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Surin
Beach
Evergreen trees rim this small, curving bay beneath the
foothills north of Kamala beach. Surin beach is home to
Phuket's first golf course, a nine-hole course laid out
more than sixty years ago during the reign of King Rama
VII. It is now largely in disuse except as a park. The steep
incline of the beach, turbulent water, and big waves make
Surin looks like the dangerous place to swim during the
rainy season. Accommodations and restaurants are nearby.
Sing
Cape
The name means Lion's Point in English. The beach is in
a small, curving bay with rocky headlands at the foot of
forest-fringed cliffs and is among Phuket's most beautiful
spots. Look for signs indicating the path down to the beach.
Bangthao
Beach
Bangthao is the large open bay with one of Phuket's longest
beaches. It was once used for tin mining, but has since
been developed into a luxury resort., is occupied by the
Laguna complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf
course. There are, however, accommodations available outside
Laguna at the bay's south end. Dry season swimming is excellent,
and at the bay's north end is a smaller bay, almost completely
enclosed, at the mouth of which is some fine coral. Plenty
of places to eat, tour companies, and other tourist facilities
available either at Laguna Along the way are some small
bays with good swimming and no development.
Nai
Yang Beach
This is part of the Sirinath National Park office. The beach
itself is on a long curving bay lined with evergreens that
provide shade to picnicker. The large coral reef is home
to many different species of fish, and Nai Yang is well
known as a site where sea turtles come to lay their eggs
during the period from November to February; the population
of these has however, dropped off greatly. First class accommodations
are available and small food vendors cater to the many day
trippers.
Nai
Thon Beach
Hat Nai Thon , one of the least commercialized beaches on
the island. This quiet bay is nestled by the foot of the
hill has a strip of the sand. There are some accommodations
but virtually no other business. Located between Bang Thao
Bay and Nai Yang Beach, Nai Thon Beach can be reached by
taking Thep Krasatri Rd. Turn at the first traffic light
north of Thalang Town to Nai Yang Rd. Look for signs indicating
the turn-off to Nai Ton.
Mai
Khao Beach
Phuket's northwest coast kicks off with the island's longest
and least-visited beach, the twelve-kilometres Hat Mai Khao,
which starts a couple of kilometres north of the airport
and 34 km. northwest of Phuket town, and remains almost
completely unsullied by any touristic enticements, with
to date just a couple of discreet budget accommodations
hidden behind a sand-bank at the back of the shore. The
water is fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy
season brings big waves and strong currents that are dangerous.
This lonely beach is another area where sea turtles come
to lay eggs. It is also home to what the Thais call a sea
cicada, which is a form of marine life.
Sai
Kaew Beach
This wonderful trip of clean sand is just the north portion
of Mai Khao Beach and has much the same character.The visitors
should be wary of swimming here during the monsoon season.
Located west of the bridges spanning the channel between
Phuket and Phang-nga provinces.
Mangrove
Forest
The mangroves-saltwater swamps with unique eco-systems much
prized by scientists searching for clues about adaptation
and evolution-cover about 800 rai. Anyone with an interest
in horticulture will be interested in the many unusual perennial
plants found here: mountain ebony (kong kang bai lek), red
cycas (prong daeng), black myrsina (samae dam), the Lady's
Nails quisqualis (leb mue nang), and various creepers and
climbers are among the more significant. There are also
many mongrove-dwelling animals with unique evolutionary
characteristics. A nature trail has been cleared for the
convenience of visitors with signs indicating and explaining
the various species.
Thalang
National Museum
The ancient artifacts museum from Phuket 's long history
are on display; the oldest were found on the west coast.
In addition there are exhibits detailing the famous Battle
of Thalang involving the Two Heroines, daily life in Phuket,
and the Sea Gypsy culture.
Nakha
Island
This small, quiet island with fine sandy beaches lie just
off Phuket's northeast shore. Clearly water for swimming.
Koh Nakha noi is one item which is very interesting for
one who need private relaxing, not found in many other places
is its pearl farm. Boats can be hired from Ao Po Pier, off
Pa Khlok Rd., for travel to Koh Nakha Noi, and package trips
are available at tour agencies, generally including lunch
and a visit to the pearl farm.
Pra
Nahng Sahng Temple
The sound of this historic temple is where the Battle of
Thalang took place in 1785. Inside are three extremely old
statues wrought in tin of the Buddha; they are the largest
in the world and date from a time when tin was regarded
as a semi-precious metal. Another notable feature from which
derives their name "The Three Kings" in formal
language. Located on Thep Krasatri Rd., in Thalang Town
at the tracffic light.
Phra
Tong Temple
This temple enshrines a golden Buddha image that sprang
up from beneath the earth long ago. The story is of a young
boy who tied his buffalo to what he thought was a post;
it was in an area at that time given over to the raising
of animals. After doing so, he fell down in agony and died.
The father of the boy dreamed that the reason his son had
died was for the sin of tying a filthy buffalo to a sacred
object, that what the boy thought was a post was in reality
the golden peak of the Buddha's conical cap. He told his
neighbors the dream and they all went out to dig up the
statue but had no success.
Later, at the time of Thao Thep Kasatri's heroic defense
against the Burmese in 1785, the invaders tried to succeed
where the villagers had failed; their intention was to take
the Buddha image back to Burma. Sacred objects and slaves
were then the most sought after spoils for armies. The Burmese,
however, were unable to retrieve the golden Buddha despite
several attempts; they were finally driven off by a swarm
of angry hornets.
After this the villagers decided to protect their miraculous
statue by covering the part that stuck up from the ground
with a plaster cast of Buddha's head and shoulders' which
is the way it is today. Located north of the traffic light
on the outskirts of Thalang Town. A large sign shows the
entrance.
Khao
Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension
Center
The Park covered 22.28 square kilometers of virgin forest
which also actively conserves a number of wild animals;
they would otherwise be extinct in fast-growing Phuket.
It is a center for study of the environment. Forest vegetation
is spectacular :;giant trees supported by huge buttresses
by thick with creppers climbers of every description.
One species of palm found, the Governor's Palm or White
Back Palm (palm lang khao in Thai) is especially rare. Langurs,
barking deer, mouse deer, deer, bear, wild boar, monkeys,
gibbons, and many species of birds inhabit the forest. Khao
Phra Thaeo serves also as one of Phuket's most important
water sources.
There are two waterfalls of note:
Ton
Sai
A small falls over which pours a great volume of water during
the rainy season. The trees, watercourses, and pools nearby
provide one of Phuket's loveliest scenes. The park headquarter
and a small restaurant with an excellent view are also at
Ton Sai. Located near Thalang Town, 22 kms. from Phuket
Town.
Bang
Pae
Generally known now as the site of the Gibbon Fund, a project
to return domestic gibbons to the forest, Bang Pae is a
small waterfall with a shady forest and thick foliage surrounding.
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