Lucie Aurore
For a land that is the size of Singapore, Phuket offers many an activity and sight to visit whether it rains or shines. Visit at least one of the below, and you'll be talking about it for years!
Koh Sirey, or Sireh or Koh Siray is a little island off the main town of Phuket that feels more of a wilderness cape than an island. Koh Sireh speaks volumes of the history and culture of its ancestors, while being well-known for its hilltop reclining Buddha at Wat Sireh and its chow lair village. The island is home to the descendants of the first inhabitants of Phuket, known locally as "Chao Ley", meaning "people of the sea". These sea gypsies are considered to be the first settlers of the Andaman Islands and have retained their own language, culture and practice animism to date.
The sea surrounding Similan Islands is generally considered among the top 10 most interesting diving areas in the world. An accumulation of nine islands – thus, the name "Similan" – the islands are a topographical, ecological and aquatic wonder that is a definite must-see. Gigantic boulders are scattered across the land as if some prehistoric ancestral giant was at play in stacking rocks. Covered with a lush green canopy and an undergrowth of bamboo, the green of the islands are home to crab-eating monkeys, dusky langurs, squirrels, bats, lizards and a colourful variety of birds.
However, a regular boat service is not available for visitors to the island. But many Phuket resorts are open to making arrangements, while some such as Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas offer day cruises to the island for their visitors.
Having starred in the 007 movies, "The Man With the Golden Gun", Koh Ta-Pu, now known as the "James Bond Island" is one of the areas that attract the highest number of tourists. While definitely picturesque, you might want to go sky kayaking in a rented boat among the limestone structures of the bay to truly discover hidden nooks and crannies. It is not that long ago that satellite imagery revealed the presence of "rooms" in the caves of the bay – so there is an entire world out there for you to discover! Being sheltered from both Northeast and Southwest monsoons, the bay is calm and serene throughout the year, inviting sailing and explorations that definitely require more than a mere day.
Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha, as it is known among the Thais, the Big Buddha statue stands at a striking 45m in height, beckoning the visitor from afar. Constructed using reinforced concrete, layered with Burmese white jade marble, the Big Buddha statue attracts over a thousand visitors every day. Being run completely on public donations, a number of donation boxes are made available at the premises. Writing messages of and to dear ones departed while drifting off to the bell chimes, breeze rushing through the Buddhist flags and the low thrum of dharma chants being played in the background is a common practice among the visitors of the statue.
Welcoming visitors throughout the year, Wat Chalong, Wat, meaning Buddhist temple, is both a spiritual and architectural haven. The main pagoda of the structure that looms above it all contains a splinter of a bone of Lord Buddha, marking Wat Chalong a place where multitudes of religious devotees flock. Numerous statues, each with its own history adorn the Wat, while an "exhibition home", too, is present that houses human-sized wax models, antique Thai furniture and Thai porcelain designed in five colours.
