Phuket Part IX

Chalong Bay

Chalong is a large bay with a pier, which is the most important starting point for diving and fishing trips from Phuket.

The pier is a good place to charter boats for fishing trips, scuba diving or snorkeling in neighboring islands.

Chalong Bay does not have a great beach for swimming because of the mud and the large number of boats moored here.

Just inland is Chalong traffic circle. This area is popular with expatriates living in Phuket and there are some good restaurants and bars nearby.

 

Friendship Beach

Just south of Chalong, there are several low-key and quiet beach bungalows of friendship, which is also known as Mittrapap beach. The beach is not as good as it is muddy at low tide. However, the wonderful views of the bay and the bar at Friendship Beach Resort is a beautiful place to cocktails at sunset by the pool.

Chalong area is home to many tour operators, airlines, leisure fishing charters big game, diving schools, you can easily organize trips or excursions. There are also herbal sauna, yoga classes and a Reiki center in the area of ​​Chalong Circle.

Phuket Zoo is located in the Chalong area. There are some delicious and inexpensive seafood restaurants along the beachfront with views of the charming bay. These can be found either along the road past Phuket Zoo or just to the south at Chalong Pier.

Phuket Part VIII

Kamala Beach

A beautiful and serene beach, Kamala is perfect for those seeking a relaxed and casual beach.

Kamala is about 10 minutes north of Patong and a great place for those who are away from the hustle and bustle. The south end of this beautiful bay has a coral reef a few meters offshore. Kamala is not too developed, although there are some guesthouses and a few resorts.

It is a good selection of Thai restaurants, noodle shops and some restaurants in the West. The locals are mostly ethnic Malays, and there are some good restaurants with delicious dishes Muslim (it's really good indeed, let's try!)

Kamala is a good place for water sports. A number of dive shops can be found in the village. The reef at the southern end is a nice place for diving and water is wonderful for swimming during the dry

season. However, as the beach drops steeply to the sea, the currents can be very dangerous during the rainy season (please be careful). The north end of the beach can be a decent surf spot when its working.

The main attraction at Kamala, Phuket Fantasea is where you can enjoy a buffet and an evening of lively cultural entertainment.

Some decent bars along Beach Road will be found, as it winds inland. The atmosphere is very cool and relaxed in contrast to the bustle of Patong. There is also a dash of beer bars (I like it) along the main road.

Phuket Part VII

Surin Beach

Surin Beach, just north of Kamala is an underdeveloped stretch of sand lined with casuarina trees. Although there are now some hotels that arise Surin is still quiet and peaceful.

Surin is very popular with locals who frequent the seafood stalls and restaurants along the beach in the shade of casuarina trees, and can get a bit busy at weekends during peak season.

Inland from the beach of Surin Village, a predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Phuket. There is a small market here and a few restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious Masaman curry.

There is good snorkelling offshore when the sea is calm. Popular activities here are sea kayaking, surfing and body boarding. During the rainy season (from June to October) there is a strong rip current and the waves can be quite big making it a dangerous beach to go swimming.

Phuket Part VI

Karon Beach

Karon beach is a long stretch of white sand just south of Patong. The beach is very long so it never feels crowded.

At 4 km, Karon is one of the longest beaches of Phuket. Although there are some important stations and hotels, they are divided and the area feels very relaxed. As in Patong, the hotels are separated from the beach by a road. However, unlike Patong, the beach is still pretty quiet. The beach itself is well exposed, with little or no natural shade. The sand is so fine and powdery that it squeaks when walked on.

The southern tip has a coral reef stretching toward Kata and Pu Island. There are not many water sports on Karon beach as in Patong or Kata. During the rainy season Karon can be good for surfing but dangerous for swimming because of high waves and strong currents.

The beach road in Karon is lined with some of Phuket's larger hotels. In the area around Karon circle and at the southern end of Karon are a number of guesthouses if you're on a budget.

Karon nightlife is relaxed and friendly. Most bars are located in the area around Karon circle at the north end and south end around Luang Pho Chuang road. It is a good amount of beer bars in Karon, but the scene is not as strong as Patong.

As the nightlife, restaurants in Karon are centered around the traffic circle, at the north end, and also at the southern end of the beach before arriving in Kata. It is a good selection of Thai and international dishes. For more lavish dining, most of the waterfront hotels have charming restaurants.

Phuket Part V

Nai Harn Beach

A tranquil and picturesque beach near the southern tip of the island. There are not many places to stay here, but the beach is easy to obtain from Kata and Karon.

One of the most beautiful beaches of Phuket, Nai Harn is relatively undeveloped thanks to Samnak song Nai Harn monastery, which occupies much of the land by the sea at its north of Le Meridien Phuket Yacht Club, which has a few bars restaurants and just before, but in general the area is quiet.

Behind the beach is a lagoon where there are some housing developments and some upscale bars and restaurants.

Ao Sane

This is a small rocky beach that can only be achieved by a small road which passes under the Phuket Yacht Club. There are a couple of bungalow operations here and some restaurants.

During the dry season, the sea here is ideal for swimming. However, the waves during the rainy season can be quite large with strong currents. Check flags for swimming. This is probably the best place for surfing in Phuket, although few surfers make it this far south.

Phuket Part VI

Kata Beach

Towards the southern end of Phuket's Kata Beach, which is divided into Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Both beaches offer stunning scenery and a relaxed atmosphere.

Kata Yai

This is the larger of the two beaches. The bay is very picturesque with Koh Pu (Pu Island) at the north end. Half of the beach is bordered by a road, while the southern half has a few resorts right on the beach. Club Med occupies much of the land behind the beach road to the north end of the beach, keeping the end of the beach fairly quiet.

Because of its relatively small size, Kata has a cozy feel about it and is ideal for families. There are quite a few shops, restaurants and bars around Kata Centre and between Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Kata is perhaps the best compromise between the frenetic pace of Patong and some of the quieter beaches on Phuket.

Kata Noi

Kata Noi only has a few hotels and is dominated by the Kata Thani Hotel. The beach is lovely and there has only been a little development.

There is a good range of accommodation in Kata, from luxury resorts to budget guesthouses behind the beach. At the southern end of Kata Yai beginning at Kata Beach Resort there are hotels right on the beach, which are a rarity on Phuket's west coast.

There are plenty of watersports to be enjoyed at Kata. The bay is excellent for sailing and plays host to the annual King's Cup Regatta every December.

Kata Yai and Kata Noi are quite popular with surfers during the rainy season. You can rent all kinds of boards on the beach. It is also one of the best beaches on the island for snorkelling. Confident swimmers can try swimming out towards Koh Pu to view the beautiful coral there, although don't attempt this during the rainy season. The area to the South of Kata Noi beach has some decent coral that is worth exploring.

It is a good variety of restaurants in Kata, especially around Kata Centre. Seafood restaurants serving Thai, Italian, Scandinavian and of course can all be found here. Restaurants right on the beach can also be found at the southern end of Kata Yai.

The nightlife in Patong is quite relaxed but there are a few bars to find, especially around Kata Centre. There is also a collection of beer bars title, the interior of the junction in Kata Center. However, for a great evening that you are better off heading to Patong.

Phuket Part IV

Rawai Beach

Rawai Beach is popular with locals who come to enjoy seafood and the stunning views of the islands of the coast.

In the days before Phuket became a popular tourist destination, Rawai Beach was where locals from Phuket Town would come to enjoy the sea. These days, the beach itself is not that nice with many small boats anchored off the coast, but it is safe to swim all year round because of its position facing Phang Nga Bay.

At the eastern end of the beach is a village of sea-gypsy who has a small fish market. Here you can also buy local handicrafts and assorted Thai snacks. The view near Laem Phrom Thep, the southernmost tip of the island is especially popular at sunset.

 

Koh Racha, Phuket

Lying about 20kms south of Phuket, Racha Islands comprise two islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. To complicate matters, they are also known as Koh Raya Yai and Koh Raya Noi (Yai means "great" in Thai and as you may have guessed, noi means "small"). I've been bathing naked (really naked (-_-).

The islands have clear waters and white sand beaches (that I really really love it indeed). They are very popular with divers and snorkellers, with dive sites for advanced divers and difficult for many beginners and snorkelers. You can walk around the island but it take time.

Racha Yai:

Closest to Phuket is Racha Yai. The island is mainly inhabited by farmers and fishermen Muslims. This island is also where the whole property is located.

The main beach on the northwest coast of the island, and Ao Tawan Tok (also known as Ao Bungalow), which is located in a U-shaped bay The sand here is white as snow and has the consistency of talcum powder(It's great! great soft for your feet). There are a few bungalows and restaurants located here, although the area is fairly limited. There is only electricity for several hours in the evening.

Like many islands in the region, Racha Yai is popular with day-trippers from Phuket and Ao Bungalow can be a bit busy in the afternoon.

At night the island is pretty quiet with only a few restaurants and bars. The lack of light means that the night sky is light with stars, ideal for stargazing on the beach.

Racha Noi:

Just south of Racha Yai is her little sister, Racha Noi. This island is uninhabited and has more rocks than beaches. There is a small bay on the west coast and is a favorite spot for fishing, but outside of the diving there is not much to do here.

The main activities here are scuba diving and snorkelling. Racha Yai's east coast has a bay that is fine for diving even during the rainy-season. Visibility can be as as good as 30m.

Racha Noi is more suited to experienced divers as the sites are at greater depths. There are some sites where larger marine creatures, manta rays in particular, are regularly spotted.

Pictures Credit :
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Thank to : www.accorhotels.com

Phuket Part III

Patong Beach

Phuket's busiest resort area, Patong has the greatest concentration of bars, restaurants and shops on the island.

Patong has suffered a lot of negative publicity in recent years to be over-developed and its hedonistic party scene. However, most visitors to Phuket still choose to spend their time in Patong and for good reason. Patong has much to offer and despite its reputation for naughty nightlife, Patong is also very popular with families.The 3 km long beach still has the beautiful white sand and clear water, which is now visibly clearer after the tsunami. The chairs and umbrellas are now back in full force, providing an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sun with all the amenities you could want nearby. You'll find everything you need for your vacation. There are many shops and stalls, and other leisure and recreational activities. However, if you are looking for a retreat at the beach, you probably will not find it in Patong.

Patong is where you will find the most varied choice of hotels in Phuket. Somewhere out there for every budget. Guesthouses cheap and easy to style complex of four and five stars, and everything else. There are even a few hotels on the beach. You can choose to stay near the nightlife or stay later. The beauty of staying in Patong, is that everything is just a short walk or tuk-tuk ride away.Patong is the busiest beach of the island and you will never be short of something to do here. If you like water sports, then this is the place. There are jet skiing, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing.You can snorkel on the reef at the southern end of the bay or take a ride to the beach long tail boat to freedom best coral viewing. Further inland, you can try bungee jumping, go bowling or go through the hills in Kathu for a spot of carting. If you feel calmer, rent a beach for the day, slap on plenty of sunscreen and watch the show while you enjoy the rays. The sea is generally calm throughout the year and the deep seabed shelves gently makingit quite safe to swim in. For even more relaxation, there are usually many close masseuses who give massages on the beach (it quite good for me and you ^^). Patong is undoubtedly the center of the island's night scene. Bars in Patong can be roughly divided into beer bars, go-go bars and regular (ones that have not to go). The scene is centered around Patong Bangla Road and its many ramifications. The road is perpendicular to the beach road towards the northern end of Patong. Bangla is only about half a kilometer and is pedestrian in the evening making it easy to walk around and bar hop.

to be continue...

Phuket Part II

Phuket City

Phuket Town is well worth taking the time to the beach for its shops and markets, its Sino-Portuguese buildings, temples and many restaurants.

Most visitors to Phuket head straight for the beach and rightly so, but if you want to take a break in the sand and catch a glance of a more "real" part of the island, then Phuket City has much to offer. Phuket town is about 30 minutes drive from Patong and is easily accessible by songthaew (beach-bus) or tuk tuk if you do not have your own transportation.

Administrative center of Phuket that was recently awarded city status and is still commonly referred to Phuket Town, even on billboards. As living, breathing city of Thailand, it is not specially designed for tourists than other areas of the island. However, if you're willing to make the effort there are some delicious ways to spend your time.

You can get an overview of the history of the island by taking a walk along the roads Dibuk, Thalang and Krabi in the "old town". Here you can see many beautiful colonial mansions built in the Sino-Portuguese style by Chinese tin barons (see the history of Phuket) over a century ago.

In this area, there are also plenty of shops decorated houses which are built in the same style as those found in coastal cities throughout the Malay Peninsula. These old buildings were in danger of being demolished, but their historical value was recognized, and many have been restored.

While you are in this area, visiting some of Chinese shrines of the city, such as Jui Tui and Put Jaw which are just off Ranong road (near the fresh market).

For a magnificent view of the city, the jungle and the sea, go to the top of Khao Rang, a hill on the northwest edge of town. You'll find a couple of good restaurants where you can enjoy the view with a nice meal and a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit (also known as Ratsada Korsimbi Na Ranong ), a famous governor of Phuket.

Other attractions include: The Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, located near Tesco Lotus supermarket in Sam Kong district, the Phuket Orchid Garden and Thai Village, also in Sam Kong, which has cultural performances, including folk dances, Thai boxing and elephant shows.

to be continue...

 

Credit : Picture from Phuket.net

Phuket Part I

History of Phuket

 

Early History

Located on the trade routes between India and China, Phuket has been subjected to foreign influences long before many other parts of Thailand. Ships would anchor in the safe harbors of Phuket and wait for the monsoon winds of the northeast that would allow them to proceed to India.

The interior jungle was inhabited by indigenous tribes until they were displaced in the 19th century by tin miners. Coastal areas were inhabited by Chao Leh, sea gypsies who made their living through piracy and fishing for pearls. Although threatened by development, Chao Leh villages can still be found along the coast of Phuket and neighboring islands.

Phuket first became part of a Thai state during the thirteenth century when Thai armies from Sukhothai wrestled control of the island from the Sirivijaya Empire based in Sumatra.

The Battle of Thalang

The most famous moment in the history of Phuket, is when the people of Phuket (then called Thalang), drove out the Burmese invaders who were besieging the island.

In 1785, Phuket was attacked by the Burmese as part of a larger campaign to invade Thailand (then called Siam). The governor's wife, recently deceased, Lady Chan, with his sister Lady Muk, rallied the people and broke the siege in Burma.

Hearing these acts of valor, the king gave honorary titles of these two heroines. Today, their statues can be seen on top of a monument at the roundabout a few kilometers north of Phuket town.

Origin of the Name “Phuket”

The name Phuket is derived from the Malay word bukit, meaning hill. The island was formerly known as Junk Ceylon on European maps, a corruption of Malaysia Tanjung Salang meaning Cape Salang. He later became known as Thalang, named after the main town of the island. The island does not come to be known as Phuket until very late in its history, when the administrative center was moved to a mining town in the center of the island called Phuket.

Tourism

Tourism on the island began in the 1970s with the first beach bungalows at Patong beach. Meanwhile, Phuket was a haven for backpackers. Phuket idyllic beaches and clear warm waters attracted travelers from around the world to the island. This was facilitated by the construction of an airport in the 1970s.

Today, tourism is by far the largest industry of the island with more than 3 million tourists who visit the island annually, making Phuket one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

to be continue…