Bob Travel

Of the Thai Islands, the largest and one of the most incredible is Phuket.  This tropical paradise is to the south and has sandy white beaches and water of the most perfect temperatures.  This is one of the favorite locations of scuba divers, snorkelers, and wind surfers world wide.  There are many lovely resorts and five star hotels.  Phuket is known for some of the most delicious recipes, many of which include seafood.  Some consider this the best place to go for seafood in all of Thailand.   And many of the resorts, hotels and restaurants are designed with the purpose of creating small get-a-ways amidst the hustle of the busy city.

The definition of the Malaysian word, Bukit is hill.  This is the word the name Phuket is derived from.  As hills are abundant on the island’s interior.  There are vast rubber tree plantations and a few mining communities dotting the island.  As well as many activities for tourists to enjoy, such as hiking some of those hills or taking jungle safaris.  And of course there are the beaches, for just as the seafood is considered the best of the country, so are the beaches of Phuket.

For tourists and visitors there are many options to choose from, be it the islands the beaches and the bays, or the museums that stand testament to the history of this incredible island.  One interesting stop that should not be missed is the Museum of Sea Shells.   This is close to Rawai Beach and is easily accessible.  Contained in the museum are more than two thousand different kinds of shells.  There is the Noble Volute,  the only left handed one ever found, there are giant clams, and fossils more than 380 million years of age.  The museum also owns the rarest of golden pearls in all the world.  The museum is the culmination of forty years of research and searching by the Patamakanthin family.   They have searched worldwide to bring the most unique and the most beautiful shells to their museum, some from Thailand, but others from around the world.  This island is all about the sea, and this museum should be visited at least once, if not many times over, on any one’s journey to this island of Thailand.

Thailand’s most famous island, Phuket, has been named the “Best Island in Asia” by TripAdvisor.com. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel online community. They recently released their list of the “10 Best Island Escapes” and Phuket finished at number 8 – the only Asian destination on the list.

Phuket already holds the distinction of the most popular island, with more visitors flocking to its incredible beaches and tropical forests than anywhere else in Asia. Located about 860 kilometers south of Bangkok, Phuket is actually a collection of forty individual islands and is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

The beaches are the main draw for this amazing region that was once the home of rubber and tin plantations and an important trade port for China with India.  The island has beautiful white sands, limestone cliffs, and tranquil waters on the Andaman Sea.  The waters around Phuket are popular with divers from all over the world and other water recreation such as parasailing and boating are common.  There are many luxury hotels on Phuket, as the rich and famous are drawn to this island paradise which is also home to some of the hottest nightclubs in Asia.

The island is home to a number of nature and animal preserves. Sirinat National Park and Khao Phra Thaeo National Park protect the natural beauty and wonder of the island while giving visitors the opportunity to see those wonders up close.  The protected areas also include several marine parks which extend out into the ocean to preserve the marine life such as coral, jellyfish, and other species.

The complete top 10 Island Escapes according to TripAdvisor:

1. Maui, Hawaii, United States
2. St. Lucia, Caribbean, North America
3. Santorini, Cyclades, Greece
4. Puerto Rico, Caribbean, North America
5. Jamaica, Caribbean, North America
6. Bora Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia
7. Bahamas, Caribbean, North America
8. Phuket, Thailand, Asia
9. Turks and Caicos, Caribbean, North America
10. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Caribbean