Why Phuket Has Become A Tourist Favorite
By: Gregory Smyth

For providing a bit of background to you, Phuket (pronounced Poo-ket) is both the largest island and the smallest province of Thailand. Those of you who have had a grip with the news about the tsunami last December are probably aware that the west coast of Phuket Island was among the places hit. A large percentage of tourists who got through the event evacuated immediately. Future bookings for the high season, which had barely started, also blew away overnight. Traveling south of Patong, the more beautiful tourist beaches quietly reveal themselves, namely Karon, Kata, Kata Noi, Naihan, Promthep Cape, and Rawai. Kata, the second most renowned tourist beach after Patong, was fortunate to be somewhat safeguarded from the tsunami waves by Pu Island. . Kata Beach is huge yet intimate, as it is U-shaped and nestled with care into a gorgeous backdrop of jungle-canopied hills. These features, coupled with its sparkling and clear turquoise water, make it a much more attractive beach than Patong for some of the tourists. There is also a diverse range of accommodation to opt from, and considerable shopping, restaurants, and bars without being too commercialized. And, if you desire to go north to Patong Beach for experiencing the high-energy nightlife there, it is a short 200 baht (USD $5) taxi ride away. Respectful onlookers are permitted into the undetached courtyard in front of the temple, as the Ma Song parade in from another ceremonial area. Their faces are punctured from one cheek to the other with skewering devices varying in size from small thin metal rods or knives up to very large objectsYou visit to Phuket, Thailand could fill you up with a myriad of thoughts and feelings so complex it will take some time to sort it all out. It is absolutely impossible to be bored on Phuket Island for any type of people; there is an almost an unending list of things to do. For those of who are weary of the daily work pressures and are simply yearning rest and relaxation, this is a great place to find it. Comfy lounge chairs covered by large, colorful sun umbrellas line the outer edge of Kata and other major tourist beaches; they are ideal for laying back and snoozing, or contemplating the mindboggling scenery and enjoying a long, cool drink. The chairs are owned by local vendors and you can rent one for only 100 baht for the whole day. You do not need to move around a lot of equipment to feel the beaches here; you just show up and enjoy. Massage facilities are also abundant in Phuket, so there is absolutely no excuse for being uneasy out here!Water activities comprise (of course) swimming, as well as surfing, parasailing, and jet skiing. With direct access to some of the most attractive dive sites in Thailand, such as the Similan Islands, Racha Yai and Racha Noi, Phuket Island is recognized as a favored base for a diving holiday. There are also lots of companies on-island offering PADI dive courses for every category from beginner to advanced. The outlying Phi Phi Islands and archipelagoes not only feature absolutely scintilating scenery, they also offer various options to snorkel and discover the abundant marine life. There are many full day and half day island hopper tours starting from Phuket Island.