A place for all seasons

Of the eleven million foreign visitors arriving annually at Don Muang international airport in Bangkok, almost five million do a 'right turn' and head on to Phuket; there's something going on down there!

Post-tsunami Phuket is thriving, and it's not difficult to see why. Twenty four pristine beaches, six golf courses, a James Bond film set and reefs yet to be explored. Thailand is recognised as one of the world's top ten diving destinations.

For nightlife, Patong is the obvious destination. Soi Bangla and the surrounding area has enough bars and clubs to keep even the liveliest of party people busy. Karon, Kata and Rawai are a little more sedate, but Patong is only a tuk-tuk ride away for those who find themselves in need of a clubbing fix.

There is far more to Phuket than nightlife though. A trip to Thailand would not be complete without at least one temple, or 'wat', visit. There are literally dozens of wats ranging from the small, inauspicious single buildings where the locals go to the much more impressive Wat Chalong and Wat Phra Thong, both of which date back to the 1700s.

Wat Chalong is particulary photogenic and will be many peoples best opportunity for pictures. This temple is dedicated to two highly revered monks, Luang Por Chang and Luang Por Gluam, whose statues are on display.

Wat Phra Thong is home to one of the more interesting Buddha images on the island. Legend has it that the Buddha was found buried with only the top of it's head showing, to which a small boy tied his buffalo.

The boy fell sick, and his father went to find the place where the boy had been and found the Buddha buried there. The villagers dug up the Buddha, the boy recovered and the Buddha is on display in the Wat.

Of the many events that take place every year on Phuket, the vegetarian festival is arguably the most colourful, not the food event implied by its name but more an annual purification ceremony. The 'chosen ones', or Ma Song, entering a trance like state and puncturing their faces with anything from multiple skewers to beach umbrellas. Not for the faint of heart.

Around the same time as the vegetarian festival is the setting adrift of the Chao Le, sea Gypsy, boats at Krabi. The ceremony takes place at midnight and makes for a beautiful, haunting spectacle.

There is accommodation to suit every pocket on Phuket, from 500 baht per night guesthouses to the 50000, yes fifty thousand, baht per night Amanpouri beach resort, and enough to keep the most demanding of travellers busy.

From the photo opportunities of Phang Ngha bay and the stunning sunsets of Laem Promthep, the balmy beaches all around the island, to the heat of the Patong nightlife, Phuket is a place that once visited, is never forgotten.

Ends

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Contact: steve(@)s-p-f.net