Phuket Town(普吉镇)
The bustling, administrative centre of
Phuket is often overlooked in favour of the beaches, but there's a lot to see
and do (and spend your money on!) in Phuket City/Town. Having been recently
upgraded to city status, Phuket City features an exciting mix of old and new,
simple and sophisticated, peaceful and pulsating.
The activity in Phuket City is nearly
around the clock. In the early morning, stoic monks take to the streets on
their daily alms rounds and the fresh market buzzes with restaurant owners buying
ingredients for the day's meals. Non-stop bustle characterizes the daytime, and
lasts well into the evening. Nights are reserved for enjoying good company,
whether at a restaurant, a disco, a quiet bar, or a combination of all three.
At first sight, Phuket Town appears to some visitors as a sleepy provincial capital with not much going for it by way of attractions. Yet Phuket Town is steeped in history, has many attractive and unique temples and boasts top-rate viewpoints.
A favourite with more adventurous tourists is a stroll through the Old Town, an area that lives and breathes the island’s history of tin mining, some 200 years ago. Many of the temples used as bases during Phuket’s famous Vegetarian Festival are within walking distance of each other and there is even wildlife downtown, on Monkey Hill. Here’s a comprehensive guide to Phuket Town’s attractions.
In the alley is a long row of stands, each displaying hundreds of amulets. Behind these is a small row of shops, also selling amulets and Buddha images. The displays attract a variety of people, using magnifying glasses to check the wares. There is quiet, serious discussion but when Phuket.com tries to talk with vendors, they are very shy and plainly would rather not talk to journalists.
Instead, they point us to Khun Sorn who explains later that the vendors want to keep things low-key – they are not keen to attract attention from the tax man.
Khun Sorn, however, is quite open and does not hesitate to answer questions or give opinions. He explains that he comes from an entrepreneurial background that included shrimp farming and selling clothing. Finally he went into business selling amulets and images of famous Thai monks, something that had fascinated him for some 15 years.
The Phuket Amulet Centre itself was established about 20 years ago. It now has 20 small outlets. “We’ve moved a few times, though we have always been in this area. Recently, we moved here from just across the road,” says Khun Sorn.
普吉镇（Phuket Town）位于普吉岛东南方，是普吉府的省会，也是普吉地区政府机关所在地。镇上观光人口不如海滩附近多，走一趟老城区，逛一逛周末市集，坐一下普吉餐厅，质朴的当地生活呈现的是与海边光鲜印象迥异的人文风情。交通：Raong Road上的泰国航空斜对面，以及传统市场前。都有开往普吉岛西岸各观光海滩的巴士。巴士外部以英文、泰文标注沿途停靠的海滩名，乘客坐满就开车。
普吉镇位于普吉岛的东南部，是普吉府的省会。镇上的游客不及海边那么多，但走一趟老城区，逛一趟周末集市，坐一下当地的茶餐厅，质朴的人文风情会给你留下深刻的印象。
早期华人移民约在拉玛三世时期（1824－1851）进入普吉，当时这里锡矿开发，引进大批华人和马来西亚劳工。目前老城区遗留下来的老建筑，多半是当时的住所。这些华人建筑的特点是将土地公神牌挂在大门外，门上匾额刻有姓氏名号，一进大堂可见祖宗牌位，屏风后是中庭，然后是主人房和客房等，无不保留着中式传统风格。
甲米路（Krabi Road）：和沙敦路（Satun Road）交叉口处有一幢葡萄牙风格的老房子，过去是葡萄牙商务办事处，现在是老城区唯一保存完整的旧建筑，并被列为一级古迹，可惜目前不对外开放，只能顿足驻望。
泰朗路（Thalang Road）：沿着泰朗路两旁多为2－3层的连排屋舍，完整保留了早期华人移民风格。为求保持原貌，当地政府已经规定该地区不得修建高楼，翻修需要报批。由于大部分居民已经离开老街，这里显得有点空荡荡的。
迪布街（Dibuk Road）：街上的连排二层楼房算是镇上保存最完好的华人风格建筑。住家门口挂着斗大的陈姓“颖川”字号，据说是普吉岛早期经营锡业的富商陈颖枝的落脚地，他娶的七位老婆各自拥有一栋房子，可以说迪布街是他的家族街。
普吉镇交通
普吉机场位于岛的北部，从机场可以乘出租车和小客车到普吉镇。从机场到芭东海滩大约需要45分钟，乘小客车大约150泰铢/人，乘出租车约600泰铢/车。各海滩到普吉镇都有班车，票价从15－100泰株不等，一般晚上六点后停运。tutu车从海滩至镇上200－400泰株不等。
At first sight, Phuket Town appears to some visitors as a sleepy provincial capital with not much going for it by way of attractions. Yet Phuket Town is steeped in history, has many attractive and unique temples and boasts top-rate viewpoints.
A favourite with more adventurous tourists is a stroll through the Old Town, an area that lives and breathes the island’s history of tin mining, some 200 years ago. Many of the temples used as bases during Phuket’s famous Vegetarian Festival are within walking distance of each other and there is even wildlife downtown, on Monkey Hill. Here’s a comprehensive guide to Phuket Town’s attractions.
In the alley is a long row of stands, each displaying hundreds of amulets. Behind these is a small row of shops, also selling amulets and Buddha images. The displays attract a variety of people, using magnifying glasses to check the wares. There is quiet, serious discussion but when Phuket.com tries to talk with vendors, they are very shy and plainly would rather not talk to journalists.
Instead, they point us to Khun Sorn who explains later that the vendors want to keep things low-key – they are not keen to attract attention from the tax man.
Khun Sorn, however, is quite open and does not hesitate to answer questions or give opinions. He explains that he comes from an entrepreneurial background that included shrimp farming and selling clothing. Finally he went into business selling amulets and images of famous Thai monks, something that had fascinated him for some 15 years.
The Phuket Amulet Centre itself was established about 20 years ago. It now has 20 small outlets. “We’ve moved a few times, though we have always been in this area. Recently, we moved here from just across the road,” says Khun Sorn.
普吉镇（Phuket Town）位于普吉岛东南方，是普吉府的省会，也是普吉地区政府机关所在地。镇上观光人口不如海滩附近多，走一趟老城区，逛一逛周末市集，坐一下普吉餐厅，质朴的当地生活呈现的是与海边光鲜印象迥异的人文风情。交通：Raong Road上的泰国航空斜对面，以及传统市场前。都有开往普吉岛西岸各观光海滩的巴士。巴士外部以英文、泰文标注沿途停靠的海滩名，乘客坐满就开车。
普吉镇位于普吉岛的东南部，是普吉府的省会。镇上的游客不及海边那么多，但走一趟老城区，逛一趟周末集市，坐一下当地的茶餐厅，质朴的人文风情会给你留下深刻的印象。
早期华人移民约在拉玛三世时期（1824－1851）进入普吉，当时这里锡矿开发，引进大批华人和马来西亚劳工。目前老城区遗留下来的老建筑，多半是当时的住所。这些华人建筑的特点是将土地公神牌挂在大门外，门上匾额刻有姓氏名号，一进大堂可见祖宗牌位，屏风后是中庭，然后是主人房和客房等，无不保留着中式传统风格。
甲米路（Krabi Road）：和沙敦路（Satun Road）交叉口处有一幢葡萄牙风格的老房子，过去是葡萄牙商务办事处，现在是老城区唯一保存完整的旧建筑，并被列为一级古迹，可惜目前不对外开放，只能顿足驻望。
泰朗路（Thalang Road）：沿着泰朗路两旁多为2－3层的连排屋舍，完整保留了早期华人移民风格。为求保持原貌，当地政府已经规定该地区不得修建高楼，翻修需要报批。由于大部分居民已经离开老街，这里显得有点空荡荡的。
迪布街（Dibuk Road）：街上的连排二层楼房算是镇上保存最完好的华人风格建筑。住家门口挂着斗大的陈姓“颖川”字号，据说是普吉岛早期经营锡业的富商陈颖枝的落脚地，他娶的七位老婆各自拥有一栋房子，可以说迪布街是他的家族街。
普吉镇交通
普吉机场位于岛的北部，从机场可以乘出租车和小客车到普吉镇。从机场到芭东海滩大约需要45分钟，乘小客车大约150泰铢/人，乘出租车约600泰铢/车。各海滩到普吉镇都有班车，票价从15－100泰株不等，一般晚上六点后停运。tutu车从海滩至镇上200－400泰株不等。
