Joanna James
The name Phuket itself suffices in bringing visions of relaxation, endless sunny beaches and a great holiday to mind. Certainly, there are more ways than one to enjoy Phuket, Thailand.
Work your way up from the Promthep Cape where the land pokes itself out in to the sea in a rocky terrain to explore the island of Phuket. A rough translation of Promthep would be 'God', one look at the sunset and you know for certain that God definitely spent some extra time crafting this bit of land. As you wind you way up you will be offered vistas of the wonderful Siamese architecture and see cross sections of local livelihood. Make sure to stop for a few minutes at the Wat Chalong where the Siamese Buddhist practices can be observed along with the traditional architecture. When you approach the city, hop off the vehicle to enjoy some delicious cashew nuts and to collect a few souvenirs. When you traverse towards the north you will find Coconut Island to the east and a tad above would be the COMO Point Yamu, Phuket which happens to be a Phuket Luxury Resort that is much sought after in the mainland.
For some snorkeling fun or a giggly ride on a banana boat, the Coral Islands and the waters that surround it are great. As the name suggests, the island's periphery is protected by some beautiful coral reefs which can be discovered by anyone who dares to plunge in to the glistening waters of the Andaman Sea. Those who engage in parasailing or parakiting add quite a bit of colour to the skyline and definitely enjoy the views, the wind and the sun pouring on their backs.
The beautiful limestone towers, the vast expanse of jungle terrain, the protective mangroves and the range of caves form a part of a venerated ecological system. A section of the Phang Nga Bay which is located in the Malacca Strait has been pronounced a national park and every effort is taken to safeguard the ecosystem in spite of having doors wide open for tourists. A needle thin formation of limestone that stands in the ocean, named the James Bond Island had been featured in the creation of a movie and is exceedingly popular among tourists who visit the shallow bay. The wondrous sites of Phang Nga don't stop at environmental beauties, there are also archaeological sites including paintings that are over a thousand years old. A kayak is the best mode of transportation to visit many of these sites as the limestone and the narrow bodies of water closer to the caves do not permit larger carriers.
To say the waters are jade green and crystal clear is actually an injustice to the gorgeous sea waves that curl in around Phi Phi Island that lies to the south east of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. The highlight of the tour is a visit to the Pi-Leh Cove where you get to dive in to a body of water that is reminiscent of a splash in to a private pool. A tour on a ferry or a speedboat to Phi Phi Island is a fabulous idea as long as there is provision to stop at Phi Phi Don Island for an international buffet lunch that includes some exquisite Thai cuisine.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
