Mar 三月


Boutique Clique

story Tina Jane		 Beach Bum


Phuket Aquarium
Patong Markets

dynasty package

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The country’s largest island is home to numerous idyllic beaches that offer something for everyone.

Whether you are looking to people watch among the bathing beauties, get above it all on a paragliding trip across the bay, view the underwater world snorkeling crystal clear waters or just hang out in a seafront café, Phuket has the perfect beach for you.

Situated in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand’s west coast, the island’s terrain is incredibly varied, with long broad sandy beaches, rocky headlands, limestone cliffs, forested hills, small estuaries, lagoons and tropical vegetation of all kinds. The island is mostly mountainous with a range in the west of the island that runs, virtually, from the north to the south. The western coast has most of the good beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more rough and rocky, punctuated with mangrove swamps and muddy flats. The southern most tip of the island, Cape Phromthep, is legendary for its spectacular multi-hued sunsets.

The beaches on the west coast are as diverse as they are plentiful, but basically if you’re looking for peace and tranquility, stick to the beaches in the north – if you’re looking for action and adventure then head to the beaches in the south.

China Airlines flies to Phuket six times a week and Dynasty Packages are available. For details please contact your travel agent or Dynasty Package at dp.china-airlines.com

For the full feature, please refer to Dynasty June 2008.

Phuket Aquarium

Phuket’s most fascinating attractions lie in the sea and Phuket Aquarium is a great place to get to know the beautiful marine life that you encounter under water. Take a stroll through the 10-meter long underwater glass tunnel when fish swim around you and get up-close with other sea creatures in the touch tank. Visitors will get a chance to see butterfly fish, red snappers, banner fish, Napoleon wrasse, Amazon cobia and electric eel as well as rare corals and marine plants. Tanks display various habitats such as the sandy beach, rocky shore, coral reef and mangroves and information are available in English. The aquarium also conducts research on tropical reef ecosystems, commercial fisheries and breeds endangered leatherback turtles, which return to Phuket from November to February to lay eggs.

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Patong Markets

There is more to do than getting wet on Patong Beach, as it transforms into a large-scale night market in the evening. Goods from handicrafts, silk, sarongs and beachwear to leather accessories, CDs and gadgets are available and bargaining is part of the fun. Another night market sets up two to three times a week outside Paradise Complex selling funky jeans, shoes, clothes and accessories as well as Thai snacks. For more handicraft items such as homeware and accessories, head to another market down the road behind Holiday Inn. Here you can find One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) items produced by village craftsmen, as well as skillful tailors who can copy from sample clothes or photographs.