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Phuket
Places of Interest
Lies on the
northwest part of the town, The
view from the top is splendid
and the hill itself features a
park, an exercise course and some
eating spots.
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Another place
for rest and relaxation in the
city where Phuket Road meets the
sea. It is also the site f the
monument to the Australian Captain
Edward Thomas Miles who brought
the first tin dredge to Phuket
in 1909. The monument, built in
1969, commemorates 60 years of
tin dredge in Phuket and shows
the importance of the tin mining,
even comparatively recently, played
in the island's fortunes. A prolonged
recession in the price of tin
has, however, resulted in the
virtual extinguishing of the industry
on the island, and except for
the continued operation of single
refinery, all other tin mining
activity in Phuket has ceased.
Saphan Hin is also the location
of a sport center, large playing
fields, many fine restaurants,
and the island's boxing stadium.
It serves in addition as the site
of to colleges, Phuket Community
College and Phuket Vocational
College.
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Most of building
in Phuket's city center were constructed
nearly a hundred years ago, during
the period of the first great
tin boom. These buildings show
mixed Chinese and western influences
in their architecture, called
'Sino-Portuguese'. It is a style
common to all the coastal tin
mining settlements on the Malay
Peninsula. The buildings are characteristically
much longer than there are wind,
and the entry ways have fancy
latticework. Many lovely examples
are to be found on Dibuk Road.,
and also on Phang-nga, Talang,
Yaowarat, and Krabi Roads. Phuket's
Town Hall, Provincial Court, and
/Nakorn Luang Thai Bank are specimens
of this architecture, too.
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More than 100
different kinds of fishes and
other marine life are on display.
The Aquarium is located at Cape
Panwa on the extreme southeast
of the island. Open daily from
8.30 am. to 4.30 pm. Entry fees
are: for children 5 baht, adults
20 baht. Contact the Aquarium
at 076 391 126 for addition information.
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Wat Chalong
is about 8 kilometers. outside
town. Take Vichit Songkram road
to the Bypass road and turn left,
and drive for about 10 minutes.
Wat Chalong will be on your left.
Here stands the cast Ahngyee,
or Luang Por Cham, who helped
in 1876 during the reign of Rama
V. There are also statues of Luang
Por Chuang, and Luang Por Gluam,
other monks, who were abbots of
the temple during later times,
and who are the objects of the
respect and recipients of offerings
by Phuket people generally.
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Promthep is
a headland stretching into the
sea and forming the extreme south-end
of Phuket. It has been a prominent
feature for the mariners since
of early seafarers from the subcontinent,
remain of whose journey's have
been found all along the Malay-peninsula's
coast. The cape has tall cliffs
on the south, and was formerly
called by local villagers 'Laem
Joa' (The Gods' Cape). From the
cliffs running down to the boulders
at the sea is a line of toddy
palm trees Emerald green currents
swirl in the deep water and breakers
hurl themselves in vain against
the rocky point: it is one of
Phuket's most inspiring vistas.
In the distance can be seen Koh
Gaew. From Promthep Cape, which
is the most beautiful place to
catch Phuket's famous sunsets,
a road leads northwest to Nai
Harn Beach.
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Take the coast road from Nai Harn
toward Kata Beach and along the
way you will come to a place clearly
demarcated as View Point, with a
large public pavilion where you
can rest and enjoy the view. From
here can be seen at once 3 of Phuket's
prettiest bays, Kata Noi, Kata Beach,
and Karon Beach.
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Tropical
species of butterflies, other insects,
and many kinds of marine life are
on display. Located in Sam Kong
about 3 kms. from downtown Phuket.
Open daily,
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Tel. (076)
215616, 210861. |
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A
show of Thai dance, handicrafts,
culture, elephants and a demonstration
of old time tin-mining takes place
among the orchids. Located in
Sam Kong, about 3 kms. from downtown
Phuket. The morning showing starts
at 11:00 a.m.
the evening showing at
5:30 p.m. Tel. (076) 214860, 237400
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Perhaps
the world's most valuable collection
of seashells has been put on
display at Phuket Seashell near
Rawai Beach on the island's
southwestern shores. The emphasis
is on shells from Phuket and
Thai waters, which are among
the most sought-after by collectors,
however shells from every part
of the world are featured. Wherever
they originate, each shell in
the Shell Museum is the best
of its type--very often the
only of its type. Displays have
been created in a logical order,
and visitors can see at once
differing characteristics among
related species. There are numerous
rarities and freaks including
the world's largest golden pearl
(140 karats), large sections
of sedimentary rock containing
shell fossils that represent
the earth's earliest life-forms,
and a shell that weighs 250
kilograms. One of the world's
great private museums, the Shell
Museum is open daily from 8:00
a.m. till
7:00 p.m. For details call 381266,
or 381274
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Antique
Buildings
Phuket
Aquarium
Wat
Chalong
View
Point
