various seafood dishes are available in town and along famous beaches such as Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai and Chalong Bay. But if you want to try the local food, mi sapam, misua (kinds of Chinese noodles), khanom chin ( Thai rice noodles with curry soup and vegetables), ho mok (steamed curried fish), kaeng luang and namprik gung siap are recommendable. | Town to BeachesThere are mini-bus services between the town and all the tourist beaches. Buses leave for the beaches at the market on Ranong Road at the half-hour intervals until 6:00pm. After that, you must hire a taxi. Bus fare: about 10-30 Baht.Private cars,jeeps and motorbikes can be hired from a car-rent company for your convenience. |
Aquatic Sports
Phuket is also a centre of all kinds of aquatic sports with ideal environment, modern equipment and professional guidance for diving, windsurfing, sea-canoeing, big game fishing, etc. go to Sports Facilities in Phuket A Miraculous Story of Pra ThongFor people in Thalang, Phuket, Wat Pra Thong is the most important Buddhist monastery, enshrining a most revered Buddha image called "Pra Thong", meaning the Gold Buddha.A miraculous story has it that once a young boy tethered his water buffalo to a post protruding from the ground. Then both the boy and the animal were stricken by a mysterious sickness. Discovering later that the post was the decorative topknot of a buried gold Buddha image, villagers tried to excavate the whole image for enshrinement, but only the upper part could be uncovered and the lower part still stuck firmly in the ground. So they built a temple over it, believing that that was the desire of the Buddha himself. In 1785 during the invasion of Thalang by Burma, the Burmese also tried their utmost to move the gold image to their country, but failed because a desperate horde of hornets attacked them every time they began to dig. For fear of robbery, the villagers later covered the image with gilded stucco, and it has remained so ever since. Thus Pra Thong is sometimes called Pra Phut which means a Buddha image swelling from the ground. | ShoppingWhen you are in Phuket, you have no need to go to Bangkok just to buy some quality goods and souvenirs. Because apart from pearls, nielloware, sea-shell ornaments and dried seafood which Phuket is famous for, Phuket also offers large selections of the best buys of Thailand. The shopping areas are mostly on Ratsada Road, Montri Road, Yaowarat Road, Phang-nga Road, Thalang Road in town, on Thepkasattri Road north of town, and in Patong, Kata and Karon Beaches. |
