The many faces of Phuket

It's been called the 'Pearl of the Andaman Sea'. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, and together with a collection of a number of other islands, forms the province of Phuket. It is a very popular tourist destination. Known for its scenic beauty, the beaches of Phuket promises a reinvigorating vacation. Be it friends hunting for an exciting holiday or couples looking for a romantic honeymoon or families seeking a relaxing getaway, Phuket does not let its visitors down. 



But it is not just the beaches that Phuket boasts. There is a range of places to visit and experiences to cherish, from exploring aquatic creatures to seeking spiritual solace.



So set yourself free and let your mind boggle!    

Phuket Aquarium: What the fish!

Bold and the Beautiful; Young and the Restless; Beauty and the Beast…No we are not talking about soap operas and fairy tales here! But these titles of fiction have indeed popped up in my head when I visited Phuket Aquarium. Being the abode for myriad aquatic creatures, the public aquarium is a haven for fish of many kinds, shapes, sizes, forms, colours and temperaments.

Located at the southern tip of Cape Panwa on Phuket Island, the place is surrounded by enchanting bays and islands. Established in 1983, it is a major tourist destination for both locals and foreigners, attracting about 300,000 visitors a year.  

Hundreds of thousands get awed by creatures beautiful and grisly and timid and intimidating. 

A group of messmate pipefish, each just a few centimetres long, hang about in mid-water, 'standing' vertically upright. Meet the electric eel, which can produce a charge of 600 volts. Get up-close and personal with seahorses, tiny majestic creatures that loiter about. 

My favourite, however, were the giant groupers. Having lived in an aquarium for over two decades, the giant groupers have indeed become, well, giants. The giant grouper is the 'Hummer' among fishes, if you will! Beefy and burly, it is in fact the largest coral reef fish in the world. 

A walk through the Tunnel Tank should be an exciting experience. With water all around and above you, it's like you are walking right through the middle of the ocean whilst beautiful aquatic animals roam all around you.    

The public aquarium can be an eye-opener and an amazing learning opportunity for the little ones in your family. Regardless of age, for anyone, it is a window to the large and diverse world that lies underwater, and a chance to observe its impressive 'citizens' closely.         

So, if you are planning a trip to Phuket, don't forget to include its public aquarium in your itinerary.    

 

Phuket FantaSea: Myth. Mystery. Magic 

Within the walls of FantaSea lies the Palace of the Elephants. It is, in fact, the heart of FantaSea, and surrounding it is a wide plethora of amusements and delicacies and entertainment. A realm.

The realm known as Phuket FantaSea is a massive and ambitious cultural theme park. Boasting theatrical performances, carnivals, games, handicraft demonstrations, elephant rides, shopping village and much more, the air in FantaSea is always thick with excitement and festivity. The pomp. The extravagance. The fervour. And the glittering lights and magnificent buildings and lavish costumes and cheers and laughter.

The Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant, to illustrate, is astonishingly gigantic. The 4000-seat eatery - which offers Thai and a variety of other cuisines - borrows its theme from the legendary Himmaphan Forest. Beautiful and gracious Kinnarees, half-bird and half-woman, serve the guests. Statues of these mythical creatures watch over the diners, who are surrounded by hand-painting wall murals of Thai classical art. Meanwhile, the carpet depicts the Anohdhard Pool where Kinnarees like to bath in. 'The World's Grandest Buffet', FantaSea has quite rightfully titled it.

Perhaps even grander than the Golden Kinnaree is the majestic building that is the Palace of the Elephants. It is, after all, the heart of Phuket FantaSea.

They say that to be Thai is to be free. To understand the essence of being Thai, the theatre, called the Palace of the Elephants - where cultural stage show, Fantasy of a Kingdom, is performed - is a must-visit.  

It is a story of the legend of the blessed land of Kamala and its young prince, the Kamala Boy. 

It is a larger-than-life theatrical production, with approximately 400 people, 3 tigers, 40 goats, 40 chicken, over 400 pigeons and 44 elephants! In fact, Fantasy of a Kingdom features the highest number of elephants ever in an indoor theatre. 

Fantasy of a Kingdom is not just a circus, it's not just a magic show, it's not merely a theatre drama and it's not simply an acrobatic performance - it is all of these and much, much more, bringing together a diverse array of show elements into one great show. 

"Graciousness none can compare; Heavenly figures, afloat in the air with ecstatic motions, our Angels rejoice; Freedom of will, freedom of choice."

Running for 70 minutes, Fantasy of a Kingdom spellbinds the audience, and having their rapt attention, gives them a fascinating glimpse of the Thai way of life, its cultures, values and heritage. 

The show is inspiringly beautiful. 

And finally, the friendly staff of FantaSea is not weary of warmly bidding the guests farewell, completing the experience. 

If one has been to Phuket and did not pay a visit to this cultural theme park, the trip, it may be argued, has not been completed. It is an experience not to be missed. 

Phuket FantaSea will leave one with memories that will last an entire lifetime.

Photo: Phuket FantaSea 

Spiritual Phuket: At the Chalong Temple 

There are about 29 'wats' (Buddhist temples) in Phuket, and among them, Wat Chalong is the most celebrated. As one of the largest, most ornate and most significant temples there are in the island, Wat Chalong is a major tourist spot and a highly revered place of worship. 

Towering over the entire compound is a 60-metre tall 'chedi' or 'stupa' hosting a fragment of a bone of Lord Buddha. And hence, it goes without saying how significant this Buddhist edifice is. 

The exterior of this building - with intricate craftsmanship and embellishment - is by itself an invitation to the visitors, never failing to capture the attention of people. And when you walk through its doors, your expectation will be met, with the numerous beautiful statues of the Buddha and the many wall-paintings that depict his life. 

While enjoying the artworks, climb through the stairway to reach to the top; from there you can enjoy breath-taking views of the temple's premises.

Wat Chalong is an old temple with a rich history. People come here and pay respects to its monks. Luang Pho Cham and Luang Pho Chuang are 2 of them, who gave hope and direction to the people of Chalong Sub-district during turmoil in 1876; and with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured.

The spirits of the holy still loom around, and you can relish in the vibe of peacefulness and calmness of the temple, if only you seek to; a great place for contemplation. 

But, quite often, you might get startled, though, especially if you are not aware about the practice of using firecrackers. The temple compound hosts large brick oven-like houses where firecrackers are blown, creating a series of loud ear-shattering explosions. 

The picturesque Chalong Temple, soaked with history, surrounded by myths and legends and having been a listener to countless prayers, gives the visitors a glimpse of the spiritual face of Phuket. 

Photo: Collected