Unseen Phuket: Geting Around Phuket

Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuks are the small red open taxis which you can find everywhere on the island. They are great to get around. You have to negotiate the fare before you hop in. Rates depend on distance, time, weather and many other things and starts at app. 50 Baht for a short distance and can go up to 500 Baht for a longer trip. It is normally cheaper to stop a Tuk Tuk when it passes by then to take one which is waiting in front of a hotel or restaurant.

Taxi Meter

There are metered taxis everywhere. Only use them when they go by the meter if they ask for a fixed price don't go for it and take another one.

Songthaew

Songthaews are the open blue-yellow local buses. They follow fixed routes and operate between 6am and 7 pm. There are no bus-stops so you just stop the songthaews when they pass by and give the driver a sign when you want to leave the bus. Prices are fixed and much cheaper then Tuk Tuks but it takes a bit longer to reach your destination. They operate mostly from Phuket Town to the different beaches but not between the beaches.

Motorbike

TaxiThey are just everywhere. You can recognize them by there green or red wests with numbers on them. This transport is for the more adventures ones as it is not the safest but it is fast, cheap and bring you wherever you want. As with the Tuk Tuks the price must be negotiated before the ride.

Unseen Phuket Festivals Events

Tourist Season Opening Festival
is usually called the Patong Carnival in English according to from the place where celebrations occur, and is held on November 1. There are many stalls with merchandise and food, parades, sports event, and a beauty competition for foreign tourists. The fest is held to cement solidarity among the government, the private business sector, and the people.

Chao Le Boat Floating Festival( Sea Gypsy )
falls during the middle of the sixth and eleventh lunar months yearly. The fest is held at the Chao Le or Sea Gipsy, villages in Phuket. The Rawai and Sapam villages hold their ceremonies on the 13th; Sire village celebrates on the 14th; and the village at Laem La (east of the bridge on Phuket's northern tip) celebrates on the 15th. Ceremonies, which center around the setting adrift of small boats similar to the Thai Festival of Loy Krathong, are held at night and their purpose is to drive away evil and to bring good luck. Fingernail clipping and strands of hair are put in the little boats before being released, along with little dolls fashioned from wood. Afterwards, the villagers perform their famous dance round their own boats, called the Ram Rong Ngeng.

Phuket King's Cup Regatta
was first held in 1987 in honor of His Majesty's 60th birthday. The King of Thailand is a noted boating enthusiast and yachts come from around the world to participate in the competition, which is the largest and most popular in Southeast Asia. It is held yearly on the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday, 5 December. Site of the regatta is Nai Harn Bay.

Phuket Festival Fair
held on November 1, was first initiated in 1985 at Patong to welcome in the tourist season and designed to foster co-operation among tourism-related operators both in the private and public sectors. Many colorful and interesting activities are organized, such as merit-making in the morning, water sports contests, a Miss Visitor Contest, among others.

Unseen Phuket Thailand

Amphoe Muang Phuket
Chalong TempleIs about 8 kms. outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam. Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by Phuket people generally.

Phuket Aquarium
More than one hundred species of sea life are on display at the aquarium, many of them taken from the water around Phuket. The aquarium is located at Cape Panwa, on the island's extreme southeast; admission is 5 Baht for children and 20 Baht for adults. A Songtaew (local bus) can be taken from the Talad Sot, or Fresh Market. Tel. (076) 391126. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Khao Rang
A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Khao Rang Hill, on the city's northwest. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable, expanse of grass for picnickers at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.

Antique Buildings
The beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century led to construction of many fine old mansions and shops still well preserved. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face on the street but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd., have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket", with similar structures are Phang-nga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Nakhon Luang Thai Bank.