Phuket Island Sailing and Diving Natural Heritage Sea ~ Asia Tour and Tourism

Phuket once again hosted Phuket Race Week with Image Asia as the driving force behind the event, now in its second year. After some debate and with careful consideration, Grenville Fordham and Andy Dowden of Image Asia made the decision to introduce the two divisions and two starts for the multihulls. The first day had bustling activity with an enthusiastic bunch of yachts and multihulls running the start, setting up time runs and testing the angles and breeze. The 100-year-old schooner Seraph served as committee/start boat, standing by in anticipation of the starter’s gun with divisions flags fluttering in the building morning breeze. Swarming multihulls were soon off on a starboard tack start heading for the first island rounding. Sailing in comfortable light to medium conditions both divisions headed off for an around the islands race with plenty of spinnaker gybes as the order of the day.

Thailand's only island province, Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all walks of life. In addition, accommodations ranging from world-class resorts to tropical-style bungalows have warmly catered to the different needs of travelers. For seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just Phuket's famous lobster. Altogether, these characteristics have made Phuket a truly unique destination.

For a bird-eye view of Phuket, climb up the beautiful Khao Rang (Phuket Hill), northwest of the town centre. It's at its best during the week. Feel a long way from the prefabricated hubbub of Patong. If you fancy a glimpse of the Phuket behind the tourist traps, go-go bars and beaches, this isn't a bad place to start. Phuket's main day market (Ranong Rd.) is worth a wander and is the sport to invest in the requisite Thai and Malay sarongs, as well as baggy Shan fishermen's pants. A handful of Chinese temples inject some added colour into the area. Most are standard issue, but the Shrine of the Serene Light (Saan Jao Sang Tham), tucked away at the end of a 50m alley near the Bangkok Bank of Commerce on Phang-Nga Rd., is a cut above the rest. Here, you will find plumes of incense smoke, dazzling decor and peaceful ambience.

The shrine, which has been restored, is said to be nearly 200 years old and the sense of history is tangible.
Much more popular are trips to islands lying to the south and east of Phuket about 2 hours away by motor boat, including Koh Racha, Shark Point and Koh Dok Mai, Koh Phi Phi where you can see white-tip sharks, stingrays and moray eels besides colorful reef fishes.

Phuket Beach Most Favourite Thailan Tourism