Wednesday, March 8, 2023
A full moon over Phuket greeted us as the Island Princess anchored offshore at 7:00 A.M. in the Andaman Sea (northern Indian Ocean). From our balcony, Phuket looked like a true paradise. Tall rugged rainforest islets all around the bay were surrounded by crystal waters. We could see what looked like resorts or expensive homes on a high hill at the end of the main island. The weather was sunny and warm.
We knew that Phuket is famous for its beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, and tours of bat caves. However, none of what we read about or saw in photos or short travel documentaries prepared us for what we were to see on the main island.
Challenges Getting Ashore
Some kind of difficulties with Phuket’s 350 person shuttle craft left us waiting two and a half hours before we were finally transported ashore. We were told to meet in the main dining room at 7:45 for our excursion, but we waited in line an hour before we could even get into the dining room. Overall, 2,000 people went onshore, either through excursions or on their own. It was an amazing feet to get us all onshore and back safely.
When we finally boarded the ferry, which took a long time because so many of the World Cruise passengers have mobility issues, the craft struggled against the rough waves and breezes to get away from the ship. The bow of the ferry kept drifting toward the ship — we were sure there would be a crash, but the ferry’s Captain finally pulled the ferry backwards until it could break free from the strong currents and head to shore. Although the craft was beautiful with plenty of inside seats, we stood on the top deck and enjoyed the breezes and views during the 20 minute shuttle.
Our Tour Bus and Guide
Once on land, we had to walk quite a bit to get to our bus, passing by little open air shops selling clothing, hats and souvenirs. The walk to the parking area was nothing for us, but for those with walkers or canes, it was rough — especially when the bus returned to port and everyone was hot and exhausted.
The bus itself was very sleek, luxurious and comfortable. Although the tour guide was very sweet and perky, we did not enjoy having her as our guide. She started the trip talking at length about how to say hello and other phrases in Thai and how we should behave in Thailand, especially in the temples we were visiting, which was important to know. However, the rest of the trip, she talked about herself. She told us very little at all about what we were seeing, such as history, buildings, roads, the part of town we were in, schools, trees, flowers, and wildlife. Cliff asked about a grove of trees we saw, and she did answer that they were rubber trees, which is a major resource and product of Thailand. She couldn’t tell me anything about native birds when I asked.
A City of Open Air Stall Shops
On the way to Wat Chalong, Phuket’s most important and elaborate Buddhist temple, we saw all along every street we passed, what seemed to be hundreds of little open air shops. They were connected to each other, built from a variety of rough materials, such as corrugated metal, and were selling everything from fruit and prepared food, to clothing, art, and crafts.
Also interesting along the way were the power lines, because they were looped onto the poles in big coils, and there were so many of the wires crossing from pole to pole. Housing, stores, and businesses were packed densely, and scooters were everywhere. There was plenty of trash as well.
However, one section of road we passed through was newly asphalted, smooth and wide. Although it is a third world country, Thailand is working to modernize, as is evidenced by some upscale resorts, hotels, office buildings and malls. Almost one hundred percent of Thailand has electricity and 97% have access to clean drinking water (however, is is not recommended that visitors drink the tap water). We were told that Phuket is a favorite vacation spot for many Europeans, because of the large number of beaches, nightlife, culture, shopping, and the great exchange rate.
The Buddhist Temple
Our favorite site on the way to Wat Chalong was an enormous white marble Buddha high on a hill. It was truly spectacular. In fact, there were temples, small shrines and Buddha statues throughout all areas where we traveled in Phuket.
About 85% of the population is Theravada Buddhist, and 10% Muslim. The others include animists (According to the Cambridge Dictionary, animists are people who believe that all natural things, such as plants, animals, rocks, and thunder, have spirits and influence human events.), Christians, Confucians, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and Taoists.
Wat Chalong is in a large compound with several other beautiful temples. To enter the temples, you must cover your knees and shoulders, and take off your shoes and leave them outside. Cliff entered and climbed all the way up to the top to wave and holler at me. I walked around the outside, taking photos of the the various temples and listening to the unique calls of the rainforest birds. The grounds were beautiful, with many trees and flowering plants. There was so much to see, but we had only 45 minutes before boarding the bus again.
Beach Resort Area
Next, the bus traveled up a hill to a beach resort area. We were given 30 minutes off the bus to visit a restroom (toilet paper cannot be flushed), climb steps to an overlook where we could see the beach and an inlet with a rock outcrop, or visit the little stalls, which sold such items as T-shirts and other clothing, beach towels, and souvenirs. We chose to climb the hill and take photos of the bay. The trunk of an enormous tree at the top of the hill was encircled with ribbons and cloth banners.
There was a white gazebo for shade or rest, and on the other side of the hill, a sort of billboard with a photo of the king and queen. We saw the same photo posted wherever we traveled in Phuket, especially outside some buildings, the massive King Power shopping mall, and restaurants.
The Jewelry Mall
We boarded the bus, then traveled back through town to an area with some higher end hotels and restaurants. The bus stopped at a large white building that the guide called a “mall.” She said that the jewelry there is authentic. When we walked in, we were greeted by young women in beautiful silk uniforms. On the wall was a painting of the king and queen and elaborate golden art objects. Two beautiful Sri Lanka formal dresses were displayed; an elaborate bedroom was set up; and there was a loom and a fountain.
Then we entered an enormous room with more high end jewelry in this one place than we have ever seen anywhere. The display cases were in long rectangles sprawling across the room. Each rectangle was about 50 feet long. In a typical jewelry store, you might see one section dedicated to precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. In this jewelry mall, one entire rectangle was dedicated to pearls and pearl and diamond jewelry. Two rectangles were dedicated to jade. An entire row was rubies, another sapphires, another emeralds, and so forth. There was every possible precious and semi-precious stone you can imagine. If you even peeked or glanced sideways at something, there was a salesperson over your shoulder.
Like an IKEA store, you could not get out of the building without walking through the entire thing. There was a section of jewelry with man-made stones for smaller budgets toward the end, and a room to the side filled with gorgeous embroidered silk bedding. As we neared the end of the maze, there were crocodile wallets, belts and purses. Then displayed were various silk scarves and swaths of fine woven cloth, as well as purses made from the woven silk cloth.
The place was fabulous, but I didn’t have time to think about how much U.S. dollars 1,000 baht (about $29) or 300,000 baht ($8,556) might be, much less see everything.
China Town
Just boarding and disembarking the bus took about seven to eight minutes each time for our crew, because so many of the 38 folks had mobility issues. Unfortunately, some on our bus must not have carefully read the description for this excursion, which stated that this tour was not recommended for those with mobility issues. This did not stop them from being rude with our tour guide when they were exhausted, sweaty, thirsty, hungry, and apparently done for the day, after the bus took us from the jewelry mall a long way to China Town, and the tour guide announced that we had an hour and a half to shop and get something to eat. She said that if we followed her, she would show us a good place to get Pad Thai, and that the restaurant would take credit cards.
Several on the bus became visibly agitated, and a couple of them shouted out that the last ferry for returning to the ship leaves port at 4:00, and it was already 2:45. The tour guide merrily said, “Well one hour, then. The ship can’t leave you!” True, but the city water shuttle could, and the ship would then be required to send out its lifeboats for us. The tour guide pointed to a beautiful golden dragon statue and told us to meet her there in one hour.
The streets of Chinatown were busy, the sidewalks narrow and uneven with steep curbs, and we had no idea where to go or what to see. One woman we see often on the cruise ship (probably around 90) with a cane, was upset because she was so exhausted, and couldn’t find her husband and was separated from her tour group. We pointed her back in the right direction and another couple from her bus escorted her.
Cliff found an immaculate little bakery that specializes in hot croissant sandwiches, that had a little courtyard out back. Cliff ate two of the sandwiches and a caramel milkshake, Joan had one sandwich, and I bought truffle almonds and a Coke. Then we made our way back to the golden dragon statute where the tour guide told us to meet, sought out a little shade, and sat on a short wall to wait.
Back on the bus, when a man told the tour guide that his wife walks with a cane and asked if the bus could park closer to the shuttle for those with mobility issues, the tourist guide unwisely and cheerfully read the description of the tour to everyone and asked, "Isn't this what we did?" I thought the man was going to lose it. Then she handed out feedback forms for us to complete. After the tour, the bus pulled close to the port, but didn't let anyone out; instead, it backed up and drove to its original parking spot.
After our return, we were shocked at how far out the low tide was, and realized that might have something to do with why the water shuttle’s last run was 4:00. Fortunately, they did wait a little longer for us stragglers. We learned from another cruise passenger that he went on an excursion to ride an elephant and have a Thai luncheon, which sounded like fun. However, when it is all said and done, Cliff and I really wanted to see the landscape and communities to get a true idea of what Phuket is like. We loved the people and especially appreciated how much they love and are so proud of their homeland, Thailand.
Comments