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R. Balaji

Barely two months after being badly hit by the tsunami, Phuket in Thailand looks as good as new.

Wat Chalong temple at Phuket

Phuket in Thailand is known for its beaches, surrounding islands, mid-sea rock formations and most of all, its nightlife. It offers tourists an opportunity to spend a pleasant week taking in the sun and sand, as also the varied fare that its nightlife has on offer.

Whether sightseeing, shopping, cruising, strolling along one of its many beaches, taking in the popular Simon Cabaret performed entirely by transvestites, or attending the Phuket Fantasea, a variety programme, it is hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, the island was reeling under the impact of the tsunami waves on December 26, 2004.

Coming at the peak of the tourist season, the huge waves, driven by an earthquake with its epicentre a few hundred kilometres away, not only washed away seaside restaurants and shops, but also drove away tourists by the planeloads. The loss of tourists was a severe blow for the town, which depends on tourism for livelihood.

A quick recovery

However, the local administration, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the tourism companies swung into action and, within weeks, had the place as good as new. To drive home this point, journalists, travel writers and tourism professionals from the world over were invited to Thailand. The Tourism Authority, Star Cruises and its collaborator, Sea Tours and Travels, have launched a campaign to promote Thailand's star attractions.

The recovery is complete, says the president of the Phuket Tourist Association, Pattanapong Aikwanichi, adding that more than 30,000 rooms of the total 35,000 are ready for occupation. Occupancy had dropped from nearly hundred per cent to less than 10 per cent immediately after the tsunami. But it is now increasing, he says.

To allay fears of disease outbreaks or infection, they had conducted daily sampling of food and water to demonstrate that there was no contamination. Similarly, hundreds of divers had extensively surveyed the waters along the coast and found that the corals and sea life were intact. Only some corals in shallow waters had been damaged, Aikwanichi says. With everything now in place it is up to tourists to include Thailand in their itinerary. So what can they look forward to?

Phuket attractions

The limestone tower at Bond Island.

For those looking for a sedate holiday, a daylong cruise of the smaller islands and limestone rock formations is an attractive option. The cruise includes a view of the surrounding islands with secluded beaches, sheer limestone walls carved into interesting shapes by the wind and waves, and a `green' cover.

The journey, about an hour or so on a speedboat, ends at Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay. Bond Island — the name has stuck since the early 1970s when the James Bond movie, The Man With The Golden Gun, was shot here.

Movie buffs can tread the path along which Roger Moore, as James Bond, duelled with the villain Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee, in a secluded cove. The entrance is guarded by a limestone tower that rises out of the water. Today, the narrow strip of beach is lined with shops selling seashells and other trinkets.

On the return journey, Panyee, a fishing village built on stilts in the middle of the sea, is where you could stop for a bite or more shopping. Built abutting a steep limestone rock, the only piece of land here serves as a burial ground.

The cruise can be taken at high speeds, on speedboats, or at a more sedate pace on traditional craft and bus boats.

On shore at Phuket, attractions are not wanting — the many beaches, Buddhist temples, shopping malls, food courts and restaurants to suit every budget, and the most popular attraction — the Pathong nightlife... the list is endless.

Among the beaches, Pathong is very popular; Rawaai, Kamala and Karon are some of the other beaches. Jet skis, para-sailing, sea canoes are available for hire at Pathong. Beach chairs can be rented for about 100 Bahts (37 Bahts = $1) a day.

Life shifts gear in the evening and most of the action is concentrated at Pathong, particularly Bangla Road. Dance bars — the touts outside flourish albums showing what is on offer inside, roadside pubs, seafood restaurants, and curio shops vie for attention. The choice is left to the tourist ... to dive in or just gawk. While shopping, tourists should drive a hard bargain to pick up mementoes at reasonable prices.

Wat Chalong, one of the larger temple complexes, attracts locals and tourists alike. A host of shopping malls — Tesco, Big C, Central Festival and Makro — offers the uniform fare of international brands and some local items. Getting around the island is easy. One can hire a Tuk-Tuk, a minivan. Most places can be covered from Pathong at a cost of about 400-500 Bahts. The more affluent can rent cars or a range of two-wheelers.

Pictures by the author

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