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Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket, Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources, rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the Souths wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.
Phuket borders on Phang-nga Province to the north. The other 3 sides are encircled by the Andaman Sea the place where many of the best diving sites are located. The island is connected to Phang-nga Province by Sarasin Bridge and Thep Krasattri Bridge.
Phuket's topology is exceptional with 70 percent of its area covered with mountains which stretch from north to south and the remaining 30 percent being plains located in the central and eastern parts of the island. The island does not have any major rivers except for a total of 9 brooks and creeks. Phuket is divided into 3 administrative counties namely Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Thalang and Amphoe Kathu.
History of Phuket Most geologists believe that the area known as Phuket today was once a cape that extended into the Andaman Sea. Geographical formations gradually changed the capes location, finally detaching it from the mainland. A famous Greek philosopher, Claudius Ptolemy, was the first person who mentioned the cape in his book written in the year 157. The cape was locally referred to as Jung Ceylon, which was located between latitudes 6 N and 8 N (the present site of Phuket Island). Natives called the place Cha Lang, which evolved to Tha Lang the name of the main town to the north of the island. As a perfect stopover sheltering traders from monsoons, Jung Ceylon welcomed merchants from India, Persia, Arabia, Burma, China and also Siam. During the 16th century, the island was also a popular trading port for tin with Portuguese, Dutch, English and French traders flocking to the island. This contributed to making the development of mining so unprecedented. Chinese businessmen and miners later migrated to Phuket and soon enjoyed thriving business wealth. Apart from serving as a meeting point for traders from Europe, Central Asia and China, Phuket also attracted ambitious immigrants, especially those from Portugal and China, to work in the tin mines. With its colorful history, visitors admire the Sino-Portuguese style architecture in the city especially those buildings located along the Thalang and Yaowarat Roads.
However, 24 years later, the Burmese succeeded in seizing Thalang causing many local residents to flee to Phang-nga and Krabi. In 1825, some of them returned to re-establish a town and established a rice farming community. On the other hand, the area to the south of the island (Phuket City today) was developed and became a tin trading center. When Phuket was elevated to a town in 1850, it attracted more immigrants from Thalang and nearby communities. In 1894, Phuket was promoted to be a Monthon administrative unit under the supervision of the central administrative body (located in Bangkok). In 1902, Phraya Ratsada Korsimbi, a Sino-Thai businessman who contributed to developing the modern city of Phuket was appointed Governor of Phuket. He also helped to improve the welfare of local residents and set up the market system in the countryside.
Additional General Information English newspapers In Phuket we have two major newspapers: Phuket Gazette and Phuket Post and each provides very good coverage on local news and news throughout Thailand. These are online as well as printed papers, so if you want to check the news before your vacation here, just click one either of the links to view the lastest issue. Immigration & Visa Rules * Due to the many visa rules and changes, we can only give you limited information. 1. Most countries are allowed entry with no visa for a period of up to 30 days. This is called an entry permit. Thailand Immigration Bureau offers lots of information regarding visas, changing visas, and visa rules. Certainly well worth the read. Many of the forms required are printable right from their site or can be downloaded. If you have further questions about Thai visas, please feel free to use the forum on the Farang Underground Club site, they have some very keen people who have done the various visas. Shopping We take you on a Shopping Tour as part of your Holiday to some shops and Night Markets. Most of the shops you can talk the price down by as much as half. Remember most of the street shops all have the same thing; so shop around for the best deal. Internet & Phoning The Internet cost about 30-100 Baht per hour, most is ADSL. Phoning Canada will cost you Big Time from your hotel or guest house. It's not bad if you get a pre-paid phone card. We can get you an International Phone Card it's the cheapest. The card is for a Mobile that we lend you a part of your Holiday. The phone card for the mobile is about 7.00 Baht per min. You can get YELLOW International Cards for yellow phone boxes. Overseas calls are at a rate of about 29.00 Baht per min. on calls to Canada and the US. Snail Mail If you snail mail, you can mail things home it does count in the $600.00 you get to bring home, and it does take up to 4 to 6 weeks to get to Canada. (If at all) Be very cautious of mailing anything valuable! Underwater Tailors Think you might like a tailor-made wet suit, but do not want to pay western prices. I can get you a tailor-made one in about 2-3 days. Cost starts at about 3,000 to 5,500 Baht, price varies on designs and thickness. Tailors There are many Tailors to choose from. We have found a few very good ones. Most suits and dresses, whatever can be made in about 3 days. We can also hook you up with custom made leather goods. I.E.: Boots, Vest, Jackets. Dentistry Yep, that's what I said, we looked in to it. It is cheaper big time. This is a short list; Cleaning - 600 Baht, Fillings - 600 to 800 Baht, Crowns - 6,000 Baht, Crowns Gold 2% 7,000 Baht, 50% 9,000 Baht, 88% 10,000 Baht, and the list goes on and on. Medical Services Yep, medical, we looked in to this as well. You can have all sorts of thing done, from check-ups to getting your Butt redone, hip replacement, knees done and boobs made smaller or bigger. The list goes on and on. Scooters & Jeeps, Cars and Big Bikes You can rent a jeep, small car or SUV for a day or longer, (the longer the cheaper.) A jeep will cost you about 700 Baht per day. Cars will be about 1,000 Baht per day. An SUV will be about 1,300 to 1,500 Baht per day. We can provide a scooter for you as part of your Holiday. Be careful, wear a helmet. It may not save your life, but it will save you a 300 Baht fine. It's the LAW. Remember drive on the LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD! Booking Policies:
Cancellation Policies: (not including liveaboard dive trips)
We can however hold the whole amount over for of one year from the date of deposit so you can re-book. Cancellation Policies for liveaboard dive trips:
We can however hold the whole amount over for of one year from the date of deposit so you can re-book. We do recommend cancellation and flight interruption insurance.
There are many sunny days throughout the Rains Season, showers customarily last little more than 2 or 3 hours. September is the wettest month. The best months are November through February. Average temperatures range between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius.
Remember: we've got literally hundreds of bars and restaurants clustered around Soi Bangla. We've got about ten A Go-Go bars, six Discotheques - not counting the Gay Scene. We've got two big and any number of small Cabarets. We've got several Night Food Markets. We've got Coffee-shops. We've got Massage Parlors by the score. We haven't even mentioned the hotel scene yet, with its night-clubs, cocktail bars, coffee-shops and so on. And we're still talking Patong Beach only! Finally: Patong by night is secure. We have no crime to speak of. And that's the way we want it. We know that you're going to love it! A-Go–Go Bars
Many of you who have not traveled to Thailand before might well be wondering exactly what is an Ago Go Bar. An A Go-Go Bar is a bar where you watch young girls, clad in G-strings, gyrate around a shiny steel poles to the beat of modern music. An Ago Go Bar is not a massage parlor or whore house. The girls are not owned, controlled or pimped by any of the owners. That the girls sometimes go off with men or women is a decision that is made between the girls and any who visit the bar. The girls interact with customers when they are not dancing and if they get on well with any customer, the customer may well pay their bar fine. This basically means that the girls are paid to finish work for the evening and are free to do whatever they please. Many girls act as escorts showing those new to Patong Beach a good time. They are able to show you where you can enjoy some late night dining, play pool or darts in one of the many beer bars or just go out for a fun night dancing in the Banana Disco or Shark Club. For the real ragers, drinkers, and party animals I'm sure you will find many girls who are willing to show you around the late night party area down on Soi Sunset which kicks into action after 3.00 am in the morning. Soi Sunset should really be renamed to Soi Sunrise because this is when the party finishes. Anyway if you have a broad mind then visiting an Ago Go Bar is really quite an enjoyable experience. If, however, you subscribe to very strict code of moral behavior then this little outing is probably one that you should skip. Discotheques "The Banana"
The music is a mix of modern techno & dance hits and thumps out until the small hours of the morning finishing at around 3.00 am which is quite early by Patong's Nightlife standards. The Banana has a lot a girls and this in itself brings on a lot of young single guys. Although the place is a renowned pickup spot where many a holiday romance will start it is not sleazy and any holidaying couple will be able to have a good time here. The Drinks are quite expensive at 100 Baht each (spirits, beers & soft drinks) and you will also be up for a 100 Baht entrance fee (including one free drink) when you enter. The Club has the most sophisticated laser light technology and sound system of any club or disco in Phuket and the music blasts out from 10.00 p.m. until the wee hours of the morning usually finishing well past 2.00 am. The dance floor is large and spacey and as stated before the club is now starting to develop its own band of followers. Many group tours like to visit this club because it can easily accommodate them. "The Safari"
Although they open their doors early in the evening, the party doesn't really start until after midnight. But when the party goes in to full speed, it stays that way until at least five in the morning. They also have a very nice restaurant which gives you the illusion of having your dinner in the middle of the jungle. You can also have parties here which are catered by the Safari. All in all, it's a very nice place and there are no slow nights here. Combine this with the friendly atmosphere and you have a winner. So, once you feel the urge to party in Patong, the Safari will not let you down. And the drinks are inexpensive too... Beer Bars
For night time entertainment the Beer Bars in Patong Beach are the most numerous and visited spots. Within a 500 meter radius around Bangla Rd. there are over 150 Beer Bars. The bars are nothing more than benches or stools with roofs over there heads, most no larger than 3 square meters and butted right on next to each other. The bars are filled with lovely little Thai girls calling out for your attention and affection (said with tongue in cheek) and of course your tourist dollar.
There is a wide variety of bar sports to play with any of your new found friends. Games such as bang the nail into the lump of tree stump are popular. Connect Four, Backgammon or the Thai version of Ka Plunk are also in vogue. Some of the slightly larger bars have pool tables and dart boards and this becomes an affordable nightly ritual for most people. You have something to eat in one of the many restaurants and then settle for a few beers before retiring, keeping in mind that there is always many options for those who want to party on thought the night.
To the Thai people, this festival is one of water throwing and although it has religious significance, it usually turns into great fun. Everyone gets soaking wet and since it is the hottest season of the year, the custom is quite refreshing. Songkran is not only observed in Thailand; it is also celebrated in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. The word Songkran is from Sanskrit, meaning the beginning of a new Solar Year. However, in modern times, New Year is celebrated on January 1st, the same as western countries. In some ways, Songkran resembles the Christian Easter. Young and old dress in new clothing and visit their wat where food is offered to the monks. It is a feast day for the monks, music is often played in celebration while the food is enjoyed. On the eve of Songkran Day, housewives give their homes a thorough cleaning. Worn-out clothing or household effects and rubbish are burned - it is a Public Spring Cleaning Day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner.
Another unique Songkran custom is the releasing of live birds and fish purchased in the markets. It is believed that great merit is gained through this kind act. In Paklat (Phra Pradaeng), near Bangkok, particularly, beautiful girls in gay dress form a procession and carry fish bowls to the river where the fish are released. Naturally, young men of Bangkok like to make the trip to Paklat every year. The releasing of fish custom, goes back to the days when the central plains of Thailand were flooded during the rainy season. After the water subsided, pools were left and as the pools gradually dried up, baby fish were trapped. Farmers in those days caught the small fish and kept them at home until Songkran Day when they released them into the canals, thereby gaining merit as well as preserving one of the main items of their diet. The country people usually celebrate the Songkran Festival but the merriest celebration of all is held in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, which is some 500 miles north of Bangkok. If a visitor happens to be in a village, out on a country road or up in Chiang Mai, he can well expect a drenching. All people, particularly the younger ones, throw water on one another during the three-day holiday.
Certain areas of the Kingdom have their own unique types of games, songs, and dances to celebrate the Festival; it is only natural that the farmers make more celebration as their farm work is at a stand-still until the rain comes, when they can begin plowing for the new rice crop. It is an old belief that the Nagas or mythical serpents brought on rain by spouting water from the seas. The more they sponged, the more rain there would be. So, one might believe that the Songkran customs, of throwing water is actually a rain-making idea, the same as in Europe where water is thrown on the last crop of corn when the farmer is bringing in the last load of corn, in hopes of having ample rain for next years crops. In a more serious vein, another Songkran custom is a religious service in memory of the dead. Monks officiate at a ceremony wherever ashes or bones of the dead have been deposited. In some places, bones of the dead are brought by people to the village wat where a ceremony is held.
You should have travel/medical insurance. See your travel agency. All your shots for Thailand & your immunization card. See your travel health people. If you wish to drive you must have an international driving permit. See CAA for further information. Drink bottled water, 4 to 6 liters per day. When drinking bottled or canned soft drinks, have it opened at the table. Phuket has a lot of ATM’s. Your ATM card will only work if it says Cirrus or Plus on the back. You can use your credit cards in the bigger shops. Travelers cheques are the best and easiest to replace. Canadian Dollars are fine. Bring more than one ATM card, machines can be finicky at times.
When sightseeing in temples you must have long pants or skirt, as well you must have a shirt with sleeves. Men and woman, this is just respectful of the Buddhist religion. When traveling to Thailand, all the airports have cute little puppies with BIG noses. Wash all your gear. This may make life easier. For current exchange rates, click here. |
Nestled in the tropical zone off the west coast of the southern part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, the province covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometers (excluding small islets). It is estimated that Phuket Province covers an area of approximately 590 square kilometers if its 39 other small islands are included. The islands total length, from north to south, is estimated at 48.7 kilometers and approximately 21.3 kilometers wide.
Staying on the island is easy, as there are only two seasons in a year - the rainy season (May to October) and the hot season (November to April). The low season of Phuket is between September and October as they are the wettest months. The best period for a visit, is from November to February, when it is possible to see the clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23°C and 33°C.
Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all walks of life. In addition, accommodations ranging from world-class resorts to tropical-style bungalows have warmly catered to the different needs of travelers. For seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just Phuket's famous lobster. Altogether, these characteristics have made Phuket a truly unique destination.
Thalang town was surrounded by Burmese troops who invaded the coastal area in 1785. It was under the leadership of Chan, the widow of the governor, and her sister, Muk, who united local residents and successfully fought and drove the invaders out of Phuket. It took over 30 days for the defending troops of Phuket, under the command of Chan and Muk, to claim their victory. As a result of such heroic deeds, noble titles were granted to Chan and Muk as Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon respectively. To honor them, a monument was established at Tha Ruea Intersection, 12 kilometers to the north of Phuket City in 1966. They are still highly respected by Phuket residents even today.
In 1916, Phuket became a province. The tin mining industry has gradually failed to generate economic growth in Phuket, especially after 1985 when the price of tin fell by half. However, with its natural resources, Phuket later emerged as a tourist destination with great potential. This polished pearl of the Andaman is truly a destination that provides visitors with memorable experiences. The islands long history has shaped the distinctive Phuket of the present with its diverse ethnic groups, culture, architectural influence, and fine cuisine. With approximately 35 percent of the population being comprised of Thai-Muslims, it is possible to see an equal number of Wats (Thai temples) located next to Mosques.
A deposit of 25% per person, at time of booking.
Phuket has two major seasons: the Rains (Low) Season from May through October, and the Hot (High) Season from November through April.
Night time in Patong means party time! As you will probably know, our beloved holiday-resort by the Andaman Sea has become one of Thailand's greatest centers for entertainment. Patong may be smaller than Bangkok. It may be less notorious than Pattaya. But nothing beats the unique Patong combination of island charm and big city atmosphere!
Ago Go Bars are alive and well in Patong Beach. You will find many of them located within a very small radius of each other.
The Banana Disco is located about 50 meters from the western end of Bangla Road making it centrally located in Patong Beach. Nearly everyone who has come to Phuket has experienced at least one night in Patong beaches Banana Disco. The Club, which is a little on the small side attracts a legion of girls who flock there every evening after midnight when things start to heat up.
The Safari is a night club or disco just outside of Patong. Any tuk tuk driver will know where it is. Although they are located outside of Patong and not within walking distance, they have managed to gain a good reputation by having live music every night and skilled DJ's behind the turntables. And it doesn't really hurt that they don't have any entrance fee. Just walk inside and start dancing.
In and around Patong Beach, Kata Beach, and Karon Beach.
Seriously thought, there is a lot of action going on, in & around these bars and for the first time tourist a wealth of vivid light, sounds, smells, color and beautiful girls. The atmosphere is easy and relaxed as you sit in one of the many bars and take in the show around you. In season Phuket is awash with people from many different countries and Patong Beach in particular becomes a very cosmopolitan place. People who finish a days diving, sunbathing, sightseeing or other activities usually congregate in these places to meet and party on in to the evening.
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