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Phuket Information: |
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Phuket, a large island in the Indian Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok. It is the only island having provincial status, and was a regional headquarters as well, with a rich and colorful history.
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Phuket has a population of 200,000. Phuket Town, with a population of about 63,000, is located on the East Side and Patong Beach, whose population varies widely depending on the time of year, is located on the West Side.
The residents are Thais who migrated from the mainland, Chinese who arrived to work the tin mines, Muslims of Malaysian extraction -- many of who come to work the rubber plantations -- and Chao Nam or sea gypsies -- who may have occupied the area for a millennium or more.
The Chinese now comprise 35 percent of the island's population. As elsewhere in Asia, many of the Chinese have made the transition from providing cheap labor to being merchants.
The Chinese have inter-married with native Thais and have largely been assimilated into Thai culture. Today the descendants of the early Chinese settlers are responsible for much of the trade and commerce that take place on the island.
About 35% of the Thais living on Phuket are Muslims.
Concentrated mostly around Surin and a few other big villages, they work as rice and rubber farmers. One of the most interesting groups of people who have lived on Phuket are the Sea Gypsies, traditionally a nomadic peoples who traveled from cove to cove, staying until the fish and other resources were depleted.
 They then moved on, allowing the cove to re-establish its former ecological balance before returning to repeat the cycle. Their history and cultural lifestyles are hard to trace, as they do not have a written language. Sea gypsies are said to have originated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between India and Burma.
They are generally darker skinned and heavier with curly black hair. They speak their own language and follow their own animistic religion. Sea Gypsies consist of three groups. The Mokens still prefer their ancestral sea nomad-style of living and are commonly found occupying the islands north of Phuket.
The Orung Laut and the Moklens have settled on coastal areas. There are three Sea Gypsy villages in Phuket. The one located at Rawai is thought to be the oldest and is visited by busloads of tourist's everyday. Another village is located 8km north of Phuket Town at Sapam Coast, and a third village is located on Siray Island, which is accessible by bridge from Phuket Town
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:::Phuket lifestyle::: |
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The Island of Phuket is regarded by many as a tropical island paradise and is one of the most beautiful and enchanting islands in Asia. Clear blue waters, countless white sandy beaches and the welcoming Thai people have all helped to develop the Island into one of the worlds leading holiday destinations and a very popular place to own a second home.
Phuket has a modern international airport with daily direct and connecting flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Europe and America. The infrastructure is well developed with excellent road networks and reliable transportation.
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Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always warm and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest.
The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degree Celsius.
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:::The Phuket landscape::: |
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 Phuket's beautiful landscape and tropical climate provides many opportunities for the nature lover. Here there is an abundance of wildlife with a huge variety of species and plenty of opportunity to enjoy a day out in natural surroundings.
For those who enjoy walking the khao Phra Thaeo National Park, located in the north west of the island, is a great day out.
The park has large areas of virgin rainforest and it is possible to hire a guide to explain some of the many interesting flora and fauna you will see along your route. The park also has two impressive water falls, Bang Pae and Tonsai, these are at their best during low season when the water is at its' highest.
If you enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat then the Gibbon Rehabilitation centre is well worth a visit. This is run mainly by volunteers and aims to re-introduce abandoned gibbons to the wild. From the palm-fringed white sandy beaches to the lush tropical rainforest, Phuket's natural surroundings and year long high temperatures offer something for everyone,
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The pleasant warm tropical climate make Phuket an ideal environment for the enjoyment of many sporting activities. The Island is a haven for dive enthusiasts with many of the Worlds top dive sites lying off the coast just a short journey by speed boat.
Golf is another major attraction in Phuket, with no less than 5 championship golf courses on the Island. The Laguna (Banyan Tree) course on the west coast and Mission Hills golf club on the east coast are regarded as two of Asia's top courses.
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 Boat and yacht owners are also catered for in style. The Boat lagoon, Yacht Haven and new Royal Phuket marina all have excellent facilities and accommodation for short or long stay moorings. The recently built Royal Phuket marina is highly acclaimed, it offers luxury surroundings and top quality shoppping and dining experiences. More new marinas are planned along the coast and many proclaim Phuket to be the next San Tropez.
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Those who prefer a day of leisurely shopping have certianly not been overlooked. The Central Festival shopping mall was opened in 2005 and boasts major international brands including Marks and Spencer, Boots, Levis, Starbucks, Samsonite, Guess and many many more.
The mall is spacious and the leading Central Depatment store has an excellent variety of homewares, small electrical applicances and fashion. For those searching for authentic Thai handicrafts then a day out in Phuket City should not disappoint, here you can find many local artist galleries and smaller boutique style shops selling goods from accross the region.
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 After a hard days shopping why not unwind at one of Asia's top spas. Thai people have a long tradition of healing and the well being of body, mind and spirit are closely linked to the teachings of Buddhist philosophy.
They are experts at relaxation and massage techniques, using the finest aromas and natural oils such as jasmine, mandarin, tea tree and lemon grass to create a feeling of well being.
Phuket is fortunate to have some of the best spas in Asia and indeed the world. The Banyan Tree spa at the Laguna resort has won many top international awards.
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Thai cuisine is regarded as one of the worlds´ finest and in Phuket there are many excellent restaurants to choose from. Thai food can be spicy, sweet, sour, aromatic and is always colourful. It ranges from the simple foods found at the local markets and hawkers stalls to the most elaborate creations imaginable found at the top restaurants. Wherever you eat you will not to be disappointed by the variety of dishes and flavours on offer.
International cuisine is also popular in Phuket with restaurants from all four corners of the globe. Most popular are Italian, Chinese and Indian. There are also many small sandwich bars and pie shops catering for more Western tastes.
Whether your passion is nature, sports, boating, diving, shopping or just simply relaxing, Phuket caters for all tastes and all people. The friendly Thai people and warm tropical climate make Phuket one of the worlds leading holiday destinations and it is no wonder that thousands of people have chosen to invest in this wonderful lifestyle and return year after year.
Investors today have seen prices triple in the last 3 years, despite natural disasters such as the tsunami. A testament to the quality of this island paradise.
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:::Phuket weather::: Please see this website |
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