Phuket is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Located on the southern most tip of Thailand, the island jewel has more than 20 scenic white sand beaches, crystal clear blue waters and colour reefs rich with sea life. Phuket also features green tropical jungles, spectacular views, limestone cliffs, cool waterfalls and dozens of lush neighbouring islands.
Here you will find all the information you need to plan your dream vacation (or relocation!) to beautiful Phuket.
| Phuket information |
| Phuket is an island on the southwest side of Thailand in the Andaman Sea (which is in the Indian Ocean) lying between 7' 45" and 8' 15" north latitude and from 98' 15" to 98' 40" west longitude. 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration with a total area of 570 square kilometres surround Thailand's largest island, Phuket. Phuket measures 21.3 kilometres at its widest point and 48.7 kilometres at its longest. It is bounded thus:
Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's chief source of income. Hotels,
restaurants, tour companies, and souvenir shops are much in evidence on the west coast. However, while the once all-important tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the island's only activity. Agriculture remains important to a large number of people and covers by far the largest portion of the island. Principal crops are rubber, coconuts, cashews, and pineapples. Prawn farming has largely taken over the east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's fishing port is at all times filled. Processing of marine products, mainly fish, makes a significant contribution to the economy. With so many healthy industries supplying income, construction has become a major factor in employment. This ranges from massive public works projects, large office buildings, hotels and housing estates with hundreds of units down to single family homes, apartments and room additions. |
| Interesting Places in and around Phuket |
| Phuket is the gem of the Andaman Sea with golden-sand beaches, crystal clear blue waters and coral reefs rich with sea life. Surrounded by 32 smaller islands, all close enough to visit on a 1-day cruise, Phuket is a Mecca for diving, snorkelling and sun bathing. Experienced and novice divers can enjoy a variety of underwater landscapes with professional guides throughout the year where the water temperature always hovers at around +30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit). For land-lovers, there are also many sights from which to choose. The island hosts spectacular views from high mountain peaks accented by limestone and lush green jungles. There are also a number of beautiful waterfalls, parks and nature reserves for the outdoor explorer. Butterflies, tropical fish and orchids can also be enjoyed at the local farms and aquariums, while cultural and architectural attractions include Buddhist Temples and Nineteenth Century mansions.
In this Guide is a list of some of Phuket’s most interesting places for travellers. Rent a car (or a boat!) for a couple of days and take your time to see all the island has to offer. If you would prefer a tour we can organise everything for you!!! (just ask Daz or Pui) We invite your feedback and questions, and hope to help make your dream trip to our beautiful island paradise a reality!
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1
Phang Nga - North east of Phuket -
Phang Nga Bay is unique. A day out here is an unforgettable experience that will definitely get you thinking. A distinctive feature of the bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald-green waters. These islands are home to sheltered fauna that are possible to observe on certain tours. James Bond Island and Koh Panyee are just two of the more famous spots in this bay.
By far the best means of enjoying the spectacular scenery is to take one of the boat trips from the northern end of Phuket. A leisurely day trip cruising through the dramatic limestone islands, occasionally stopping to enjoy quiet beaches, is far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour
2
Phuket Town -
Sino-Portuguese splendours and funky shops in the most unlikely places will surprise and delight you in the heart of Phuket's sleepy provincial capital. Phuket town offers much more than you think with some excellent restaurants and local sights. The unique blend of colonial and Chinese architecture along with a tangible quaintness makes for a fascinating and unforgettable afternoon spent sauntering around Phuket's Old Town. Expect the unexpected and don't forget your camera.
3
Patong Beach -
There are few things in this world to prepare you for an after-dark stroll down Patong's Bangla Road. However, a sense of humour and an open mind are prerequisites if you're looking to have some fun. In fact, there's only one undeniable and obvious fact about Bangla – it's nothing like home. With its ladyboys, exotic girls, enchanted westerners (mostly male) and enough extraverts to fill a Disney cast of thousands, shopping or sipping on a beer at Bangla Road at night is a definite 'Dear Diary' moment
4
Patong Beach -
Simon Cabaret - probably the biggest transvestite cabaret show to be found locally. This show features a spectacular musical floor show performed by the world famous ladyboys of Simon Cabaret. See for yourself - guys, can you tell the difference? And ladies - wouldn't you just die for a figure like that? Fabulous costumes, glitzy and fun
5
Chalong
Wat Chalong is one of Phuket's most important temples and visited by thousands each year. It's beautifully decorated with infinite reflections from hundreds of tiny glass pieces and several pagodas. On special holidays Wat Chalong hosts 'country fairs' with a real local flavour where you can buy just about anything and snack on Thai food to your heart's content. Wat Chalong has an interesting history and is Phuket Island's spiritual centre. You haven't seen Phuket if you've never visited this fascinating temple
6
Chalong -
Visible from most of the south of Phuket, the Big Buddha is a recent arrival to the island. The image stands on the top of the Nakkerd Hills and looks down over Chalong, Kata and Rawai. It cost 30 million baht to construct and is 45 metres high. Next to it stands a smaller, golden image that is actually made of brass and there is a shrine near the site's car park. The drive up to the Big Buddha takes you through the 'real' Thailand and the view from the top is enhanced if you take a map to identify the many, many sights
7
Patong Beach - Rawai -
Rapidly gaining popularity all over the world, Muay Thai is an electrifying spectacle to watch. Visit Saphan Hin Stadium in Phuket City to see regular matches with well-trained martial arts experts. Or try Patong Beach, where you can also see the skill and dexterity of these super-fit fighters. Tradition and courtesy are at the heart of this dangerous contact sport and a good Muay Thai participant is ultra-disciplined in spirit as well as body. Join the spectators and feel the rush. to see regular matches with well-trained martial arts experts.
8
Phuket Town -
Whether they're held to honour a religious belief or just for fun, the festivals of Phuket are exciting, sometimes bizarre spectacles – and they're certainly never bland. The Vegetarian Festival draws people from all over the world. It's colourful, it's deafening and sometimes fascinatingly gruesome. Vegetables gruesome? Come and see for yourself… Phuket's Gay Festival falls at the same time as Thailand's Songkran Water Festival and both are fun-filled, full-on parties that celebrate life's exuberance in a most decidedly Thai way.
9
Kata - Nai Harn - Panwa -
There are many viewpoints looking out over east and west Phuket affording sunrise as well as sunset views. Ok, so everyone goes to Promthep but it doesn't make it any less spectacular. There, you'll get fabulous views over the ocean stretching as far as Phi Phi Island on a good day. Check out Phuket's other viewpoints such as the 'Three Beaches' hilltop venue on the road between Nai Harn and Kata or sip a cocktail at the After Beach Bar (also on the same road) while the golden ball slips into the western horizon
10
Kamala Beach -
It's wacky but fun and very professionally done. Trapeze artists, elephants on stage and pyrotechnics combine in a Las Vegas-style show. You'll see nothing else like it anywhere on the planet. Combining Thai traditional myths with humour, fantasy and a loose plotline that keeps getting more and more amusing, FantaSea's extravaganza is a highly entertaining and riveting show that deserves to be top of our Top Ten Must See and Do in Phuket list
YOU COULD ALSO TRY
A rich and fertile tropical interior, rambling elephants, colourful birds, hooting gibbons, shady groves, lotus ponds, fragile mangroves, inspiring views and more. Cast away those big-city worries and explore the island's green bits. National Parks, Waterfalls, Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre, Viewpoints, City Parks.
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.
Located are the end of Cape Panwa, the Phuket Aquarium is open having undergone an 81-million-baht renovation. The aquarium's new major attraction, is a new 10-meter-long glass tunnel, a design similar to the popular aquarium in Singapore.
Phuket Zoo, on Soi Phalai off Chao Fa East Rd, near Chalong, houses a wide variety of species in the animal kingdom, from Monitor lizards to tropical birds, butterflies to camels. Also has crocodile, monkey and elephant shows several times a day
Phuket Golf ( some of the best courses in Asia)
Blue Canyon Country Club, set on 730 acres of land in a secluded valley overlooking Phuket's famous hills, is one of the premier courses in Phuket.
The Banyan Tree Golf Club is a resort style 18 hole golf course located within the Laguna Phuket development. Situated on the exclusive Bang Tao Bay on the western shore of Phuket Island, this par 71 layout stretches 6,850 yards from the championship tees.
Mission Hills has been carved from rubber plantations and sits among Phuket's environmentally-friendly mangroves.
Loch Palm Golf Club spreads over a lush, rolling 400 rai (160 acres) hilly plateau. This 18-hole, par 72 course has been masterfully designed to blend beautifully with the natural terrain.
Phuket Country Club
Phuket Country Club established in 1989, is the first and one of the finest golf courses built in Phuket, and lies on a reclaimed tin mine site. The stunning beauty and elegance of the course, together with the typical Thai charm and hospitality will make your golfing joyful and memorable.
Phunaka Golf Club
Phunaka is a new 9 hole course with driving range and floodlights for golfing in the cooler evenings
Unusual & Funny Things in Phuket
1
Beer on the Rocks
In Thailand, beer needs to be refreshed with ice cubes otherwise it goes warm within minutes.What could be considered as a lack of taste in Europe is widely practiced in most local bars. Try it out and you will discover a new way to appreciate your brew...
2
Soft Drinks Served in a Plastic Bag
It’s a mystery how Thailand got by before the advent of the plastic bag. They’re used for absolutely everything here – even cups.
Just take some iced tea/coffee, add ice cubes and a straw and away you go.
3
Soaked Policemen on Songkran Day
On Songkran Day, Thailand becomes a huge water battleground. Even the police have no choice in the matter and they get soaked. Can you imagine throwing ice-cold water at a policeman back home?
4
Some local restaurants in Thailand don’t bother with the formality of table napkins: a simple roll of toilet paper in a container does the trick quite nicely, thank you
5
In Thailand, if you are not wealthy enough to afford a car, a motorbike will do for you and your family. Up to five people (two adults and three kids) can fit on it, as well as the dog sometimes.
6
Driving a Bike with an Umbrella
Obtaining a motorcycle driving licence is very easy in Thailand and the exam would be considered somewhat of joke in the West. When it rains, you can often see people riding their bikes holding an umbrella in one hand to keep them dry with seeming little or no consideration for the risks they are running such as altered visibility and wind factor. So it's perhaps no surprise that Thailand ranks among the three highest countries in the world in terms of road accident statistics
7
Abandoned Helmet on the Road
This is a common sight in Phuket with a simple explanation: most drivers don't wear helmets when riding motorbikes; instead they place them in the basket attached to the front of the bike . Picture the scene; a cop appears a few hundred metres ahead and the driver quickly grabs his helmet in a swift attempt to cover his head. But even then if the motorbike hits a bump in the road off flies the unfastened helmet. Going back against the flow of the traffic to pick it up is not advisable, better buy a new one!
8
Gasoline in Whisky Bottles
Gas stations are not always easy to find in some areas. Even in Phuket it is recommended to fill your vehicle up before heading out. So some local people have found a simple way to make a bit of money while helping other drivers; they sell gasoline in whisky bottles. You can spot these colourful and somewhat misleading displays in front of houses or small shops here and there.
9
Beach Chairs Made of Plastic Blue Pipes
Ingeniosity rules! If you are a hotel owner and do not have enough money to invest in proper beach chairs, you will need a budget solution.
And here it is: Collect the spare plastic plumbing left over from your hotel bathroom construction and build your own sun loungers...
10
Bamboo Scaffolders
Bamboo scaffolding secured by rope, no safety harnesses; builders, painters and window cleaners among many others daily risk their life at work.
Indeed, for small Thai companies 'Safety at Work' is by and large still just a 'western concept'...
Phuket is an Island that is only 48 kilometres from south to north and 21 kilometres from east to west. That makes it easy to getting around and see the entire island in 1 day if you so wish. There are many free maps that you can get at the airport, tour agents, hotels and shopping centres. Use these maps to navigate around on your own, the size of the island makes this very easy.
Going from Patong to Phuket town only takes about 20 minutes and in less than an hour you can reach just about any point in the island! The main roads in Phuket are generally in good condition. You can find road signs in both English and Thai this to make navigation easy for every body. The roads are limited in Phuket thanks to the High Mountains that is stopping the way. Many times you will be required to drive around the mountain in stead of driving over them.
When you travel in Phuket or other parts of Thailand we recommend that you do drive carefully, the Thais are a kind and smiling people until they get out in the traffic.
In the traffic Thais are never willing to let any one else go first; the traffic is more or less with out working rules and regulations. The best thing to do is follow the flow of the traffic and watch your rear mirrors on both sides. The Thais drive pas other cars on both sides and not like the west world on one and same side! The motorbikes they drive on the side that is simplest at the moment to drive on.
If you are passing a road on foot, there is no one that will stop to let you go over the road. Do be very care full even if it is a marked crosswalk. Most of the Thai people do have driving license, but they get it buy going to the police station and asking for one. The knowledge that is needed to get the license is almost non existing! Thanks to this they do not have any trained skills in driving and regulations.
We do not want to scare you, but we like to show you the traffic as it is so that you can handle it when coming here.
Driving Safety - If you drive in Thailand, try to bear in mind the following:
- Drive slowly. Most accidents happen to drivers travelling in excess of 65 kph on the highway and 30 kph in built up areas; conditions in Phuket rarely warrant going faster. At low speeds, a driver can cope with sudden changes in the traffic situation. Remember, the faster you go, the harder you crash, and the more serious your injuries. Most insurance policies do not cover injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.
- As a matter of practical etiquette, larger vehicles have right-of-way. This means that, if a dump truck pulls into your lane travelling in the opposite direction because he wants to pass slower traffic, you should pull to the left. Also, at intersections with traffic circles, vehicles in the intersection have right-of-way; you must stop and let them enter your lane.
- Use your rear-view mirrors frequently to monitor the situation behind, and pull to the left for faster vehicles trying to overtake you. Look over your shoulder when changing lanes.
- Motorcyclists should use the left-shoulder motorcycle lane where available, and always wear crash helmets. Watch out for dogs and other animals--if you hit one on a motorcycle, chances are you'll be hurt more than the dog!
- It rains here often, making roads slippery. This is especially dangerous for motorcyclists slowing to a stop at intersections. Beware of potholes hiding beneath puddles of water after heavy rains.
- Drive defensively. Put no faith in stop signs, traffic lights, or the rules of the road; honour them yourself, but don't be surprised when others don't. Fasten your seatbelts where provided.
- Don't allow yourself to become agitated by rude drivers, it's pointless and it only aggravates an already chaotic situation on the roads.
USEFUL PHRASES
Hello (sa-wat dee)
For sure this is the word that all tourists need to learn first. It is used for both "hello" and "goodbye"
Thank you (khorb koon)
When you are in Thailand don't forget you are representing your country so please always try to be polite. This is a useful word to say "thank you" if someone gives you something.
How much? (gee baht)
If you are shopping you wil need to ask "how much?" You don't really need to learn "..is this?" or "...is that?" as you can use sign language at the same time
Where is ...? (... yoo tee nai)
I think you will find this phrase very useful. Just point at a place on your map or in your guide book and say "yoo tee nai". Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket etc.
I don't want (mai ow)
When you are walking down the street or even sitting on the train you will sometimes be approached by vendors who are trying to sell you something. Some of them are very insistent so try this useful phrase.
Sorry (khor toat)
Another useful phrase to help you be polite. Use this when you have to push by someone on the train or you accidentally stepped on their feet.
Can you make it cheaper? (lot noi dai mai)
If you are doing a lot of shopping then try this handy phrase. By speaking a little Thai you might get a better discount.
Delicious (a-roi)
After a delicious meal the cook would love to hear that you found the food delicious. You never know, the next time you go back to the same place she might give you an extra helping
Any other words or Phrase you would like to know just ask Pui (not Daz)
Well we hope this little guide has been helpful to you, if there is anything you still don’t understand or anything that’s not covered (yes there’s lots more) then just ask Darren or Pui and we will do what we can to help.
Services we can help provide include:
· We can organise any Trip for you, Scuba diving , Snorkelling, Fishing etc
· Organise a Taxi or a Driver for the day
· Airport Transfers
· You can Rent a Car or Motorbike from us
· We can make you food from our menu or we can ring in for deliveries **(McDonalds, KFC & Pizza’s all deliver :-)
· Give you directions if we can
· We may even come with you if you want to go to for a night in Patong ( just to show you around obviously ha ha).
Basically we are here at your service and if we can help in any way we will try our best!!!
We hope you have a great stay at Arysa Phuket Resort, and feedback good or bad will be welcome as we are always looking to improve our service.
Sawat dee,
Penchan , Darren & Pui
