Phuket Island Thailand - One of the World's Great Island Holidays

Many men and women see Phuket for the beaches and cause it is one of these 'must-see' tropical islands. For people who can pry themselves away from the normal tourist trappings and head throughout the island, then they could capture a glimpse of what the island offered prior to the increase of the tourism market.

In the island's main crossroads at Ban Tha Rua stand bronze statues of Khunying Jan and her sister Mook, observing their epic and powerful resistance to the Burmese invasion at 1785. In Phuket City, the ornate Chinese wats of Jui Tai and Put Jaw are testament to the island's economic history. Tin was once the primary source of wealth for its island, and by the 16th century onwards, Hakka Chinese entrepreneurs and their own workforces came to the island to exploit the mines.

When the price of Tin dropped, the island changed its primary production to pineapple and rubber plantations and after that, in the mid 1970's, turned it's attention to optimizing the possibilities provided through an inexhaustible flow of tourists.

Between the headlands, especially on Phuket's west coast, are the sandy beaches fringing the Andaman Sea against a background of the little explored inside of heavily forested mountains. Chief among the beaches is Patong, the forever busy repository of most of Phuket's hustle and bustle. This is the place where the Hawkers hawk, touts tout as well as the kathoey ladyboys bamboozle beer-soaked tourists in the pubs of Soi Bangla.

From the 2004 tsunami Patong's many resort improvements suffered badly, though Hat Kamala slightly to the north bore the complete brunt.

If James Bond island by Speedboat of life in Patong is taking it's toll, if the prospect of another karaoke night appears just too demanding, there are a myriad of choices to chose from. After all, Phuket is a much large island, almost the size of Singapore in actuality, so your options are hardly restricted.

To locate the quieter shores it's advised that you head into the northern end of this island, by which Phuket's biggest beach, Hat Mai Khao, stays relatively unspoiled and not as crowded. Just round the corner of the islands southern suggestion is Rawai Beach, which (by virtue of its own east shore location) provides some fantastic sunset views.

Away from the water along with the ribbon developments visitors will find the insides national parks and reserves, together with the rubber and pineapple plantations. If the mind is soothed by these peaceful environments, the body is able to also appreciate it's own vacation during the nine-day vegetarian festival that drops each October, at the end of the cool season in Phuket - a legitimate detox for body, mind and spirit.

Amongst the myriad of delights on Phuket is the fabulous local cuisine. Don't be afraid to be adventurous and seek out the eating-houses where locals are dining on bulk. This is a sure indication that the food is good and inexpensive. The experience alone is enough to meet you but also the quality of the foods will draw you back again and again.