 Phuket Thailand Travel
Culture
  Phuket's Old Town Movement
There are many signs of Buddhism threaded into every day life in Phuket, and temples are the most obvious. Wat Chalong (the largest temple on the island) is a great place to witness first hand the uniqueness and beauty of this eastern religion.Orange robed monks are frequently seen walking the streets, and statues of the Buddha can be found absolutely everywhere.An interesting characteristic of Thailand, when compared to many other southeastern countries, is the fact that women are actively involved in business affairs and the arts. Thai is the country’s official language, with Lao, Chinese, Malay, and Mon-Khmer also spoken. English is taught in secondary schools and is also used in government and commerce. In most tourist areas, communicating in English is not a problem.
Known as the land of 1000 smiles, the Thai people are some of the friendliest in the world. At times, a simple smile is all it takes to break down a language barrier.
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History
 The Vegetarian Festival lasts for 9 days and 9 nights
Phuket has a long recorded history, and according to most begins around A.D. 1025 when it was used as a stopover point by ships sailing between China and India. In those days, the island was one of the twelve governed by the Shivite Empire. In the 16th century, Phuket was associated with Takua Pah. During this time, the northern and central regions of the island were controlled by the Thais, while the rest was turned over to the tin trade. Late in the century, the Dutch established a trading post on the island. During the second half of the 18th century, Phuket was for a short while overtaken by the Burmese. King Taksin of Thailand eventually drove them out and regained control of the island.After retaking control, there were numerous efforts made by the Burmese to invade and occupy the land’s southern provinces.All of these attempts were successfully defended by the Thais. During the 19th century, in the height of the tin trade on the island, Chinese people came in great numbers and became the dominant ethnic makeup of the central region. In 1932 Phuket became a separate province of Thailand , and has remained such until present day. |
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Neighborhoods
 Karon Beach one of the more popular
Phuket has a long recorded history, and according to most begins around A.D. 1025 when it was used as a stopover point by ships sailing between China and India. In those days, the island was one of the twelve governed by the Shivite Empire. In the 16th century, Phuket was associated with Takua Pah. During this time, the northern and central regions of the island were controlled by the Thais, while the rest was turned over to the tin trade. Late in the century, the Dutch established a trading post on the island. During the second half of the 18th century, Phuket was for a short while overtaken by the Burmese. King Taksin of Thailand eventually drove them out and regained control of the island.After retaking control, there were numerous efforts made by the Burmese to invade and occupy the land’s southern provinces.All of these attempts were successfully defended by the Thais. During the 19th century, in the height of the tin trade on the island, Chinese people came in great numbers and became the dominant ethnic makeup of the central region. In 1932 Phuket became a separate province of Thailand , and has remained such until present day.
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Tourist Board Info
 Group Agent France
There is lots of information available about Phuket on the internet, and a good place to begin researching is on The Official Website for Tourism in Phuket. On this site there is information on almost everything a first time traveler needs to know. It is usually wiser to make activity reservations once in a foreign country, but opportunities to book everything for a trip before leaving home are available on this site. If nothing else, this site is very informative about what is available on the island. Once in Thailand, T.A.T. offices (Tourism Authority of Thailand) are the best available resources for booking tours, finding hotels or guest houses, and even arranging transportation within the country. The official website for the T.A.T. Governor is a good resource for answering government related questions, as well as obtaining more general information about Thailand. For any issues concerning legal matters on the island of Phuket, contact the local Tourist Police. Dealing with problems concerning foreign travelers is their sole purpose, and they can be very helpful. The island’s main Tourist Police office is located at 100/31-32 Chalermphakeat R.9 Road, T.Rassada, A.Muang. Their phone number is (66) 076.254.693.. |
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Transportation |
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There are three main forms of public transportation offered on the island of Phuket: busses, tuk tuks, and motorbike taxis..more |
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Getting around Phuket is easy and fairly inexpensive. There are a few options available, and choosing one depends on a personal preference |
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Pre-arranged hotel pickup |
| Most hotels offer this service at an extra charge. You can contact the hotel directly prior to your arrival and inquire as to whether or not the hotel will pick you up and take you to your hotel. |
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Taxi and Tuk-Tuks |
| (tuk-tuks) the notorious three-wheeled smoke-belching variety are now extinct on Phuket. They have been replaced with small red vans with open sides. |
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Motorbikes |
| The warm balmy climate, the natural beauty of the island, and the winding mountain roads, all make Phuket a natural for cruising around on a motorbike. Motorbikes are the most common mode of transportation on the island |
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Bus |
| There is a daytime bus service (songthaew) to most parts of the island. Songthaew (means two rows) which refers to the two wooden benches that run down each side of this colorful wooden-body public transport vehicle. |
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Car Rental |
| Cars and jeeps can be rented at numerous locations around the island. A valid international driver’s license or a state license from one’s own country is all that is required. |
| Air Asia is almost always the cheapest - but does have a reputation for late departures and arrivals. |
| Orient Thai http://www.fly12go.com/en/main.shtml is just a bit more expensive than Air Asia - but removes all the uncertainty. |
| Another discount airline is Nok Air http://www.nokair.com/nokconnext/aspx |
| Other more expensive carriers are the venerable Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways - which bills itself as "Asia's Boutique Airline" |
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