5 Fun Facts about Phuket - Five Fascinating Facts Regarding Beach Paradise Phuket

While most visitors may enjoy the stunning beaches off the coast of Phuket, few may be aware of the island's status as the country's largest isle. Occupying the southern reaches of the island, Phuket is spread out over an area of 540 square meters, which is similar to the landmass occupied by Singapore no less. Phuket is so big that Thailand has identified it as a province in its own right. The advantage of being a Thai province is that there is an international airport on the island which is served by countless airlines with direct flights available to the destination all year round.

Another surprising factoid about Phuket is that it's actually a dream destination for vegetarians and those on a plant based diet in general. This is especially true if one happens to visit the island during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Held in the month of October each year, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place over nine days and brings out all the best vegetarian chefs, cuisines and delicacies available on the island to the fore. One of the most curious aspects of the festival is one that involves spiritual mediums who invoke the favour of the gods. The ceremony days also include fire walks, body piercing and other acts which pays homage to the nine emperor gods of Thailand.

Phuket is home to a whopping 30 stunning beaches but none are quite so popular as Patong Beach which comes in at No. 1 every single time. The main reasons why Patong Beach outranks the other beaches on the island is credited to the many bargain shopping venues, exciting nightlife scene and diverse dining outlets located around the beach. While it may be the best loved beach, Patong is just the tip of the ice berg in terms of the captivating seaside resort towns in Phuket which also include Kamala, Surin, Kata, Bangtao and Nai Harn.

Phuket is not only one of Thailand's leading destination wedding locations but also a honeymoon Mecca for the masses. The breathtaking sandy beaches and the hospitable environment have attracted couples from around the world to this little corner of Thailand. Romantic dining venues such as the Age Restaurant and other well regarded Phuket restaurants are another reason couples love to vacation here. Weddings are so popular in Phuket that wedding packages are on offer in nearly every resort or hotel in town while special rates for honeymooners are also up for grabs for couples in search of an affordable beach paradise for their first vacation together as a married duo.

Those who rent a car or bike to drive around Phuket for the duration of their holiday may be shocked to find that gasoline is sold by the bottle load in the part of Thailand. Old whiskey bottles full of gasoline are available via street side vendors and shops so travellers can pick up some gasoline without needing to find a filling station or a gas station.