Phuket
has alot of activities to offer, anything from
inexpensive do-it-yourself trips, to guided tours.
Some of the things you that you don't need to
reach to deep into you pockets to do when you
are boored or need a break from the beaches is
for example a trip to one of the waterfalls, Phuket
has 3 beautifull waterfalls each located at some
distand from eachother, In the Kathu District
you have Kathu Waterfall, on the way here you
will also find the Cable Water-skiing and Phuket
Go Karting, if you are comming from patong.
The
waterfall is at is full effect in the more rainy
and green season, and might give you some exercise
walking upp all to the top. The Tone Sai Waterfall,
just near Talang Town in the Thalang District,
is also a nice jungle trekking to get all the
way up. The last Bang Pae Waterfall, is maybe
the most beautifull one of them all, also located
in the Thalang District. On the way up to the
fall you can also experience The Gibbon Rehabilitation
Project.
Sunday
Beach Soccer, If you're looking for a good-natured
game of beach football then Suring Beach is the
place to go. Leave your car/bike at the beach
car park then walk south until you get to Diver's
Bar. Teams are usually made up at around 3pm.
Phuket Aquarium, want to see local fish without
getting wet? Then head over to Phuket Aquarium
at Cape Panwa on the island's southeast coast.
Check out more than 100 species of fish for just
20 Bath. Open daily from 08.30 to 16.00.
Cable
Water-skiing, this is a relatively new sport and
requires a bit of nerve. Not unlike water-skiing,
participants are coached to perform spectacular
aquatic maneuvers at a high rate of knots. It's
so much fun that many come back for more. Open
09:00 to 21:00, follow the Kathu Waterfall road.
Another option is to check out Wake Up Villa,
where the same sport is practiced in a more private
and chic enviorment.
Bungy
Jumping, the Jungle Bungy Jump, formally Tarzan's,
in Kathu. is a real test of guts. Fight the internal
struggle that every jumper experiences when standing
54 meters above the ground. Part of you screams:
'No, idiot! Don't Jump!' Another part yells back:
'I must do this!' It's well worth the rush in
the end and most people manage to throw themseles
off, only to claim: 'Who me? I wasn't scared at
all.' Look for the crane peeking out over the
palm tops in Kathu. Another new Bungy Jump Facility
has just been introduced in Patong, and is located
just next to the new bowling arena, at the end
of nanai road to the north, lots of advertising
in this area for you to find it.
The
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, the next time you
see a gibbon, chained to a bar, providing entertainment
to customers, stop to consider this; Oftentimes,
to take a baby gibbon out of the wild, its mother
is shot out of a tree and the baby will not necessarily
survive the fall. For every gibbon you see, 10
will die as a result. Cruel? You bet. In the wild,
gibbons are asleep by the time beer bars open
and certainly don't appreciate beeing dressed
and drugged up just to pose for pictures. That's
why the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is so vital
to the will beeing of this ape. On the East side
of the Khao Phra Taew National Park (see map).
No charge, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Catch a Movie, a new english language cinema multiples
ha sjust opened in Phuket Town. The 'Paradise'
is situated above the U.F.O. clothing shop next
to Robinson's Department Store. A hint: dress
warmly as the cinema's air conditioning is reputed
to be arctic-like.
Bicycle Tours, go mountain biking. All equipment,
back up van plus insurance provided. Tropical
Trails, Tel 076-263 239. Or, Phuket Mountain Bike
Club, Tel 076-280 116
Go-Karting,
go pedal-to-the-metal on the eastern side of Patong
hill at Kathu. Lots of fun and not as dangerous
as some people imagine.
Elephant Trekking, the wild elephant population
of Phuket was wiped out last century but has been
replaced in recent years by an influx of pachyderms
brought here for the tourist trade. Since logging
was banned in Thailand (officially, at least)
about 10 years ago, hundreds of Thai elephants
have been out of work and the tourist boom has
been a blessing for this work-loving creature.
Riding an elephant is an experience not to be
missed.
These
lumbering monsters are incredibly agile for their
size and can negotiate slippery slopes that even
humans would falter and slip on: all this while
carrying three people on their backs! Taking an
elephant ride helps keep these peaceful animals
out of the cities, where destitute owners are
forced to take their beasts in search for food
and money. There are many elephant treks to choose
from in the hills above Kata, Patong, Chalong
and dotted around the island. Learn about Elephant
at Siam Safari. Tel: 076-280 116
Shopping
at Markets, both Phuket Town and Patong have their
own street markets selling all kinds of wares.
Travelling markets also set up at various locations
around the island on different days of the week.
It really is worthwhile pulling over to browse
through one, although it's wiser to park a little
ways up the road as things can be hectic the closer
you are to the market. Everything, from glassware
to fresh fish, to kid's clothes is on sale, although
Patong, naturally, aims at beachwear and fake
design aficionados. Phuket's night market is also
a great place to eat at one of the many noodle
stands surrounding the market area next to Robinson's.
Phuket Fantasea, hollywood glamour and eastern
mystique comes to Phuket nightly at this magical
extravaganza, The biggest buffet in Asia.
Mini Golf, dino park, between Karon and Kata,
is a great venue for families. The min golf course
is complete with realistic-looking dinosaurs and
a 'live' volcano spewing steam. There's also a
bar and a restaurant serving some of the best
hamburgers around.
Golfing,
there are four international standard courses
on Phuket. Five, counting Thai Muang, just a short
trip off the island. All courses have their own
special features and excellent standards of (female)
caddying. Blue Canyon, Banyan Tree, Phuket Country
Club, & Loch Palm.
