Fah Thai Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

PHUKET FOCUS
However, Phuket is much
more than its beach offerings.
It bedazzles travellers with its
nature that’s meant to be seen
and enjoyed, aquamarine waters
that beckon you to explore (with
a lot of help from tour operators
hawking their business), limestone
cliffs and lively towns, it’s difficult
to come close to that of Phuket.
Travellers who visit Thailand’s
southwestern island are welcomed
with a little slice of paradise, brimming
with some of the finest hotels of edgy
or organic architecture, restaurants
offering the best in simple dishes
to inventive fare and spas whose
names are renowned in the world.
There’s something for everyone,
regardless of taste and budget.
You can splurge on a wellappointed
pavilion in one of the
numerous luxurious hotels or
resorts that overlook the scenic
Andaman Sea or check into a villa
with a private terrace and pool. Start
your vacation by indulging in the
extensive wellness offerings of your
hotel. Take your pick from authentic
herb-infused Thai treatments or hit
the gym or Pilates facilities. Cap it up
with traditional meals of scrumptious
Thai curries (among some of the
most intense in the country), and
delicious seafood – Phuket has its
own spiky version of lobster! Here
is where you’ll also find the best
of world cooking. Local favourites
include Peranakan food in Phuket
Town or Hokkien Chinese stir-fries,
in addition to fine dining options
scattered throughout the island.
Being Thailand’s largest island,
Phuket is enclosed by over 30
glorious beaches. Patong Beach, Kata,
Karon, Kamala, Nai Harn Beach, and
Mai Khao are the most renowned
places. From the exclusive resorts of
Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach, to
family-friendly Nai Harn Beach, or
the party city of Patong, there is a
beach for every mood.
Clockwise from Left
Wat Chalong,
always on people’s
list for Phuket,
for its religious
and architectural
relevance.
Phuket Town’s rich
past is visible in
old-world shops,
charming cafés,
and grand Sinocolonial
mansions.
Below Left & Right
The glorious colours
at Nai Harn beach
An aerial view of
Koh Phi Phi
The nearby tropical islands,
can be accessed by a speedboat
or a luxury yacht or cruise, and
gaining in popularity as a means of
exploration. Well-furnished yachts
take visitors on a voyage to discover
the islands of the Phuket archipelago
with more golden sand beaches that
are equal parts mesmerising and
enjoyable. Characteristic to Phang
Nga Bay are the sheer limestone
karsts that vertically stand out of the
emerald-green water. James Bond
Island and Panyi Island are two of
the most well-known in this bay.
By far the best way of enjoying the
impressive Phang Nga Bay, with only
passing encounters with tourists at
James Bond and Panyi islands, is to
take a laid-back luxurious cruise.
Another stop on these cruises
is world famous Maya Bay. In 1999,
Maya Bay was magical – white-sand
beaches, azure skies and a jeweltoned
sea, which was abundant in
natural resources and colourful
marine life. Located in Koh Phi Phi,
off the coast of Phuket, is the
strikingly scenic bay that comprises
a 200-metre idyllic beach, which is
enclosed by 100-metre high cliffs
on three sides. Maya Bay became a
popular tourist attraction after the
Hollywood movie – ‘The Beach,’
starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed
there in 1999. In recent times, it
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