Complete liberty is the hallmark of Thailand and this is what lures tourists to the country. There are thousands who come here to take a break from their own countries which could be characterized by sexual oppression and dogmatic religious restraints. The daytime in Thailand is somewhat sluggish. But as the dusk sets in, the city comes to life.
Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, lures you with its beautiful beaches, rainforests, mountains and diverse culture. This island that lies off the west coast of Thailand on the Andaman Sea has a very colorful history and culture. Centuries ago, the island had commercial relations with India and China. Rubber and tin were their major sources of income during the olden days. But the profile of that island underwent a radical change as tourism began to develop there during the 1990s. Tourism and rubber are now the two strong pillars of the island’s economy.
The beaches which have been attracting the whole world are situated in the western region of the island. Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, Karon Beach and Kata Beach are important ones. Among these, Patong Beach is the most important tourist spot.
After completing the visa formalities, we were met by the driver engaged by the travel agency. From there, we zipped on to Patong 35 km away. The infrastructure of the city is almost at par with that in developed countries – beautiful roads and clean streets. After a short break, we set out sight-seeing.
Patong is popularly known as 'the city of unending celebrations.' And celebrate it does. Walking along the streets, especially during the night, gives you a taste of the life around. And what came as a surprise is that it is totally safe for women traveling alone. The ‘walking street’ from the city towards the Patong Beach is very popular. The by-lanes give a glimpse of life - like scenes stitched together in a movie. A lot of tourists hailing from European countries reach here to celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Though the extensive Patong Beach is beautiful but has the strains of high tourist inflow. However, the sea beckons - to the adventurers to speed away on the water scooters over the waves, to the fishermen who go out to sea on the fishing boats for their livelihood, and for the others to just laze on the beach.
A program of visiting the different parts of Phuket city was scheduled for the next day. The tour agency’s vehicle went first to Karon Viewpoint. We caught a glimpse of the Kata Noi, Kata Yai, and Karon beaches. Enjoy the bird's-eye view of Karon beach.
Our next pit stop was the Big Buddha Statue. The statue will remind you of the ‘Christ the Redeemer Statue’ in Rio de Janeiro. The lofty site of the gigantic, 45-metre tall statue that sits atop the hills gives an all-round view of the island. Wat Chalong, the most important among the 29 Buddhist temples in Phuket was the next stop. This temple is a crowning example of Thai architecture. It was built to commemorate the role of two Buddhist monks, namely, Luang Poh Chaem and Luang Poh Chuang, in organizing people against the Chinese Revolution in 1876.
The local people throng the temple in the morning itself. The Grand Pagoda and the Wat stand face to face. The Pagoda is as tall as a 10-storeyed building and it is a strenuous walk. The people in Phuket strictly comply with their rituals, custom, and traditions. When they find an Indian, the conversation invariably veers to Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan.
A one and a half hour's journey put us at Phi Phi Islands the next day. And we took a three storied cruise ship for the trip to Phi Phi Islands, a remarkable experience to say the least. Phi Phi found its due place in the world tourism map with the screening of the Di Caprio’s English film “The Beach”. The narrow walkways with a variety of commercial outlets on its sides are reminiscent of the Jew Street in Mattancherry. The walkway leads to the white sandy beach. When you get tired of sun bathing, you can indulge in canoeing, kayaking, boating, and snorkeling.
Phi Phi falls under the jurisdiction of Krabi which is another group of islands in Thailand. The two islands that have been attracting most of the tourists are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The sea coast is rich with coral reefs, lime rocks and a large variety of rare fishes. A majority of the local people depend on fishing for their livelihood.
Phang Nga Bay was the tourist destination of the next day. The journey was in a boat like the one that was seen in the Malayalam film “Punjabi House”. Phang Nga Bay is an island situated in the Andaman Sea in between the Strait of Malacca and the island of Phuket. There are steep mountains, lime rocks and archaeologically important caves on the island. James Bond Island, a needle-shaped island projecting into the sea, shot to fame after it was featured in the famous James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”. The boat halted near the shore of the small islands. The remaining journey was in canoes. The oarsman skilfully took the boat by the hill slopes, caves, and mangroves.
Phuket is a major Spa destination of the world. Massage parlors function here like cottage industries. Thai massage, a variant of the ayurvedic massage is the most popular indulgence. There are Spas and massage centers in all the major hotels. As the dusk falls, the ladies would take their seats in front of the well-lighted colorful signboards. It is an open secret that many sex parlors operate too.
Besides, there are museums that describe the history and culture of Phuket and zoos that symbolize their wild animal wealth. Thailand has clearly proved her expertise in architectural style and urban planning. Clean roads, roadsides, and walkways have been provided for. The row of various colored houses built in the same architectural style provides a really delightful sight while walking along a street near Patong.
Phuket provides a wide variety of dishes that excite your taste buds. Their dishes include centipedes, spiders, and cockroaches. The live insects would be cooked instantly in the fast food outlets on the roadside.
Phuket is a good shopping center too. High profile malls and roadside trading outlets are so available as to suit the wallets of the buyers. And if you are shopping on the streets, you can bargain.
And then it was time to leave. The five days spent there was now a pleasant memory.
How to reach?
Onward flights to the Phuket International Airport are available from all the major airports. The duration of the flight to Kuala Lumpur is 4 hours and then from there to Phuket, it takes another 1.5 hours.
Visa?
On-arrival visa is made available to the Indian citizens. A prescribed form has to be filled up for the purpose at the airport of arrival.
Currency?
The currency of Thailand is Thai Baht. At present, the value-equivalent of Thai Baht is almost double the value of Indian Rupee.
Cost?
The round trip, if seats are reserved in advance, would cost from INR 15,000/- onwards. The daily rent of a double room in the hotel is INR 500/- per day. The total cost of a 5-day tour to Phuket would be approximately INR 35,000/- for an individual.
