ABOUT PHUKET
Compiled by Thomas McCain - Travel Writer
"Gem of Siam", "Jewel of the South"
Phuket (Thai: ภูเก็ต, IPA: [pʰuːkɛt]; formerly known as Tha-Laang or Talang, or Junk Ceylon in Western sources, a distortion of the Malay
Tanjung Salang, i.e. "Cape Salang") is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north
clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island there are no land boundaries.
Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand's largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by
a bridge. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and
enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently
mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
(Source: Wikipedia)
The three most famous beaches of Phuket:
Patong, Karon and Kata. On West side of island.
8 Reasons Why I Love Phuket
1. PEACEFUL, AND GENTLE PEOPLE
Thais are such gentle, kind-hearted, sincere, friendly and cheerful people. It is a deeply Buddhist land and the teachings of Buddha –most
centrally to daily act with kindness to others and to all creatures– is truly part of the daily Thai "way of life." When I land in Phuket and
get off the plane, every time I feel a sense of "softness" in the air. Phuket is a healing place and simply uplifting by its own happy healthy
spirit.
Phuket is also unusually safe. There is statistically very little crime in Phuket, unlike other equally popular destination locations.
All travel guidebooks remark on the civility and honesty of Thai people, Phuket inclusive.
2. SURPRISINGLY "COSMOPOLITAN"
Though 100% "Thai!" –fresh fish, fruit and vegetables and flowers and smiles and beaches everywhere, Phuket is very unique in unfolding
a distinctly cosmopolitan/international atmosphere. It was historically a major trading port/restocking station for the ocean cargo
route between China and India.
In the last fifty years, a new mostly European (and significant well-to-do Chinese and Taiwanese)
"expat" resident population has brought to Phuket their love/attachment to/of "modernity" from their foreign homelands. 14,000 "expats"
are now Phuket residents. With their gradual influx (and a flourishing tourism economy) has come all the material luxuries of modern
life -sophisticated, high-tech, well-made imported items and a very visible finesse and excellence in the hospitality industry in
general. Phuket now proudly boasts three beautiful huge shopping malls –CENTRAL FESTIVAL and JUNG CEYLON – both with tasteful elegance
and style... escalators, movie theaters etc. with shops to serve any whim or fancy as well as the most practical of diurnal needs,
appliances, household goods, construction tools etc. Also Phuket has "Big Box stores Tesco Lotus and Big C" for a wide range of shopping
at cost conscious pricing.
The finest professional services are everywhere in all fields. Phuket is "old/quaint" and "super modern"
overlapping seamlessly. For the foreigner, like me, I like fresh fish from the sea grilled on a driftwood beach fire but it's nice to
drive ten minutes and have access to the modern professional services and quality goods.
3. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
It’s 30 minutes, or less, from nearly any point on the island! Easy parking. Such a pleasure compared to the super-congestion –and long driving distance!– of other world airports nowadays. Having such an accessible International airport is a wonderful asset for all Phuket residents and visitors.
4. TWO "WORLD-CLASS" HOSPITALS - Bangkok Phuket Hospital and Phuket International Hospital
It is so rare for a small island to have two great hospitals that have gained well-deserved international reputation for superior
quality at very very reasonable rates. Please visit their websites (see below). I personally have been to them and also family members
and the hygiene and high standard of physicians is very impressive. Yes, I am sure there are many Chinese and Thai herbal remedy stores
for those who do not ascribe to modern medicine, but for most foreigners like me, it’s a real plus to have these two premiere hospitals
when the need for them arises. Bangkok Hospital Phuket and
Phuket International Hospital.
5. NATURAL BEAUTY
Phuket is absolutely beautiful. The silkiest, pristine white sand beaches in the world. Clear, unpolluted waters. Clean air. The interior
mountain range offers elephant rides where you can see jungle life and the colorful birds and animals whose home it is. Warm weather year-round.
Soft ocean breezes "air-condition" during the hotter days/months.
The limestone formations "karst" protrusions from the sea are awesome, absolutely spectacular both to see from a distance and "inside" them. Many are hollowed-out, so your boat goes through a "doorway" into a few hundred meter wide sand-bottom "lagoon”. To me, these awesome karst formations are very much part of the beauty I call Phuket. They are reached by boat from ten to fifty minutes and many are not in guide books and only your boat captain will find them and you will be the only ones there!
6. THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD MARINAS
World-class yacht marina/havens are a veritable wonder for this small island. Million-dollar yachts mingle with globe-weathered
ketches, sleek schooners and more modest speedboats. Owners are both residents and "maritime itinerants" who float around the world
and "park" in Phuket often.
Over a thousand beautiful boats berth or moor in Phuket. Restaurants and cafés line the marinas and offer
a social life which is both fun and cosmopolitan and filled with languages from all quarters of the earth. Fine dining restaurants allow
you to dine feet away from the front bows of the six biggest yachts. It's not important to some, but as a boat-lover I find the these
International Boat Marinas another of Phuket’s charms. The docks are filled with storytellers, a high-minded interesting group.
It's like a mini-Nice/France or Aegean accent that gives Phuket one more "taste". The Phuket Boat Lagoon is a Venice-style residential
community where owners can dock their boat on one side and car on the other. The
Phuket Boat Lagoon Hotel and Resort is first-class. The Royal Phuket Marina
offers "Aquaminiums"...condos with covered boat "garages" and lovely villas for sale.
7. THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Unquestionably, this classy, 35-acre Britishschool brings an academic sophistication to Phuket It is staffed by a superlative
faculty with high credentials and maintains very top-notch academic standards and even the architecture is Oxford/Cambridge-copy.
Many many foreigners made the decision to retire or live in Phuket because this fine British-liaised institution is there. My nieces
attended it and offered nothing but praise for the school.
8. GOLF/AQUATIC SPORTS/HIKING/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
I am a golfer and have played on courses world-wide and find Phuket courses are dream-like.
The courses are verdantly landscaped and maintained like gardens. The polite, attractively-uniformed caddies or cart drivers are all female! (a shock should you not know
this...) AND you won’t lose a ball. They are hawk-eyed and also excellent in recommending the "right club". The club houses are very
elegant and the rates are very reasonable. (In Japan you save and play once a year! –so expensive in comparison). All other
sports/recreational facilities abound and any hotel concierge can direct you once there.
NOTEWORTHY...
1. PHUKET TOP RETIREMENT DESTINATION
In July 2005, Phuket was voted one of the World’s Top 5 retirement destinations by the acclaimed Fortune Magazine. There are thousands of expatriates living in Phuket, many of them retirees.
2. "NEVER CONQUERED"
Thailand is the only country in South East Asia never to have been colonized. The kingdom of Siam named itself Thailand in May 11, 1949. In the Thai language, the word Thai means "freedom" and so Thailand means the "Land of the Freedom" (Wikipedia).
These are a few of my personal "glimpses" of Phuket. I assure any visitor or those considering relocating/retiring to Phuket
the island will be "heaven" to each in its own way. For the quiet person, beachcomber personality or sports activist or Thai massage
lover, Phuket is perfect. It has a tailored "gem" for people of all natures. I will retire there myself in a few years with my Japanese
wife and two daughters. Maybe see you! Feel free to email me: nipponforest@aol.com.
I am a semi-retired landscape architect and was a free-lance journalism for a couple decades. I have lived in or visited 31 countries
and visited and/or resided in Phuket over the last ten years.
Sincerely,
Thomas Ward McCain
nipponforest@aol.com