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weekenders PHUKET, THAILAND
QUICK GETAWAYS MADE EASY FEBRUARY 2016
Phuket The Pearl
A chronicle of Phuket dating back to AD 1025 hints at the origin of the island’s name
as a combination of two Thai words, ‘phu’ (mountain) and ‘ket’ ( jewel). Others believe it is the derivative of the Malay word ‘bukit’ (‘hill’) as the island resembles one from afar. Regardless, Phuket is now a household name recognised
as one of Asia’s best travel destinations. Pronounce Phuket as ‘pu-ket’ with a silent ‘h’.
Fans of culture, rejoice. Buddhist relics loom in every space, expected in a country where 95% of the local population is Buddhist. There are 29 ‘Wats’ (Buddhist temples) in Phuket such as Wat Chalong, Wat Phra Thong and Wat Khao Rang. Visible from half of the island is the 45-metre tall Big Buddha, accompanied by a medley of tinkling bells and flags dancing in the wind.
The island once blossomed on a tin mining industry. Made prosperous by its prime location along a major maritime trade route between India and China, Phuket was a busy port of call
for Thai, Indian, Chinese and European vessels. Today, tourism and rubber plantations are the new pillars of Phuket’s economy, but the island still retains foreign influences from its olden days.
Being home to a plethora
of Thai, Thai-Chinese, ethnic- Malays and even the sea-gypsies, there is a vibrant melting pot
of cultures in Phuket. In Old Phuket Town, many architectures have been designed with Sino-Portuguese elements. Western influence is apparent
in lively events islandwide
such as the annual Phuket
Bike Week attracting visitors from 30 countries, with some
Phuket Old Town
Traditional Longtail Boats
THAILAND’S LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR ISLAND TRULY LIVES UP TO ITS MONIKER AS ‘PEARL OF THE ANDAMAN SEA’. SAND, SEA, CUL- TURE, ADVENTURE — THE SUNNY ISLAND OF PHUKET HAS IT ALL.
Located in Southern Thailand, Phuket lies off the west coast of the Andaman
Sea and is approximately 862 kilometres south of Bangkok. The main island
spans 4 kilometres in length and 21 kilometres in width, buzzing coast to
coast with all kinds of activities imaginable. Take a boat out to the 32 smaller
surrounding islands for exploring unchartered lands and sea.
40 APRIL 2016