Page 85 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

The South ❮❮ 83

EXPLORING PHUKET’S
THE GREAT PHUKET CLEAN-UP SOUTHWEST COAST
A crackdown on corruption was one of Patong Phuket
the reasons the Thai military gave for Town
seizing power in May 2014. Their first 4233
major target was the island of Phuket.
Illegal beachfront buildings were bull- Karon Beach
dozed, taxi licenses enforced, jet-ski
rentals curtailed, and the clutter of Kata Beach
beach furniture removed. The reaction 4233
from visitors has been very favorable. Karon Viewpoint
Naiharn Beach Naiharn Lake
Yanui Beach
feel like it’s got a pulse, but it isn’t Phromthep Cape
overbearing. With a wide selection of MORNING
shop ping, both on the beach and off,
it’s easy to see why Kata’s popularity After hiring a car, start your
endures (see pp28–9). journey in Patong (see p81),
the tourist center of the island.
Follow the road signs for Highway
4233 towards Karon, Kata, and
Phromthep Cape. This coastal
road takes you to the island’s
southern tip. Make your first stop
at Karon Beach, one of Phuket’s
largest tourist beaches. Buy a
coconut from a beach vendor
and enjoy the fresh, sweet water
inside. Continuing south on the
road, you will pass the shop-lined
streets of Kata. Stop if something
catches your eye. After Kata Noi,
the road starts to ascend a steep
hill that winds its way up to the
famous Karon Viewpoint, from
where you can enjoy breathtaking
views and take fabulous photo-
graphs, so bring your camera.
Continue to Naiharn, where a
deli cious sea side lunch awaits
Shrine in Wat Chalong you under the shade of umbrellas
and casua rina trees behind
Wat Chalong
0 Naiharn Beach (see p81).
The island’s most famous
Buddhist temple is located about AFTERNOON
4 miles (6 km) south of Phuket Town. After a relaxed lunch, follow the
Wat Chalong fea tures a number of road signs to Phromthep Cape.
brilliantly colored build ings, including You’ll drive around Naiharn Lake,
a glittering pagoda that was added and then up and down a hilly, tree-
to the complex in 2002. The temple lined road. At the bottom of the
has long been important as, during hill is Yanui Beach, a charming
place to swim, snorkel, and relax
an uprising of migrant tin workers in under the trees. The road then
1876, the local Siamese fled here for continues to Phromthep Cape,
protec tion, where two monks offered with its magnificent views over
them shelter and helped resolve the the Andaman Sea. Just be sure to
dis pute peace fully. Today, many Thais reverse course and reach Patong
visit the statues of Luang Pho Chaem before it gets too dark. The
and Luang Pho Chuang in the journey takes about 45 minutes,
temple’s ser mon hall to seek and you don’t want to be on these
roads at night.
their blessings (see pp16–17).
See map on p80

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