Phuket
Few destinations around the globe offer such big variety as Phuket. Within few minutes drive you get from isolated beaches to bustling nightlife, from local markets to top modern shopping malls. Phuket Airport is the hub in Southern Thailand offering easy access and a wide range of domestic flights and international flights.
Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand. Phuket is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. It is estimated that Phuket has a total area of approximately 570 square kilometres. Phuket's total length, from north to south, is about at 50 kilometres and approximately 20 kilometres wide.
Forest, rubber and palm oil plantations cover 60% of Phuket. The western coast has several long, sandy beaches such as Karon Beach and Kata Beach. Near the southernmost point is Cape Promthep, which is a popular sunset viewing point.
Phuket and its nearby islands and National Parks offer world class golf, a variety of activities and many different excursions.
Phuket Beaches
The west coast beaches offer the nicest sand and clearest waters. There is a beach for each taste. Rawai Beach is the southernmost followed by Nai Harn Beach just north of it. Kata Noi, Kata Beach and Karon Beach lie just after each other further north. Kata Beach is the most child friendly beach of the three, but both Kata Beach and Karon Beach offer a number of water activities and food and beverage outlets. The next large beach is Patong Beach, crowded and full of life. Further north comes Kamala Beach, Surin Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Layan Beach, Naithon Beach and all the way up north Nai Yang Beach and Maikhao Beach. There are also a number of small, rather isolated beaches from south to north. Some of them you can only reach by boat; Ya Nui Beach, Jungle Beach, Freedom Beach, Paradise Beach, Laem Singh Beach to mention a few.
Nearby Islands
There are many small islands to the southeast, including Bon Island, just a short boat trip away from Rawai Beach. Other islands that lie further away but still well worth a visit are Phi Phi island, Coral Island, the Koh Yao Islands, Raya Island and not to forget the Similian Islands.
Shopping in Phuket
Malls
There are two big malls on the Island;
Central Festival is located in the center of Phuket and offers a wide range of stores as well as it's own department store. In Central Festival you may find Zara, Lacoste, Levis, The Body Shop, Super Sport and many more international and local brands.
There is a generous selection of restaurants such as Fuji , Zen, Black Canyon, Sizzlers, Pizza Company, Starbucks, Subway, MK etc.
Top´s international supermarket with imported food from all over the world and SFX cinema complex located at Central festival as well. The cinema shows movies in English or with English subtitles.
Jungceylon is the newest and biggest mall in Phuket and it is located in Patong on the west coast. It hosts plenty of stores, shops, restaurants and stalls. In the center they have a giant fountain with watershows in the nighttime. There is a night club and hotel located in the complex as well.Located in the basement is "That´s Siam", an indoor market with lots souvenirs, art, crafts and a food court with food from all parts of Thailand.
On the third floor there is a cinema complex and amusement outlets such as bowling, karaoke hall and an indoor shooting range. Carrefour, the big international supermarket, is also located at Jungceylon.
Superstores
Big C and Tesco Lotus are two superstores/supermarkets in the center of Phuket, Here you will find anything from grilled chicken to sport shoes.
Markets
The big weekend market is in Phuket Town every Saturday and Sunday from 16.00 - 22.00. Many locals do their shopping here and everything from pets to second hand shoes is for sale. You will also find the same things that you do in the tourist areas but at better prices and different varieties. It is out door so prepare your self with comfortable and water resistant shoes. Nice food- and drink stalls will keep you full and happy.
All beach areas have their own day of the week for its local market. You can normally try some local food, do some good bargains and feel the local atmosphere in a good way here.
Outlet
Premium outlet is a new complex located on bypass road not far from Phuket town. Here you may find many international brands to reduced prices.
The History of Phuket
On ancient maps of the south-west region of Thailand, the name 'Junk Ceylon' can be seen as a description of the island we call today Phuket. Already in the 3the century the island of Phuket was a popular stop for ships and its name probably from the Tamils en route to India by the start of the 11th century. The name means 'gems'. Phuket was part of the Malay Shivit kingdom, but most of it became part of Thailand. By the Thai Ayutthaya period tin was found on the island and the Thai government offered concessions to foreign companies. Later, in the 18th century, once again the Burmese tried to conker Thailand and they attacked the island to take the ancient capital of Thalang. One of the bloodiest battles in that period took place in 1745 when Jan, the widow of the governor and her sister Mock drove the Burmese back into the sea. After Phuket became prosper by its tin mines, first on the island and later on the sea bottom. These days there is almost no tin anymore and the economy of Phuket depends on rubber production, but most of all on tourism.
