Phuket, which has managed to get its name written among the most famous holiday destinations in the world, is an important tourism city for Thailand.. Phuket is a city that deserves the definition of an exotic holiday with its turquoise blue sea, powder-coloured beaches and warm weather, resorts lined with luxury 5-star hotels, small cafes and restaurants, art galleries, and elephants and monkeys.
Phuket. Old Town is one of the most prominent cultural diversity points of Phuket Island.. You can see the traces of very beautiful and elegant Sino-Portuguese mixed architecture in this old city area of the island, which was ruled under Portugal for 130 years.
Phuket Old Town, once a small mining town, is a very rich city in history.. The town’s main center is Thalang Street, which runs between historic buildings.. There are many hotels, pensions, cafes, shops, bars and art galleries in this area.
16. In the 19th century, Europeans began to be interested in Phuket’s Tin trade.. With the Burmese invasion of 1809, the ancient settlers of the town were forced to emigrate, the town was badly damaged in this occupation.. From the 1820s, the Chinese brought by the British were the head of Phuket’s tin trade.
Workers and traders flocked to the city, which grew over time.. The Thalang Street, where I stayed, has turned into a center like the ‘red light distric’ in Amsterdam, where they can find accommodation, entertainment venues and wine, gambling, women and entertainment for these merchants.
1900 In the early ‘s, with the funds of the European Australian mining company, new roads, public buildings and canals were built in the city, and the city became safer and more livable, so many merchants started to settle in Phuket with their families.. The town, which became more prosperous, was equipped with schools and temples.
As the tins that were melted and prepared for export were marketed to the outside world from the nearest big port, Penang, Phuket started to turn its face to Bangkok with the expansion of communication channels.. When direct flights between Europe and Bangkok opened in the early 1970s, Phuket became a tourist destination.. Now former tin mines converted into luxury resorts. Currently, the economic income of this old city is largely provided by the tourism industry.
While still some artisans still serve as suppliers of batik textile products, wholesalers, tin dealers, construction products and machinery on Thalang Street, right next to It is possible to see antique shops, cafes and restaurants of European standards.
It is architecturally very similar to Penang Island, where I was 20 days ago.. Penang’s capital, Georgetown, is newer, preserved and its old buildings are more well-maintained, while Phuket’s old buildings are almost in ruins.
Phuket Municipality has undertaken many different projects to beautify the city and they are said to be very successful. While the beaches, entertainment venues and bars on the west coast of the island serve those who love nightlife and the sea, they offer a quieter and more historical experience with this old town on the east.. It’s also incomparably cheaper than Patong.
There are many alternative activities in this city, which resembles a paradise with its natural beauties preserved.. Seeing ancient settlements and Chinese architecture in Old Phuket Town, participating in an elephant safari, swimming at Maya Beach in Phi Phi Island are must-do.
Famous with the movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo Di Caprio. Maya Beach on Phi Phi Island, pretty crowded. Those who dare to put up with the crowds on the beaches where hundreds of boats dock should definitely see this beach.. Phi Phi Island is also known for its elephant farms.. Getting up close with elephants and doing a jungle safari on elephants is a unique experience.
Day 538: Thailand:27, Phuket, 23 January 2012
