Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

The South ❮❮ 81

Phuket Vegetarian
1
Festival
Dating back to the 1820s, the Phuket
Vegetarian Festival originated in Kathu
after members of a Chinese opera
contracted a fatal disease and sought
ways to purify them selves and please
the gods. For most visitors, the high-
light of this entertaining nine-day
event are the bizarre acts of piercing
and self-mortification practiced by
partici pants, who plunge spears
through their cheeks, walk across
burning-hot coals, and perform
other gruesome displays of self-
sacrifice (see p13).
Phuket Town
2
The capital of Phuket province, Tranquil Patong Beach
Phuket Town offers every thing from
Phuket world-class beaches and scenery to from pulsating dance clubs to
Fantasea
Kamala 100-year-old Straits Settle ments cabaret shows and open-air bars,
mansions and shop houses, tradi- along with the adult venues ablaze
Kok Yang tional open-air markets and shops, in neon lights (see pp18–19).
as well as the vividly hued Chinese
Naiharn Beach
4233
Na Kha Le shrines built during the tin boom of 4
the late 19th and early 20th cen- A picturesque bay on Phuket’s
Cape Yom
Ding turies. Walking tours are the best far south western coast, Naiharn (see
Khok way to explore (see pp12–15). pp26–7) remains one of the island’s
Makham Thalat Yai better-kept secrets. With just one
Tung Rasada
Toong beachfront resort, the landscape
Patong Beach
Bang Wad doesn’t feel at all encroached upon.
Dam See Phuket Town
Radar Hill map, below Tall screw pines populate the area
1,735ft Laem behind the beach, provi ding a buffer
Chalong
Chan
Cape 4233 Tin Khao Laem Tukkae between the nearby Buddhist mon-
Mai Ngang astery and Naiharn Lake. Charming
Ao Ron Nui Bo Raea Phuket
Khao Krabok 4021 Bay Naiharn Town is a short motorbike
1,467ft
A ndaman Wat Chalong Suan 4023 or car ride from the beach, but is
S ea Cape well worth a visit for its coffee shops
Nam Bo
Karon and art studios.
Beach Khok Sai
Karon Ao Makham
Chalong Ko Taphao Muay Thai
Big Buddha Bay Yai 5
Kata Beach Panwa Buri Historic street in Phuket Town Two venues in Patong host
Bang Khothi regular bouts in which south Thai
Khao Patong Beach
Phlu Ruan Cape 3 fighters pummel one another with
Kata Noi Bay 1,043ft Khok San Khao Khat Cape Panwa This area is more relaxed these elbows, shins, knees, and fists.
Sai 4024 Phuket Town days, following the government clean- Patong Boxing Stadium and Bangla
Cape Mum Nai 4233 Yuan up campaign (see p83). There are Boxing Stadium (see p18) witness
SA TUN YAOWARAT P HU KE T
Cape Mum Nok fewer hawkers, and motorized water- plenty of vicious knock outs. The
Naiharn DIBUK LUANG PHO craft are only allowed in some areas, music accompanying the fights
Naiharn Beach Lake Rawai KRABI WAT CHALONG but there is a scarcity of sunbeds. The sounds like something composed in
THALANG
island’s best dining can be found along a madhouse – a haunting windpipe,
PHANG NGA
RANONG
Phromthep Cape RASADA PHANG NGA the water front, with top restau rants tribal drums, and tiny finger cymbals.
Ko Bon com manding impressive views. The Foreign fighters come to train at the
0 km 2 Ko Kaew BANGKO K TAKUA PA PHU K E T MONTRI
Yai legen d ary nightlife in Patong needs Muay Thai gyms here, and they often
0 miles 2 0 meters 400 little introduction. It runs the gamut test their mettle in the rings.
CHAN
CHAROEN
0 yards 400 TALING CHANA-
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