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4026

402

402

4028

PHANG-NGA BAY

PHUKET TOWN4022

4021

4024

4029

4025

4030

PHANG-NGA

THAO THEPKRASATTRI BRIDGE

SARASIN BRIDGE

POLICE STATION

PHUKET GATE WAY

SAIKAEW BEACH

MAIKHAO BEACH

PHUKET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SIRINAT NATIONAL PARK

NAI YANG BEACH

NAITHON BEACH

LAYAN BEACH TALANG DISTRICT

KATA BEACH

BANG TAO BEACH

PANSEA BEACH

SURIN BEACH

SING CAPE

NAKALAY BEACH

KALIM BEACH

PATONG BEACH

TRITRANG BEACH

FREEDOM BEACH

KARON NOI BEACH

KARON BEACH

KATA BEACH

KATA NOI BEACH

AO SANE

NAI HARN BEACHYA NUI BEACHPROMTHEP CAPE

VIEW POINT

VIEW POINT

VIEW POINTYON BAY

AEW ISLAND

LONE ISLAND

BON ISLAND

KEAW YAI ISLANDCORAL ISLAND

RAYA YAI ISLAND

RAYA NOI ISLAND

MAI THON ISLAND(HONEYMOON ISLAND)

PHUKET AQUARIUMPANWA CAPE

PORT OF PHUKET

PORT OF PHUKET

TAPAO NOI ISLAND

SEA GYPSY VILLAGE

RANG YAI ISLAND

RANG NOI ISLAND

NAKA NOI ISLAND

LAEM HIN PIER

NAKA YAI ISLAND

REAT ISLAND

POR PIER

NGAM ISLAND

LA WA YAI ISLAND

MANGROVEFOREST

PANAK ISLAND

LEAM SAI

MAPHRAO BAY

YATCH HEAVEN

PHUKET CHECK POINT

RADIO CONTROL

HIGHWAY POLICE

AGRO-TOURISMMAE JOO SHOP

BANG PAE WATERFALL

TON SAI WATERFALL

THALANG HOSPITAL

KATHU CASCADE

PRINCE OF SONGKLAUNIVERSITY

PRA NANG SANG TEMPLE

KORNTHONG SHOP

PHUKET FANTASEA

BUTTERFLY FARM

LPG

PTT

SHELL

THAI VILLAGE

KHAO PRA TAEWGIBBON PROJECT

SRISUPALUCK ORCHID

HEROINE MONUMENT

BANG RONG PIER

PHUKET ABALONE FARM & RESTAURANT

PHUKET BOAT LAGOONROYAL PHUKET MARINA

SIRAY ISLAND

MAPHRAO ISLAND

KATHU DISTRICT

PHUKET ISLAND HOPPER PORT

PHUKET ISLAND HOPPER PORT

MAKHAM BAY

RAWAI BEACH

CHALONG BAY

PALAI BAYBIG BUDDHA

SILASUPARAMTEMPLE

CHALONG TEMPLE

KHAO KHATHILL

KA CAPE

FRIENDSHIPBEACH

SRI SUNT HORN RD.

THEP

KRA

SATT

RI R

D

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402

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PHUKET PROVINCEANDAMAN SEA

ContentLocation and Boundaries

tourist attractions in the oLd city of Phuket

tourist attractions in kathu district

tourist attractions in thaLang district

goLf courses in Phuket and surrounding areas

LocaL festivaLs and traditions of Phuket

hot evening hang-outs

LocaL food

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P.40

P.42

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Phuket, the name presently used for the famous island was at one time called “Phukej” which means “crystal city”. According to records dated 1,025 A.D., the meaning also coincides with the name ‘Maneekram’ that was given by the Tamil tribe. Today, Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand with over one thousand years of history and archaeological evidence. It was well known amongst sailors and navigators who traveled between China and India through the Malay Peninsula. The oldest evidence is found in the geography book and navigator map by Ptolemy dated 157 A. D. There was clear mentioning about the trip from ‘Suwannapum’ Peninsula down to The Malay Peninsula where ships had to pass through “Junk Ceylon” Cape, the location where Phuket Island is situated today.

Prefect

Phuket

Another major evidence in Thai history provided proof that Phuket was part of the Pornling Kindom which continued over to the Sriwichai Kingdom. Later, in the Siridhama Nakorn Kingdom, Phuket Island was called “Muang Takua-Thalang”, the eleventh in the constellation of twelve cities which had chosen the dog image as its symbol. During the Sukhothai Period, Thalang was under the rule of Takua Pah. In the Ayutthaya Period, the Dutch arrived and built storage facilities for conducting tin trade in Phuket. Therefore, the island’s northern and central regions called Thalang were governed by Thais while the southern and western parts called Phuket were inhabited by foreigners who were there to conduct tin trade.

In the beginning of the Rattanakosin period, the Burmese king and his army invad-ed Siam and began attacking several major cities in the south. When they reached Thalang, they discovered that the city had just lost its ruler. Not about to let the Burmese in without a fight, Khun-Ying Jan, the late ruler’s courageous widower and her sister, Khun Mook gathered a militia and bravely fought the invaders until they were forced to retreat. So on March 13, 1785, King Rama I bestowed upon Khun-Ying Jan the honorific title of ‘Thao Thep Krasattri’ and Khun Mook, ‘Thao Sri Soontorn’ in honor of their braveries.

During the years that followed, Phuket prospered continuously from trading and mining. Later, King Rama V had orders to integrate all the towns on the western coast together and called them ‘Monton Phuket’. In 1933, it was changed to Phuket Province, the name which is used until today.

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LoCation and Boundaries:Phuket is a province in southern Thailand with the west side next to The Andaman Coast in the Indian Ocean and the east side consisting of several islands. The island lies between 7’ 45” and 8’ 15” north latitude, and from 98’ 15” to 98’ 40” west longitude on the map. Phuket, Thailand’s largest island and its sur-rounding 32 smaller islands make up a total area of 570 square kilometers. The widest point of the island measures 21.3 kilometers while its longest part is 48.7 kilometers. Its boundaries are as follows:

North: Pak Prah Strait in Phang-Nga Province connected by Sarasin and Thao Thep Krasattri Bridges. South: The Andaman Sea. East: Phang-Nga Bay. West: The Andaman Sea. Geography:About 70 percent of Phuket is made up of mountains which run from north to south, lying mainly on the west side of the island. The highest peak called ‘Mai Tao Sip Song’ (Twelve Canes) stands 529 meters above sea level and lies within the boundaries of Tambol Chalong, Muang District. The remaining 30 percent consists of plains found mainly in the central and east of the island. The west side is made up of mountains, beaches and streams such as the Klong Bang Yai,Klong Ta Chine, Klong Tah Rua, and Klong Bang Rong.

Climate:Phuket’s weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds which makes the weather warm and humid year round. There are only two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until November, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The summer season is from December through April, when the monsoon begins from the northeast. The highest aver-age temperature is around 33.4 degrees Celsius which occurs around March and the lowest average of 22 degrees Celsius happens in January. economy:1. Tourism is the island’s major source of income which attracts both local and foreign investments to the area. Businesses in the tourism industry include hotels, restaurants, travel agents, souvenir shops, spas, Thai massage establishments and health tours. 2. The main agricultural industry in Phuket includes rubber tree plantation, coconut plantation, pineapple plantation, fishing and aquaculture. 3. Important industrial trades include agricultural product transformation and the fishing industry.

Population:The official population recorded on January 7, 2006, was 292, 351. Most of the inhabitants are Buddhist, Chinese Thais. Others include Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and a minority group called ‘New Thais’ or Chao Ley (Fishermen).

Government:Phuket Province is divided into three Amphurs (districts) namely Muang District, Thalang District and Kathu District. There is one Nakorn Municipality, one Muang Municipality, five District Municipalities and thirteen Sub district Administrative Organizations.

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traveL GuideBy car:From Bangkok, take Rama 2 Road (Thonburi-Paktor). Turn left at The Wang Manao 3-way intersection and follow highway no. 4 (Phetchakasem Road) through Phetchaburi Province, Cha-am, Hua-Hin, Prajuab Kirikhan, Tab Sakare. When you reach the Chumporn city intersection, (Patomporn intersection at the km. 499), go straight on highway no. 41 passing through Langsuan District into Suratthani province through Suratthani Airport for about 10 kilometers. At the 18-kilometer intersection, turn right and take highway no. 401 passing the Local Administrative Office of Ban Takanun District, Suratthani Province for about 5 kilometers. Turn left at the 3-way intersection onto highway no. 415 passing the Local Administrative Office of Thub Phut District. Go straight about one kilometer then turn left onto highway no. 415. Keep going until you reach the 3-way intersection of Pang-Nga. Turn left and follow the road for another 89 kilometers to reach Phuket. (take highway no. 4 until reaching Baan Kok Kloy in Pang-Nga and turn left onto highway no. 402).

The whole journey is a total of 886 kilometers. Another route to take is from the Chumporn intersection; turn right onto highway no. 4 through Kraburi, Kah-perr, Ranong, Kuraburi, Takua Pah, Tai Muang, Takua Tung, Pang-Nga and into Phuket. The first route, however, is more convenient. If you wish to take the bus, there are both ordinary and air-conditioned buses that depart from the Southern Bus Terminal several times daily.

For more inFormationPlease Find Below:By BusBus Express : Tel. (076) 221 736, (085) 796 3411 or (089) 650 3838Transportation Co., Ltd. Tel. (02) 435 1200 or (076) 211 480Phuket Central Tour Co., Ltd. Tel. (02) 434 3233 or (076) 213 615, 214 335Phuket Travel Co., Ltd. Tel. (02) 435 5018, 435 5034 or (076) 222 107-9Travel time is about 12-14 Hrs.

By air:Today, Phuket Airport is an international airport with several in-bound and out-bound domestic and international flights. For more information, Contact Thai Airways at Tel. (02) 280 0060, 628 2000 or (076) 211 195, 212 499. Approximate flight time from Bangkok to Phuket is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Contact Nok Air Tel. (02) 900 9955,Contact Orient Thai Tel. (02) 229 4260 or 1126

By sea:The deep sea port in Makham Bay is for cargo ships and domestic and interna-tional excursion boats. Cruise ships from visiting countries would dock in Patong Bay and Phuket Deep Sea Port. Yachts dock at Chalong Bay, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Yacht Heaven and The Royal Phuket Marina, etc.

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tourist attraCtions in muanG distriCt: ranG mountain Located in the northwest of Phuket city, is a low hill where facilities such as restaurants, health park and public park for exercise and recreation can be found. Moreover, the mountain peak is a good place to admire the beauty of Phuket city.

tourist attraCtions in the oLd City oF Phuket:

Most of the buildings in Old Phuket town were built over 100 years ago when the mining industry began to prosper. The architectural style of these buildings clearly shows the influence of the “Sino-Portuguese” which had much more depth than width. One distinct feature is the beautiful stencil work on the windows and doors. Today, these classic buildings can be seen on Phang-Nga Road, Thalang Road, Yaowaraj Road, Deebook (tin) Road and Krabi Road. Apart from these nostalgic architectures, there are other old buildings displaying European architectures such as the Phuket City Hall, Phuket Province’s Court and Nakornluang Bank.

soi rommaneeLocated on Talang Road in Phuket’s old town, was a major entertainment area in the past. Its name means ‘pleasure’ as it was the destination where people came to have fun. Later, it was turned into a residence neighborhood. With passing time, the buildings became weathered so there had been a renovation project to restore the Sino-Portuguese style architectures back to their former glory. Without a doubt, the style and architecture had been preserved exactly the way they were 100 years ago. At present, this area is filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, places to enjoy drinks and galleries. It is the ideal place for visitors to stroll down the memory lane of Phuket’s nostalgic past.Note

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Phuket thai hua museum Is now being renovated to be one of the historical tourist attractions of Phuket. The 74-year old Sino-Portuguese architecture displays a photo exhibition and video media which tells the history of the Chinese people in Phuket, mining, local costumes, Sino-Portuguese architecture, local foods, tradition and culture of Phuket. It is located on 28, Krabi Road, Tumbol Talad Yai, Muang District, Phuket 83000. Contact telephone number is 076-211-224. The museum is open from Tuesday-Friday between 13.00-20.00 hrs. and from 9.00-20.00 hrs. on Saturdays and Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

Ban Chin PrachaWas built in1903 A.D., in the later period of King Rama V by Phra Pitak Shin Pracha (Tan Ma Sieng), son of Luang Bamroong Chine Prates (Tan Neow Yee). He was born in Montol Hokkien of China and held the military title of “Bootek Chong-kul”. Later, he traveled to Thailand in 1854 A.D. (in the later years of King Rama IV era) and conducted tin mining business on Phuket Island and trading business on Penang Island under the name of “Angmoh-lao”. Most of the furniture in the house were inherited from the Chinese ancestors and other materials used were imported from foreign countries because trading between Penang and Phuket at that time flourished tremendously. There were all sorts of things such as house gates from Holland, ceramics tiles from Italy and more. Today, Ban Chin Pracha is 101 years old and since the very first owner, it is now going onto the 6th genera-tion of successors. The house is located at 98, Krabi Road, Tambol Talad Nua, Muang District, Phuket Province 83000, Tel. (076X-211-281, 211-167.

her majesty Queen sirikit’s 72nd anniversaryChalerm Prakiat Park:In honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 72nd birthday in 2005, the Municipality of Phuket had considered a project plan to add more green space to the city. The project had been approved for construction on the land of the Treasury Department and received Her Royal permission to name the park “Her Majesty the Queen’s 72nd Anniversary Chalerm Phrakiart Park of 2547” (Buddhist calendar year). Later, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Acces-sion to the Throne on June 9th, 2006, The Phuket Municipality had built the ‘Sea Dragon’ “Hai Leng Ong” as a tribute of his long reign. The dragon statue is considered the landmark of the park. The grand opening was held on June 5th, 2006 which fell on a Monday, 9th period of July.

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thai village and orchid Garden of Phuket Is located 3 kilometers away from town along on the Thep Kasatri Road. When you see a direction sign of The Thai Village, turn left. Visitors will enjoy traditional Thai dance per-formances, Thai handicrafts, elephant shows, demonstration of tin mining of the past and orchid garden. For more information, call Tel. (076) 214 860.

Phuket Zoo Is located between the routes from the city and Chalong Bay (turn left at Soi Palai on Chaofah Road). The zoo offers many varieties of animals such as tigers, birds, deer, zebras, camels etc. There are also elephant shows and crocodile shows. The zoo is open daily from 08.30 -18.00 hrs. For more information, call Tel. (076) 381 337, (076) 381 227 and (076) 282 043.

Phuket aquariumLocated at Cape Panwa, is an extraordinary aquarium displaying over 100 varieties of marine species. It is opened daily from 08.30 - 16.00 hrs. For more information, call Tel. 076 391126.

Phuket Butterfly and insect Park Located 3 kilometers away from Phuket town, visitors can get to the park by taking Yaowarat Road passing Phuket Wachira Hospital, turn left at the 3-way intersection of Sam Gong village and turn right at Soi Paniang. The park has a collection of various species of tropical insects and butterflies. It is open daily from 09.00 -17.00 hrs. For more information, call Tel. (076) 215 616, 210 861

sapan hin (stone Bridge) Is an area for recreation situated at the end of Phuket Road, next to the beach. It is also the location of the 60-year monument built in 1969 for Captain Edward Thomas Miles, an Australian who brought in the first ship for digging tin in 1909. The Sapan Hin Sports Center is located here as well.

Phuket Cultural Center Is within the Ratchapat University of Phuket on Thep Kasatri Road, Muang District. The center exhibits history, art, culture and the Phuket people’s way of life. There are also local Thai houses and equipment used in ancient Talang. The lower floor is the library which contains historical and cultural books. For more information, call Tel. (076) 211 959 (extension 148).

khao kaad view PointThe unique view from the top of Khao Kaad has always attracted visitors to admire the beauty of the Andaman Sea. Along the road up the hill, there are also view points where visitors can stop to take pictures. The viewpoint is located on Moo 6, Wichit Sub-district, Muang District, Phuket.

Phuket seashell museumLocated near Rawai Beach, the museum showcases a collection of seashells from every parts of the world. There are shell fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old, a giant shell weighing more than 250 Kg., a golden pearl that weighs 140 karats, etc. The museum is open daily from 08.00 -17.00 hrs. For more information, call Tel. (076) 613 678, 613 789, 316 666 Fax (076) 613 777.

sirey island Covers an approximate area of 20 square kilometers and is situated on the south-east of Phuket Island. The two islands are separated by the Ta Jin Canal and are joined together by a bridge. Sitting on the hill top of Sirey Island Temple, is a large Buddha Image. Around Laem Tuk-Kae, you will find the largest fishing village in Phuket. The beach, however, is not suitable for swimming as the sand is somewhat muddy. The main occupation of the islanders is undoubtedly fishing.

naka market (Jao Fah variety) Is set up on Saturdays and Sundays around 3 pm. onwards. Visitors will find all sorts of items such as clothing, shoes, accessories, home decorative items, flowers, fresh and preserved food items, etc. It is very popular with local teenagers and foreign visitors.

silsuparam temple(New Temple of Luang Poo Supa) is located 7 kilometers away from Phuket town. From Surakul Stadium, turn left to Chalong five-way intersection and go straight for another 4 kilometers then you will see the temple on the right. The temple is headed by the 100-year old Laungpoo Supa who has been a monk for 80 years. He has built 36 forest temples scattered around secluded areas. More importantly was the production of ‘Pra Saded Klab’, a highly revered Buddhist amulet that had been made exactly according to the Buddhist manu-script. For more information, call Tel. 076 280 774.

Pra yai temple(Big Buddha Temple) or “Pra Buddha Ming Mongkol Ake Naga Kiri” is commonly called The Big Buddha Temple as it houses the largest Buddha statue in Phuket. Situated atop Nag Gerd Hill, it was created with the help of Kitti Sangkaram Temple (Kata Temple) as part of the forestation project. Covering an area of 42 rais, the land is the appro-priate place to house the 25.45-meter wide and 45-meter tall Buddha statue that faces 19 degrees northeast. The temple is considered a landmark respected by both the people of Phuket and visitors alike.

Chalong BayIs 11 kilometers from town. To get there, take Chaofah Road to Chalong 5-way intersection, turn left and go straight for 1 kilometer. The beach at Chalong Bay is curvy and long and the sand is muddy, not at all suitable for swimming. It is, however, the place where both personal yachts and boats for hire are docked.

Chalong templeIs located 8 kilometers away from Phuket town. From Surakul Sport Stadium, turn left onto Chalong 5-way intersection. The temple is on the left-hand side, 4 kilometers before reaching the intersection. In-side, visitors would come to pay their respects to the statue of Luang Por Cham, a monk who helped the villagers fight the Ahngyee rebels in 1876 during the reign of King Rama V. Also, there are images of Luang Por Chuang and LuangPpor Gluam, the heads of the monks in the following era whom are highly respected by the Phuket people.

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ka Cape Is 16 kilometers away from Phuket town. From Chalong five-way intersection, turn in to Wiset Road and turn left 1 kilometer before reaching Rawai Beach. The beach of Laem Ka has soft, white sand and some rocky formations. Overall, it is a good place for swimming.

rawai Beach Is located 17 kilometers away from the city. From Chalong five-way intersection, turn into Wiset Road. You will see a fishing village on the left of the beach. On the beach itself, there are boats for hire where visitors can rent them out for the day to islands such as Ko Hey, Ko Bon, Ko Raya and Ko Keaw Pisadan. The beaches are shallow with no strong wind or big waves, making it suitable for swimming. Hotel accommodations and restaurants are also available on the beach.

Promthep CapeIs 2 kilometers to the right from Rawai Beach. This peninsula, once referred to as “Laem Jao” by the locals, is located at the southern end of Phuket and is the high-est cliff on the island. From the edge of the cliff, there sugar palm trees growing in rows down to the stone formations on the beach and visitors will adore the view of the circling emerald green water surrounding Koh Keaw Pisadan. Laem Promthep is the most beautiful place to enjoy watching the sunset. The road on the right cuts across to Nai Harn Beach.

nai harn Beach Is about 18 kilometers away from Phuket town. To get there from Laem Phromth-ep, just turn left onto the road around the island. The beach is not very long but it is secluded and has clean, white sand. During the monsoon season from May to October, it is not advisable to go swimming as the wind and waves are very strong.

ao saen Is a small bay on the right of Nai Harn Beach (passing Phuket Yacht Club). The secluded beach has white sand and rock formations, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

view Point Is located between Nai Harn and Kata Noi Beaches. From here, the most beautiful view of the 3 bays namely Kata Noi, Kata Beach and Karon Beach can be seen.

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kata Beach Is 17 kilometers away from Phuket town. To get there, Take Chao Fah Road and turn right at Chalong 5-way intersection onto Patak Road. Kata Beach is seperated into Kata Yai (Big Kata) and Kata Noi (Little Kata). Is is an excellent place for swimming and learning to scuba dive as there are corals formations all the way to Pu Island just opposite from Kata Beach. Today, the beach offers all kinds of facilities including hotel accommoda-tions, tour services, shopping and entertainment.

karon Beach Lies 3 kilometers north of Kata Beach. The long, white beach also has hotel accommodations, restaurants, tour excursions and many other facilities as in Kata Beach.

dino Park Is situated next to The Marina Phuket Resort Hotel on Karon Beach. It is an 18-hole miniature golf park in an ambiance of prehistoric times filled with dinosaurs and volcanoes. The golf park is open daily from 10:00 – 24:00 hrs. For more information, call Tel. (076) 330 625.

kaew Pisadan island Is a small island around the south of Laem Promthep. It is 3 kilometers from Rawai Beach and takes 15 minutes by boat to reach. The island has a temple and an imitation of the Lord Buddha’s footprint. Lohn island Is a large island at the south near Chalong Bay. It takes just 20 minutes to get there by boat. There is a fishing community and school for the local children and the atmosphere is serene. There are some hotels on the island but day visits are also available.

Bon island Is a small island in the south of Phuket. The beach is white and shallow which is good for swimming. There are no lodgings on the island. Visitors can go for a day trip by hiring a boat from Rawai Beach or Laem Ka and the journey takes only 10 minutes.

hey island (Coral island) Is at the southwest of Laem Panwa. It is one of the islands under the forest protec-tion of the Fisheries Department. Visitors can hire a long-tail boat or speed boat from Rawai and Chalong Beaches. There are two beaches on the island, one at the north and the other at the east. They have white sand and 100 meters of coral reefs. And because of the abundance in coral formations, they also go by another name which is ‘Coral Island’. Visitors often come for scuba diving and snorkeling. There is a hotel, restaurant and water sports services on the island. For more information, call Coral Island Resort at Tel. (076) 281 060-2. Package tours can also be arranged through travel agents. For day visits, boats for hire are available at Chalong Bay and Rawai Beach.

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racha islands or raya islands consist of two islands in the south:

racha yai island’s Beaches are at the west between the hills. The area is horseshoe shaped and is called ‘Ao Namta Tok’ (Bay of Tears) or ‘Ao Bun-galow’. The water is clear and the sand is white, similar to those found in the Similan Islands. On the hill-top at the south of the island, there is a viewpoint that offers an amazing view of the area. Apart from these, there are also Ao Siam, Ao Tue and Ao Kon Kae at the east that provide good sites for snorkeling.

racha noi island Is located 10 kilometers from Racha Yai Island. It was formed by layers upon layers of corals so there are more rocks here than around the beaches of the west. There is also a small bay to dock boats. Although the area is not suitable for swimming, it is an interesting spot for fishing.Visitors can hire a long-tail boat which will take about two hours or a speed boat which takes one hour from Chalong Bay or Rawai Beach. Tour packages can also be arranged by travel agents or dive schools. Those who wish to stay overnight can do so on Racha Yai Island.

mai ton islandIs a small, peaceful island located on the southeast of Phuket. The beach has white sand and the water is crystal clear, ideal for swimming and fishing. There is a resort on the island but day visits are also possible. You can catch a ferry ride from the Phuket Deep Sea Pier. For more information, call Maiton Resort at Tel. (076) 214 954-7.

tapao yai islandIs found towards the southwest of Phuket. It takes only 10 minutes to get there by boat from Ao Makam. There are hornbills living on the island. rang yai island Located at the east of Phuket, is a small and quiet island where tour agents bring their clients to spend the day visiting the pearl farm, canoeing, bicycling and play-ing miniature golf. There is also a seafood restaurant on the island. For more information, call Richie Island Tour Co. Ltd. at Tel. (076) 238 781. Boat rides are available at The Phuket Boat Lagoon or visitors can hire a boat at Laem Hin Pier.

Coconut islandis located on the east side of Phuket. Ferry rides to the island from Laem Hin will take about 15 minutes. There is a small com-munity living on the island and their main occupations are fishing and agriculture.

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TourisT aTTracTions in KaThu DisTricT:

Patong Beach Is 15 kilometers from the city. To get there, take the Vichit Songkram Road or highway no. 4020 for about 9 kilometers and turn left onto highway no. 4029 for another 6 kilometers. Patong Beach is wide and slightly curved so it is a great area for water sports. It also has the widest varieties of services including hotel accom-modations, travel agents, shopping and entertainment.

kalim Beach Is actually a part of Patong Beach and the two are con-nected by a path to the right of Patong. This beach is small but has interesting rock formations, coral reefs, lodging and restaurants.

kamala Beach Is 26 kilometers from the city. From Tao Kasatri Tao Sri Soontorn Monument, turn left passing Surin Beach and Laem Singh. Kamala Beach is approximately 2 kilom-eters long and has a quiet atmosphere. There are many hotels in the area.

simon CabaretIs situated on Patong Beach. The cabaret show will wow audiences with spectacular costumes and beautiful stage set-ups. There are two shows a day at 19:30 and 21:30 hrs. For more information, please call Tel. (076) 342 114.

kathu shooting rangeIs located in Soi Kathu Waterfall next to Phuket Water Ski. It is open daily from 7 am. to 6 pm. For more information, call Tel. (076) 323 996 or visit www.phuketoutdoorshooting.com.

the Play houseIs open from Monday to Saturday from 5pm. to 0.30 am. For more information, call Tel. (076) 341 500.

World Bungy JumpIs situated in Soi Gep Sap 2, Sai Nam Yen Road, Patong Beach. Operating hours is from 10 am. to 7 pm. For more information, call Tel. 076 345185.

Patong Boxing CenterPuts on a Thai boxing fight every Monday and Thursday night starting from 9 pm. Both Thai and foreign boxers are there to show off their skills. For more information, call Tel. (076) 345 578

tarzan Bungy JumpIs located near the intersection to Patong Beach. For more information, call Tel. (076) 321 351.The Expat Hotel in Soi Sunset of Patong Beach.

Patong Go CartIs around the foothill to Patong Beach. It is open daily from 11:00-22:00 hrs. For more information, call (076) 321 949.

Phuket Water skiIs Phuket’s only cable ski facility in a large lake. It is located in Soi Namtok, Amphur Kratu and operates daily from 10:00-19:00 hrs. For more information, call (076) 202 525-7.

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kathu mining museumKathu’s Tin Mining Museum is situated at Moo5, Kathu-Koh Kaew Road, Tambol Kathu, Amphur Kathu around the old mining area of Tho Soong. The locale is between Nang Panthurat Mountain to the north and Ket Nee Mountain Range to the east or between Baan Koh Kaew-Bang Koo, next to Lock Palm Golf Course. The museum showcases the glorious past of Kathu when tin mining was once a major trade. Even though decades have past, this part of history will always remain a big part of Phuket’s history.

The Tin Mining Museum was established in order to promote and preserve local history and natural resources; this is especially important for Kathu as the trade once flourished throughout every corner of the vicinity. Remnants of min-ing that remain to be seen reflect the precious way of life of the past that must be preserved to remind the younger generations of the roots of their ancestry.Established in 2008, the museum’s architecture was designed in Sino-Portu-guese style. The one and a half storey building features a lawn in the center with arched, European style stucco window frames, reflecting a fine blend of Asia and Europe. Thus, the building is called “Ang Moh Lao Nai Hua Muang”.

Venturing inside, a semi-live display can be seen with exhibition area separated into 2 parts. The first is the exterior of the building that replicates mining sites of the past and features various plant species. The interior part portrays the history of tin mining and the lifestyle of the people in a fascinating way. The museum is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact Tel. (088) 766 0962, (076) 321 073.

Phuket FantaseaOn Kamala Beach is a fabulous show offering new dimensions of night time entertainment. The property spreads over 300 rais of land and showcases beautiful Thai culture using high-tech equipment, light and sound system and special effects. What you will find within the property are:

- Thai Village, displaying beautiful traditional architecture, is a venue where visitors can buy handicraft, souvenir items and enjoy activities in carnival style.- Cultural parade- Golden Manohra Restaurant is a 4,000-seat venue offering Thai and international cuisine.-Aiyara Palace is a 3,000-seat theater where audiences will enjoy nine amazing sets of cultural shows.For more information and reservations, call Tel. (076) 385 000, Fax. (076) 385 333.

kathu Local heritage CenterIs situated 7 kilometers from the city. To get there, take Vichit Songkram Road and turn right at ‘Gade Ho’ Temple 3-way intersection towards Kathu Community. Turn left into Baan Kathu School where the center is located. You will find a display of minerals, a recreation of tin mining in the past, equipment used and the way of life back then. The school’s address is Moo 2, Amphur Kathu, Phuket Province. For more information, call Tel. (076) 321 035. The center is open in accordance to the gov-ernment’s operation hours.

kathu WaterfallIs small but surrounded by lush, green sur-roundings. Visitors will be able to find delicious food in the area. It is 4 kilometers from Kathu Administrative Office and the entrance to the waterfall is near Loch Palm Golf course.

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Phuket GatewayIs located on 25 rais of government’s land around Chatchai Pier, Tambol Maikao, Amphur Talang. It is close to The Thao Thep Kasatri-Thao Srisoonthorn Bridge near the entrance/exit of Phuket. The gateway is a new attraction and serves as the reception area where both Thai and foreign visitors are greeted. It is built by The Local Administrative Office of Phuket. Apart from the building which features the characteristics of Phuket, the area in the front is landscaped with 29 stone pillars for decoration. The number 2 stands for Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn, the two heroines of Phuket and the number 9 stands for King Rama 9. The 29 pillars tell the history of Phuket beginning from the days when tin mining was at its peak, local agriculture, up until the present day when tourism became the leading industry. The building of the pillars was done with the help of Phuket’s Historical Preservation Group led by Assistant Professor Sommai Pinbuddhasilp and Acharn Prasit Shinakarn. The gateway will also be the knowledge center of Phuket’s history and culture for tourists and students.

thao thep krasattri -thao si soontorn monumentIs located at Thalang Port’s intersection roundabout. The people of Phuket got together and built it in 1966 in honor of the heroines of Thalang. On the 24th of March, 1967, the statues were placed on the stand which was the very same day the Burmese were forced to retreat 182 years earlier. Later, in the year 1967, it was officially made a monument.

Pra tong templeIs located 21 kilometers from the city. To get there, take Thep Kasattri Road passing Amphur Thalang intersection. When you get to the Administrative Of-fice, there is a path on the right which leads to Pra Tong Temple. Inside, there is a golden Buddha statue with only the top of the cranium protruding from the earth. According to legend, the original land was a farm area where one day, a boy tied his buffalo to what appeared to be a post. He didn’t realize that the post was the top of the Buddha statue’s head. Sometime later, he fell ill and died. The boy’s father later had a revelation in a dream of his boy’s death so he and the neighbors tried to unearth the statue from the ground but were unsuccessful.

In 1785, during the reign of Prachao Padung, the Burmese king led his troop to Siam in the hopes to conquer Thalang. The Burmese also tried in vain to dig up the statue to bring back to Burma but instead were chased away by the people. Later, the villagers decided to construct half a statue and placed it over the original one.

The temple also houses Wat Pra Tong Museum which has a collection of ancient artifacts of the Phuket locals such as ‘Jung Sui’ (miners’ rain coat), tin, binding shoes for ancient Chinese women and more.

TourisT aTTracTion in Thalang DisTricT:

thalang national museumIs just on the right of Thao Kasattri-Thao Sri Soontorn Monument. It is open daily except for public holidays from 8:30-16:00. Admission tickets for Thais are 10 baht per person and 30 baht for foreigners. Inside, there are displays of ancient artifacts and art pieces found around the Andaman Sea. There are also exhibitions of war scenes and the way of life of the Phuket people and fisher-men. For more information, call Tel. (076) 311025, (076) 311426.

Pra nang sang templeIs 20 kilometers from the city. To get there, follow Thep Kasattri Road until you reach Amphur Thalang intersection. It is on the left hand side. The old temple is an important landmark of Thalang because it was used as a fort to fight the Burmese in 1796. Inside the monastery, there are three ancient Buddha statues made from tin and they are called ‘Pra Nai Poong’ or ‘Pra Sam Kasat’. The three statues are hidden inside the bellies of three larger Buddha statues.

muang Gomarapat temple

Is situated in Ban Riang, Tambol Thep Kasattri, Amphur Thalang. It is a deserted temple under the management of Pra Nang Sang Temple. Inside, there is half a statue of the Lord Buddha with the parts of the cranium broken-off. The locals believe that it is possessed by the spirit of Poo Thong. Next to the statue were Tung and Tang trees which according to the treasure map, is the site where treasures are buried. It is also believed that the temple is being looked-after by the spirit of a monk who died here during the reign of King Rama 5. Muang Gomarapat Temple is supposedly pre-Thao Thep Kasattri era which occurred during the Thalang War in 1785 A.D. Its lawn was used by soldiers for different purposes such as practicing war tactics, purifying oil, mixing gun powder, etc. One of the temple’s two ponds was infused with herbs which were believed to give the soldiers more strength and power.Also within the grounds is Pra Bhuddha Manee Sri Thalang, a tin Buddha statue with width of 109 inches. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Jakri Sirindhorn had commenced the tin pouring ceremony herself on Thursday, December 19th, 1996. The statue was molded in Pang Kantaraj position suggesting healthy rainfall which explains the reason it is place outside the monastery under the shade of a tree.

Baan thao thep kasattriIs situated at Baan Kian, Tambol Thepkasattri, Amphur Thalang. From Thep Kasattri Road km. 19.3, turn into Ban Riang and go straight for two kilometers. After much research, the house which was once the residence of Thao Thep Kasattri was found and signs were made. Near by is Wat Muang Gomarapat Temple which was once the camp where Thalang locals trained to fight. There is also the moat of Thalang and the Burmese Camp.

naka noi islandIs a small island located at the northeast of Phuket. Its beaches are suitable for swimming and relaxation. Visits can be made year round via boats for hire from Ao Por.

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khao Pra taew Wild Life Conservation development and extension Center covers an area of 13,925 rais or 22.28 square kil-ometers. It is mainly a tropical rain forest filled with one rare specie of palm trees called the ‘Palm Chao Muang Thalang’ (Palm of Thalang’s Governor) or ‘Palm Lang Khao’ (White-Backed Palm). There are also many types of wild ani-mals such as gibbon, monkey, deer, bear, boar, squirrel, tragulus and birds of various types. It is also the source where Phuket’s fresh water originates. So it is not surprising that Khao Pra Taew is both a tourist attraction and education-al area to study nature and the environment. Its major attractions are as follows:

Bang Pae Waterfall From the monument of Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Sri Soontorn, turn right to Tambol Pa Klog for about 7 kilometers. The waterfall is small and surrounded by a lush garden of plants. There is a ‘gibbon care center’ where gibbons in captivity are nurtured back to health and freed once again into the wild.

ton sai Waterfall Is 22 kilometers from the city. To get there, take Thep Kasattri Road and once you reach Amphur Thalang intersection, turn right and go straight for 3 more kilometers. Ton Sai is a small waterfall with heavy gushes of water during the rainy season. It is surrounded by trees of all sizes, making it a great place to hang out and relax. For more information, call (076) 311 998.

surin Beach Is located 24 kilometers from the city. From Thao Thep Kasattri- Thao Sri Soontorn Monu-ment, turn left and go straight for 12 kilom-eters. This quiet beach is on the foothills lined with rows of pine trees. Towards the right side was once a golf course built during the reign of King Rama 7. Surin Beach is steep and has strong wind and waves during the monsoon season, not the ideal place to go swimming.

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Laem singhIs just one kilometer from Surin Beach. Visitors can get there via the path on the right. The small beach has white sand and some rock formations.

sirinat national Park (nai yang Beach)Was officially declared as a national park on July 13, 1981. It is located 30 kilometers from the city and visitors can get there by following Thep Kasattri Road passing the intersection on the left for about 10 kilometers. Alternatively, visitors can take the route towards the airport, turn left and go straight for 2 kilometers. The park covers 90 square kilometers or 56, 250 rais of land area. Its beaches are 13 kilometers long and is inclusive of :

-nai ton BeachFollow the road of the national park and turn left at km. 21-22. Once you reach the intersection to Baan Saku, turn left and go straight for another 3 kilometers. Nai Ton is a beautiful, quiet, curved beach. It is sheltered from the wind which makes it safe for swimming.

-nai yang BeachIs the location of the park’s office. The area is shaded by palm trees and very relaxing. Further more, there is a large coral reef formation that provides a natural habitat for marine species, particularly the sea tortoises which come to lay eggs around November to February. Sadly though, the number of turtles has diminished drastically and they are rarely seen laying eggs anymore.

-mai khao BeachFollowing the Thep Kasattri Road, go straight pass the road to the airport towards Sarasin Bridge. There will be a path on the left which leads to Mai Khao Beach. Turn left and go straight for another 3.5 kilometers. Mai Khao Beach is the area where sea turtles and shrimps come to lay eggs. However, the num-bers have decreased significantly as in Nai Yang Beach.

-sai kaew BeachIs a long, white beach lined with palm trees. It is located next to Mai Khao Beach and stretches all the way to Sarasin Bridge. It is also the northern most beach of Phuket Island.

-mangrove ForestIs located within Sirinat National Park around Chatchai Port. It takes up 800 rais of land area. Plants found here include Rhizophora Apiculata Blume, Ceriopa Tagal, Avicennia Officinalis, Bruguiera Cylindrical and more. There are also various animal species living here and visitors often enjoy the nature trails with signs providing information about the mangrove forest. The area is quite pleasant for a relaxing trip.

dive sitethe “aeronautical coral dive site” located around Bang tao Bay in tambol cherng talay, amphur thalang, is a new attraction for dive enthusiasts in Phuket. the site was created by placing 10 old helicopters and cargo planes on the ocean bed to create habitat for fish, corals and other marine species. of these, four are dakota cargo Planes, model c47, which were given to the thai air force in 1947 by the united states after World War ii ended. Back then, the planes were used to replenish supplies and take aerial photo-graphs during the korean and vietnam Wars. it was a page in international history which the thai air force was very proud to be a part of. the other six are s-58t helicopters used for sending supplies and rescuing soldiers, after which were also given to the air force in 1977.

today, these historical monuments lay to rest at the bottom of the sea in Bangtao Bay where they serve another purpose of provide shelter for ma-rine species large and small. although they are retired from war scenes, they are none the less a fascinating site for all visitors. the aeronautical dive site is under the care of tambol cherng talay’s administration. to visit, you could either contact a local dive operator or hire a long-tail boat from Bangtao Beach. the journey takes about 15 minutes.

splash Jungledesigned by the very same company that created disneyland and sea World, splash Jungle Water Park is a new and exciting water theme park with colorful, giant slides and fun, thrilling rides. among their best are the Boomerango, the super Bowl, the Wave Pool, 335-metre Lazy river, the aqua Play Pool, thrills and spills and many more. each zone features dif-ferent themes such as african, inca, Maya, asian, turkish, european, north american and the north Pole. the park is open daily from 10am to 6pm. for more information, please call tel. (076) 372 111 or visit www.splashjunglewaterpark.com

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golf courses in PhuKeT anD surrounDing areas:

1.Pra thong temple Near Thalang Intersection, Thep Kasattri Road, Thalang District is home to Pra Phud, the sacred statue which blesses people with wealth.

2.thao thep kasattri-thao srisoonthorn monument On Thep Kasattri Road, Thalang District, was built to honor the heroines of Thalang.

3.kathu shrine Near Kathu Municipality houses the Lao Ia statue where people come to be blessed with charisma.

4.sang dhamma shrine, Pang-Nga Road, opposite from Thai Farmers’ Bank in Muang District is where people pray for the gift of wisdom.

5.Jui tui shrine In Soi Phutorn, Ranong Road, near the Phuket Municipality Market is the house of many angels who are believed to bless visitors with good health.

6.Pud Joh shrine Located next to Jui Tui Shrine in Ranong Road, Muang District, is where The Guam-Im Goddesses, Tai Soi Ia and Jai Sin Ia reside. People come here to pray for good luck.

7.Bang niew shrine On Phuket Road on the way to the stone bridge, houses the three Tong Ongs whom are believed to bless visitors career progress.

8.Giew tien Geng shrine Located at the end of the stone bridge cape in Muang Didtrict was miraculously unaffected by the force of Tsunami. People come here to pray to the two angels, Giew Tien Hian Lue and Sam Po Huk for peace of mind.

9.Chalong temple On Jao Fah Tawan Tok Road on the way to Ao Chalong intersection in Amphur Muang houses the statues of Luang Por Cham, Luang Por Chuang and Luang Por Gluam where people come to pray for fame and power.

9 sacreD Places To VisiT in PhuKeT

Phuket Country Club - kathu district, Phuket tel. (076) 321 038-40

Loch Palm - kathu district, Phuket tel. (076) 321 929-31

Laguna Golf Course Bang tao Beach, talang district, Phuket tel. (076) 324 350, (076) 270 991-2

Blue Canyon- near airport, talang district, Phuket tel. (076) 327 440-7

mission hills Phuket- Baan Pa-kok, talang district, Phuket tel. (076) 310 888

red mountain - kathu district, Phuket tel. (076) 321 929-34

Phu naka - near sil supara temple, Muang district, Phuket tel. (076) 521 913-5

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local fesTiVals anD TraDiTions of PhuKeT:Chinese new year Back to Phuket’s Past FestivalIs held during the last three days of Chinese New Year by The Tourism Authority of Thailand and The Municipality of Phuket. It is to encourage awareness for the preservation of old buildings and promote tourism in the city. The festival takes place on Thalang Road, Krabi Road and Soi Romanee which are Phuket’s histori-cal part of town. There will be all kinds of activities and performances revolving around Phuket’s past, local foods and snacks, and Chinese opera performances from mainland China.

Propitiation of the God of heaven ritual Is always held nine days after the Chinese New Year which falls on the ninth night of the first Chinese lunar month. It is done to worship the angels and thank them for their protection from harm and. The Chinese Phuket locals would prepare an assortment of snacks, foods and the symbol of the ceremony which are the twin sugarcane plant and a pagoda made of sugar and place them in front of their houses before the break of dawn. The worshipping is done between 3 and 6 am. and is completed only when the sun rises. Today, most people start the ceremony at midnight for the sake of convenience. Visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of flickering candle lights along the houses from midnight onwards during this time.

thao thep kasattri – thao sri soontorn FestivalIs held on the 13th of March each year. There will be celebrations and all kinds of activities to honor the two heroines who led the troop and successfully defended Thalang from Burmese invasion.

turtle release FestivalIs done on the same day as Songkran Festival which is the 13th of April each year. The fisheries Department has set the date as the national fishery dayin which young turtles are being freed into the ocean. The process is done in various beaches around Phuket.

the Chao Lay(Fishermen)’sBoat Floating Festival is held annually during the middle of the 6th and 11th lunar month. The groups of fishermen from Rawai and Baan Saba would celebrate theirs on the 13th and the group from Sirey Island has theirs on the 14th. The fish-ermen from Laem La (from the north of Phuket) have a special ‘Sadohkroh’ cer-emony which is similar to Loy Kratong. They would assemble a wooden boat and place human hair and nails and a wooden human doll inside. The whole thing is then left adrift into the ocean as an act to float away sorrow and bad luck. The ceremony is concluded with a dance around the boat called ‘Rong Ngeng’.

‘Por tor’ FestivalIs celebrated by the Chinese Thais living in Phuket. It is always held on the 7th month of the Chinese calendar which is the 9th month in the Thai calendar. The festival starts with the worshipping of the ancestors and other spirits with turtle-shaped cakes in various sizes. Some are even colored with red paint. The Chinese believe that turtles live long lives so by offering turtle-shaped food, they are both extending their own lives and creating great merit.

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Full moon Festivalis held on the 15th night of the 8th chinese lunar month when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. the ceremony is done as an act of worship to the guam-im goddess and the moon while asking for the happiness of everyone in the family. Moreover, the round shape of the moon is considered the symbol of unity. to preserve the local tradi-tions and promote tourism, the festival is held at the Queen sirikit Park during which there will be stalls selling moon cakes, local foods and snacks.

vegetarian Festivalis held from the 1st - 9th of the 9th month in the chinese calendar or equivalent to the international months of september and october. this festival has been practiced by the chinese living in Phuket since 1825. the main objective is to cleanse the body and soul by practicing Buddhist teachings and refrain from eating meat. during the consecutive 9-day-and-night festi-val, there are all kinds of interesting events that go on such as fire-walk-ing, ‘sadohkroh’ (elimination of bad luck ceremony), Buddha image hailing and more. it is considered one of Phuket’s most colorful festivals which always draw both thai and foreign visitors to the area.

Phuket king’s Cup regattaFirst started in 1987 in honor of His Majesty King Bhumiphol’s 60th Anniversary celebration. From then on, it became an event which was held during the same period every year. Sail boats would travel from around the world to Kata Beach and compete for the coveted trophy.

Phuket’s tourism seasonCommencement Ceremonyis scheduled on the 1st of November and was first held in 1975 on Patong Beach. The ceremo-ny is held to celebrate and welcome the start of the year’s high season and promote collaboration amongst business owners, the government sector and the public. The process begins with morning rituals of alms-offering to the monks followed by fun and games such as water sports competitions, beauty queen pag-eant amongst foreign visitors and much more.

Phuket seafood FiestaHeld annually in August, the festival brings to-gether an assembly of seafood restaurants that offer some of the finest, freshest seafood from The Andaman. Specials include a minimum of 10% discounts, over 10 menus of seafood cook-ing demonstrations by the country’s leading chefs/ local chefs and live concerts by popular bands.

kathu streetThe main goal of the festival is to preserve local traditions of Kathu. Activities performed throughout the night are held at the central stage and features Chinese operatic shows, dragon shows, acrobats, traditional and local performances, competition in Phuket dialect usage and various shows by students from local schools.

Laguna Phuket triathlonIs a competition involving 3 types of sports; swimming, bicycling and running where only the fittest dare compete. The event takes place annually around Laguna Phuket on Bangtao Beach. Towards the end of the year, participants from all over the world would come to Phuket to compete in the exciting event.

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ratri Jazztaurant – kata Beach, Muang district tel. (076) 333 538

Pai Yan Yai – opposite from Phuket city police station, chum-porn road, Muang district tel. (081) 848-2266

gon non - opposite from Phuket city police station, chumporn road, Muang district

fine Day- opposite from Phuket city police station, chumporn road, Muang district tel. (084) -059 6969

@ surakul - 14/19 t. vichit, amphoe Moeang thalang, thailand 83000 tel. (076) 220 104

la ong fong - tel. (076) 335 989

66 - located in the old town, yaowarat road, Muang district

sanay-ha - located in the old town, yaowarat road, Muang district tel. (076) 218 515

siam - located in the old town, yaowarat road, Muang district

Thonglor - located in the old town, yaowarat road, Muang district tel. (076) 258 493

Plern Jit - 22-24 dibuk rd. tumbon talad-nuetel. (081) - 536 1377

Baan rueng Jit - surin roundabout, Phuket road, Muang district tel. (081) 693-2013

hoT eVening hang-ouTs:

local fooDPhuket offers an array of local savories and sweets that are distinctly different from those of other areas. Visitors often bring them back home as gifts from their travels. Some of the favorites include:

hokkian noodles These yellow noodles are great when stir-fried with soy sauce. There are stores which have been selling them for years and one of the best noodles can be found at ‘Ton Poh Noodle Store’ located in front of the Clock Tower roundabout on Phuket Road. Ao Geh Noodle Shop on Poonpol Road and Sapam Noodle Shop on Thep Kasatri Road also make excellent noodles. You can also try them cooked in shrimp soup at Somjit Restaurant located by the Clock Tower roundabout or Jirayuwat Restaurant near Pearl Hotel.

mee huhn Pah Chahng Is stir-fried noodles served with pork spare-ribs soup. There are a few restau-rants in Phuket that specialize in the dish. Try the old restaurant in Soi Soon Uthit on Yaowarat Road, another one near Ban Bang Niao Administration Office on Tagua Tung Road and the one on Ranong Road near the entrance to Soi Lorong.

mee sua Another yellow noodle dish, is the favorite breakfast menu of the locals. They are often consumed with congee or rice soup. To get a taste, try Kou Kwan Restaurant or any other shops in the city.

kanohm Jin (rice noodles) of Phuket Is also consumed at breakfast time. They are taken with different types of gravies such as ‘Namya’ (spicy fish sauce), ‘Gang Tai Pla’ (fish Kidney Sauce), ‘Gang Pu’ (crab sauce), ‘Nam Prik (chili sauce) and ‘Nam Choop’ (fresh shrimp chili paste). They taste even better with a side dish of vegetables, boiled eggs, ‘Pa Tong Go’ (deep-fried flour) and ‘Hor Mok’ (seafood, chili cake). For a taste of Kanom Jin, go to ‘Kwan’ restaurant on Tungka Road, ‘Pah Mai’ restaurant on Krabi Road, ‘Pah Ting’ restaurant on Satul Road, ‘Pa Ri’ on Patipat Road and ‘Pah Bo’ on Surin Road, Soi 2.

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Lo Bah Is fried pork sausage marinated in ‘Palo’ herb powder. They go well with fried tofu and dipping sauce.

oh tao Is similar to ‘Hoi Tod’ or fried mussels in flour paste. In this case, oysters are used instead and they are mixed with flour, taro and eggs. One of the popular restaurants that serve this dish is Sapam noodle shop near Ban Bang Niao School.

nam Prik Goong sohdConsists of fresh shrimp, shrimp paste, shallots, chilis and lime juice. It is regu-larly consumed with rice or Kanom Jin.

namprik Goong siabWhich contains shrimp paste and dried shrimps, is served with fresh vegeta-bles. They are sold in various places such as Laem Tong Restaurant on Chana Jaroen Road, Khun Mae Ju Store on Thep Kasattri Road, Lai An Lao Restaurant on Ratsada Road, Gee Nguad Store on Yaowarat Road, etc.

Phuket’s dim sum Also known among the locals as ‘Seaw Bouy’ is another popular breakfast menu that goes well with coffee. Restaurants well-known for this menu are ‘Juan Hiang’ on Chana Charoen Road, ‘Boonyarat’ on Dilok U-thit 2 Road, ‘Boonyarat’ located opposite from Dao Rung School on East Chaofah Road, ‘Laan’ on Poonpol Road, Soi 7, ‘Sritrang’ on Padipat Road, ‘Chokchai Dim Sum’ on Mae Luan Road, ‘Jan Jira’ on Bypass Road, ‘Kanom Jeeb Sam Gong’ on Ya-owarat Road and ‘Somjai’ on Dilok-Uthit Road which is open from 4 pm. until midnight.

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souvenir itemsIn addition to local food items such as Namprik Goong Siab, dried Gang Tai Pla, Tao Sor or cashew nuts, there are other dried seafood products such as Goong Siab (dried shrimp), Goong Hang (dried small shrimp), Ching Chang Fish (dried tiny fish), or Pla Sai Tan (dried or deep-fried fish), shrimp paste, etc. that also make good gifts. They are sold in various stores like ‘Khun Mae Ju’, ‘Gorn Thong’ shop on Thep Kasattri Road and Porntip Sea Store on the by-pass road. Non-food items of Phuket also include:

Batik ClothThese colorful fabrics make wonderful gifts for the ladies. Each piece is indi-vidually hand-drawn with wax, painted and boiled (to melt away the wax). Batiks come in the form of scarves, shawls, hand bags, t-shirts, home decorative items, etc.

PearlsThere are a number of pearl farms in Phuket like the ones on Naka Noi Island and Rung Yai Island. Visitors can buy pearls and products from the ocean in stores like the ‘Phuket Pearl Shop’ around Chao Fah-Kwang intersection, ‘Phuket Seashells’ on Chao Fah Road near Rawai Beach, ‘Ko Kaew Pearls’ on Vichit Songkran Road, Phuket Pearls (factory) in Ban Sapam and souvenir shops around Rawai Beach, Laem Promthep, Patong Beach and the city center around Ratsada and Montri Roads.

tao sor or ‘kanohm Bia’ (flour dough with fillings)Of Phuket and other local sweets is sold in the city’s many old shops such as ‘Keng Tin’ located next to Phuket Ruam Paet Hospital on Phuket Road, ‘Kanom Bia Sai Kai Khem’ shop in Soi Soon U-thit on Yaowarat Road, ‘Khun Mae Ju’ on Thep Kasattri Road and ‘Mae Boon Tahm’ on Surin Road, Soi 4.

oh aewIs a jelly-like dessert made from a mix-ture of bananas and seaweed served with syrup and ice. The original makers are located in Soi Soon U-thit on Ya-owarat Road and around Ranong Road near the entrance to Soi Lorong.

Cashew nutsAre a major product of Phuket. Cashew nut trees are largely grown both in Phuket and the surrounding provinces which is no surprise their nuts are amongst the top souvenir items visitors bring home for their friends and families. They come in various forms- baked, fried, sugar-coated, etc. Suggested stores to buy these include ‘Sri Boorapa Orchid’ shop on Tagua Tung Road, ‘Methee’ shop on Surin Road and ‘Sri Supalak Orchid’ shop on Thep-Kasattri Road.

Phuket’s PineapplesAre sweet and crunchy in texture, quite different than other types of pineap-ples. They can be found in Phuket’s fresh market and various fruit shops.

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Gan-Aeng @Pier, Chalong Bay Tel. (076) 381 661Gan-Aeng 2, Chalong Bay Tel. (076) 381 323Ban Had Rawai Tel. (076) 383 838Salaloi, Rawai Beach Mae Klong Seafood Suan Son Seafood, Rawai Beach Tel. (076) 288 028Liab Krua Sapum, Baan Sapum Tel. (076) 238 196Laem Hin Seafood Tel. (076) 239 357Toh Pochana, A, Thalang Intersection Tel. (076) 311 388Talay Thong Seafood, Ban Suan Maprao Tel. (076) 377 737Krua Pailin, Kathu Waterfall Tel. (076) 321 395Krua Tung Thong, Amphur Kathu Tel. (076) 321 546Laem Promthep Restaurant Tel. (076) 288 656Nam Yoi Pochana Tel. (076) 240 665Ban Suan Layan Tel. (076) 305 566Rim Lay Bor Rae, Phuket Town Tel. (081) 693 411-6Chai Yo Seafood, Sakdidetch Rd. Tel. (076) 393 142Mama Tel. (076) 284 404On The Rock, Karon Rd. Tel. (076) 330 493-7

Vegetarian restaurantsRuam Jai, Ranong Road Tel. (076) 222 821Hoesan, Ranong Road Tel. (076) 256 611Dog Bua (Lotus), Hong Yok U-thit Road Tel. (076) 076 355Yo Pochana, Yaowarat Road Tel. (076) 063 705

Muslim restaurantsBan Sangduen, Koh kaew Tel. (076) 239 658Gulf Diamond Restaurant, Patong Beach Tel. (076) 345 229Dubai Restaurant, Patong Beach Tel. (076) 486 9866Orient Restaurant, Patong Beach Tel. (076) 341 222Ali Baba Food, Patong Beach Tel. (076) 292 387Casablanca (in Royal Paradise Hotel) Tel. (076) 340 666Diraham Halal Restaurant, Kamala Beach Tel. (076) 325 837-8Arman Residence, Patong Tel. (076) 294 019

recommended restaurants in Phuket TownRecommended Restaurants in Phuket Town:Ze Long, Thep Kasattri Tel. (076) 220 638Kopi De Phuket Tel. (076) 212 225Green Florence Pa To Sae Rd. Tel.(076) 215 657Soontorn Pochanakarn, Krabi Road Tel. (076) 211 302Grajok See, Soi Takuapah Tel. (076) 217 903Raya, Deebook Road Tel. (076) 218 155NC Kitchen Pang-Nga Road Tel. (076) 224 668Kaewjai, Pang-Nga Road Tel. (076) 211 439Siang Sian, Nimitr Road Tel. (076) 215 928Laemthong, Chana Charoen Road Tel. (076) 224 349Koda (Kao Mun Kai), Montri Rd. Tel. (076) 246 320Koo Kwan Tel. (076) 214 213Mee Ton Po Tel. (076) 216 293Anna, Ratsada Rd. Tel. (076) 210 535Tung Ka, Khao Rung Tel. (076) 211500Phuket View, Khaorung Tel. (076) 216 865Uptown, Dilok Road Tel. (076) 215 359Wattanapon, Padipat Road Tel. (076) 212 829Tainan, Vichit Songkram Road Tel. (076) 226 164-7China Inn, Thalang Road Tel. (076) 356 239Krua Thammachart, Soi Phutorn Tel. (076) 224 287Kopi Tiem, Thalang Rd. Tel. (081) 892 372-3Vilai, Thalang Rd. Tel. (076) 211 024Ang Seafood, Phuket Rd. Tel. (076) 221 460Dibuk, Dibuk Rd. Tel. (076) 258 148Maimorn, Phang-Nga Rd. Tel. (076) 211 208Baan Klung Jinda, Yaowaraj Rd. Tel. (076) 221 777

recommended restaurants Outside Phuket TownKeang Lay, Laem Panwa Tel. (076) 391 103Talay Phuket, Jaofah Road Tel (076 263 956Pae Manam, A. Kathu Tel. (076) 323 151Pongpang, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 282 270Mee Sapam Tel. (076) 239 543Tang Geh, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 282 341Pa Lai Seafood, Soi Tel. (076) 381 907 Ao Palai Seafood, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 828 174Tab Ouan, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 271 134Pran Talay, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 383 243Mor Mudong, Soi Palai Tel. (076) 242 302Chaiyo Seafood Tel. (076) 393 142

Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office191 thalang road, tumbon talad yai,

Mueang, Phuket 83000tel : (076) 211 036, (076) 212 213

fax : (076) 213 582e-mail : tatphuket@tat.or.th