THIS IS PHUKET

Waking up with Phuket is glorious. Especially if you head to an out-of-the-way beach early enough to see the fishing boats return home. When the sun is just high enough to dance on the glassy Andaman Sea.It's a scene that repeats itself up and down both coasts of this rather large tourist magnet. But it's the 17 west-coast beaches that lure 5.3 million tourists here annually.thailand accommodation phuket,hotel in phuket thailand

 From the earthy, rocky coves on the south coast, to that wide web of lust that is pulsing Patong, to the gorgeous yet discreet north, Phuket's coastline contorts and twists into various shapes and sizes, giving each stretch of sand its own rhythm. But they all have one thing in common: their undeniable, soul-soothing beauty.

Phuket's rocky eastern shore is draped in thick mangroves and kissed by Ao Phang-Nga. With its luscious limestone islands guarding hidden lagoons fed by sea caves, and a network of underwater coral gardens where fluores-cent schools of fish converge, this is Phuket's favourite aquatic playground.thailand accommodation phuket,hotel in phuket thailand

The cultural heart is in Old Phuket, the stomping ground of the Baba people and a Sino-Portuguese treasure trove of mansions and shop houses, creaky teak shrines and local markets that unfurl alongside funky art galleries, hip restaurants, cafes and chic fashion boutiques. Elsewhere you can make offerings in Phuket's Buddhist temples and watch a white-robed flock stream into mosaic-domed mosques at sunset.

There's a lot to love about Phuket's appetite. With Thai curries and salands, a stunning selection of fresh seafood, upscale fusion kitchens and local roti and chicken stands, you have some eating to do. When the sun drops Phuket's wild side emerges. Think seedy go-go bars, stylish lounges, live rock and roll and slick nightclubs hosting international DJs.

And if you stay up all night, you may find your way back to that quiet beach. Where you can watch the sunrise until it's high enough to dance once more.

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