Phuket Town

Phuket Town is the first of the two major towns on Phuket. This is not only the major town on the Island, but is also the area for shopping. Developed considerably over the past few years, it now has many large supermarkets, department stores, duty free stores and international famous name shops. Virtually everything that you could ever need is now available in this area of the Island

Patong:

Patong is the area on the Island that is famous for its nightlife and market stalls where you haggle over the price. The latter selling nearly anything that you might need, including souvenirs, T-Shirts, Handbags, Leather Goods etc. There are also many restaurants, bars and nightclubs that make this busy town an ideal place to visit, especially at night. It also has a beautiful beach, but can get rather crowded in the high season, November – April.

Restaurants:

It is probably true to say that you can find virtually every type of food imaginable on Phuket. Restaurants are everywhere and offer an extremely varied choice. Though it would be wrong not to mention Seafood, which the Island is rightly famous for. If you are a Seafood lover then you will truly love being in Phuket. The choice of fresh fish and shell fish is probably one of the best choices that you will find anywhere in the world.

Golf:

Phuket is also famous for the many fantastic Golf courses around the Island. So if you enjoy playing golf then you need look no further. With the amazing climate and stunning scenery these designer courses are all around the Island

Diving:

Ever wanted to learn to Scuba Dive? Then there is no better or safer place to learn than Phuket. Surrounded by the crystal clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and the Andaman Sea, you will be amazed at the wonderful sea life that can be seen under the water. Rated a one of the world’s top ten diving sites, is the beautiful Similan Islands which is just off the coast of Phuket.

Hospitals:

Two of Thailand’s leading hospitals are situated on Phuket Island. These hospitals are fully equipped with the latest technology and some of the countries leading doctors and surgeons. Services include, all forms of surgery, including Open Heart, Health Check Up, Cosmetic Surgery and all forms of Dentistry.

Tin Mining:

The Island of Phuket, Thailand originally was a major Tin mining area. The last of these mines were finally stopped around 15 years ago with the advent of tourism. Today all that remains, are the many lakes around the Island; the remnants of this once thriving industry.

Rubber Plantations:

Today, Phuket’s other major use, next to tourism is growing and harvesting Rubber.
You will see many plantations around the Island of this still valuable crop. It takes up to 7 years for a Rubber tree to reach maturity, after which the rubber can be tapped.
While the young trees are maturing, the land between the trees is used to grow pineapples. The rubber latex is a major source of income for many Thai families.
After the “sap” is collected, usually in the early hours of the morning (the coolest) it is first made into a paste, and then pressed before being hung out to dry. You will often see these drying as you drive around the Island.