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Attractions in Phuket, Thailand
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Jungle |
History |
Temples |
Night Market |
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Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre Gibbons are among humankind's nearest relatives, and when young
make adorable pets. When mature however,they outgrow their cuteness
and can become aggressive and even inflict injury. Thailand's wild
gibbon population suffers tremendously from the poaching of baby
gibbons for illegal sale as pets, the killing of fiercely protective
mother gibbons, and the abandonment or killing of matured aggressive
pets. The project in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, near Bang Phae
Waterfall, saves pet gibbons that have been abandoned or are at
risk of being put down, and trains them how to survive in the wild.
You'll find it fascinating, and your donation and T-shirt purchases
will help keep the Rehabilitation
Project, the only one of its kind in the world, going. Go
trekking and enjoy the park as well. Rent a car or go with Adventure
Safaris Tel: 341 988. Butterfly Garden and Aquarium
Marine Biological Research Centre The aquarium here features saltwater and freshwater fish. Local experts also hatch and breed young sea turtles, an endangered species, for release into the sea. This is Thailand's major marine biological research station, undertaking work on tropical reef ecosystems, commercial fisheries, and other related projects. Take a scenic drive out to the centre which is located on Sakdidet Road, Makham Bay, Cape Panwa. Turn right at the first traffic light in Phuket Town from Chao Fah Road. Tel: 391 126. Open 10.00am-4.00pm daily. This is one of Phuket's best value attractions as the entry price is only 20 baht. Old Chinatown
The island has two major night markets you can explore. In Patong, the night market mainly includes products such as handicrafts, silk scarves, luggage and wooden toys. The market is easily found, extending all the way down the Beach Road and into small secondary soi (lanes). For something really different, try the night market in Phuket Town. Surrounding the new Robinson's Department Store, this colourful market offers a wealth of Muslim, Thai and Chinese cooked meals and sweets. Simply point at what you want to take away or eat right there -- most vendors have tables and chairs and are perfectly happy to share the business with other vendors. What they don't have, they'll get for you from another vendor. Enjoy. (For daytime colour, try the fresh market in Phuket Town or the fishermen's market on Rawai Beach). "Sea Gypsy Village", Rawai It is better to give this "attraction" a miss. Unfortunately, what might have been a healthy community of Chao Le, or sea nomads, has been largely turned into a squalid human zoo. Don't contribute to the degradation of these once-proud people. (If you go a couple of hundreds miles to the north, among the islands off the coast of Burma, long closed to visitors, you can still find unspoiled sea nomad communities living in the old way). Naga Pearl Farm This well-known island pearl farm welcomes visitors with a daily pearl culturing demonstration and pleasant bungalows for overnight stays. They offer a restaurant, windsurfing, sailboats, swimming and simple relaxation on a pleasant tropical beach. Open 9.00am-3.30pm daily. Pearl-extraction show at 11.00am. Tel: 213 723.
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A
sun-and-sea playground it is, but Phuket has another side -- real
people, from farmers to business people, who attend schools, temples,
mosques and who live on an island replete with tropical rain forests
rich in exotic flora and fauna. The guides at 
This
is Phuket's last significant stand of virgin rain forest. Spend
a morning or evening taking a leisurely walk up along the waterfall,
or, if you want to spend the day walking in the quiet majesty of
a tropical forest, there's an eight-kilometre hike which wends right
through the park. Guides are available, and there is a small museum
and information centre located near the bottom of the falls. Much
of the forest's wildlife tends to stay out of sight, but hunker
down and stay still for a while and you'll soon hear the telltale
sounds of all sorts of animal activity. If you're lucky, you may
even be treated to the sight of one or more of the forest's unusual
creatures.
This
large open-air enclosure, landscaped with waterfalls, houses thousands
of vivid butterflies amid lush greenery. Explanations of the fascinating
life cycle of butterflies and tours of butterfly breeding rooms
are included in the display. The tropical aquarium is among the
finest anywhere, the tanks "landscaped" with live coral
gardens. Follow the signs from the intersection of Patong Road and
the airport bypass road. Open Daily 9.00am-5.00pm.
The
inner heart of Phuket Town is for the most part a "Chinatown".
Walking is the only way to appreciate fully outstanding examples
of the local Chinese heritage Look for the fine latticework,
colourful ceramic tiles and other traditional design elements in
the rowhouse facades along Krabi-Thalang Road and Dibuk. Sino-Portuguese
mansions can also be found throughout the town. One fine example
stands diagonally opposite the Merlin Hotel on the Mae Luan-Yaowaraj
intersection. Also look for the mansions in the Lord Mayor's compound
on Thepkatsatree Road (not open to the public).
Wat
Chalong, one of the biggest temples on the islands, is an important
part of Phuket history. In Thalang, Phuket's first capital, Wat
Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Temple) and Wat Phranangsang (Built-by-a-Royal-Lady
Temple) are worth a visit. Wat Phra Thong has a large Buddha image
protruding from its chest up from the temple floor. According to
legend, those who try to dig it up will die. An English guidebook
is available. Wat Phranangsang is Phuket's second oldest temple
and figures in Phuket's early history as the rallying point for
the island's two heroines in the war against the Burmese. It's also
called the "Temple of the White Blood" -- find out why
from amulet seller, Khun Santi.