Sarasin Bridge

Sarasin Bridge

In 1970, the Sarasin Bridge was built to help connect Phuket Island to the mainland of Thailand. This enabled the tremendous expansion of trading between both areas and many merchants moved to Phuket and flourished together with the island’s prosperity. A true Phuket love story is written about Gew, a pretty Teachers’ Training College student and a local bus driver, Dam. Gew often took the route bus driven by Dam to her college and they enjoyed chatting with each other while on the bus.

Eventually, both Gew and Dam fell in love. But something always happens: Gew’s father was a rich businessman and strongly opposed their love and marriage. In desperation, Gew and Dam decided to bind themselves together in everlasting love so that no one could ever separate them. On the night of 22 February 1973, Gew and Dam tied themselves together with a large rock and jumped off the Sarasin Bridge to manifest their love. When their bodies were found, they were still bound together by one piece of Thai loin cloth. To this day, it is believed that all lovers can make a wish together when they are crossing the Sarasin Bridge. However, in order to have your wish come true, you need to hold your breath from one end of the bridge to the other end.

Pho Thong truck

Pho thong truck

Pho thong trucks are a landmark form of public transport in Phuket, and only growing in popularity as the years pass.

They bear similarities to the open-air song thaew the pickup trucks modified into passenger vehicles with two rows of seats facing each other.

What makes pho thong trucks different from song thaew is the wooden exterior of their bodies, sometimes painted in vivid colours.

Also, the pho thong are modified from light trucks, not pickup trucks.

Phuket residents have used pho thong as their public commuter trucks for more than 50 years.

They were introduced during the reign of King Rama VI.

The trucks went into service shortly after King Rama VI presided over the inauguration of three main roads in Phuket: Thep Kasattree Road, Phuket Road and Wichitsongkhram Road.

After the roads opened, Phuket residents began to commute more by car. Previously, they liked to get around in carts.

Some regard pho thong trucks as an outmoded form of travel, though with the addition of a few modern touches, they are now enjoying a revival of popularity

Big Buddha Temple

Big Buddha Temple (Wat Pra Yai)

Wat Pra yai or Pra Buddha Ming Mongkol Ake Naga Kiri called The big Buddha Temple as it house the largest Buddha statue in Phuket.

Situated atop Nah Gerd Hill,
It was created with the help of Kitti Sangkaram Temple (Kata Temple) as part of the forestation project.

Covering an area of 42 rais, the land is the appropriate place to house the 25.45 meter wide and 45 – meter tall Buddha statue that faces 19 degrees northeast.

The temple is considered a land mark respected by both the people of Phuket and visitors alike. Going up to the hill for pray at Pra Yai Ming Mongkol.

You will enjoy the panoramic view of Phuket town, Chalong Bay, Rawai Beach , Nai Harn Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach. Please don’t miss Pra yai Ming Mong Kol in your trip.

Side Map : http://maps.google.co.th/maps?hl=th&biw=1131&bih=692&rlz=1R2RNTN_en&q=Big%20Buddha%20Phuket%20map&wrapid=tlif130331004221811&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Chalong Temple

Chalong Temple, or a name that is formally called Chai Tharam Temple a respectable measure of Phuket. If anyone would have to visit Phuket, Luang Por Cham, the temple worship celebrations for a fortune themselves. In addition, the celebration of the temple is also located. Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Chom Thai prestige announced. The invention is a place of relics of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka. Chalong Temple, this is a place of tourism in Phuket, many more. To come to Phuket, this must be measured.

Chalong Temple is faith in Phuket.

It is said that if coming to Phuket and then. Should come pay homage to Luang Por Cham, Chalong Temple or Chai Thararam Temple. Measure to emerge in Phuket. Sacred story. Reputation in the treatment of Bunya prestige and that Mercy is the noble cause of Luang Por believe greatly admire. Told that while he is alive. To those waiting with gilded arms and legs as your And look around like a glowing yellow and gilded Buddha statue. Luang Por Cham, and although it Amrnnprpo as the time a hundred years ago even. Your reputation and prestige is in the memories of people continually Today, Luang Por Cham, who still rely on people with mental Phuket And Thai, or even a neighbor across the land who visited the Pearl of the Andaman Sea is always. History of Luang Por Cham, one that says that in the year 2419 which corresponds to the reign of King Rama 5 Cham father helped fight in Phuket gangster People laborers mining that cause riots. Attack away killing villagers and captured the city Phuket Attending the father gave a white cloth Praeheid people every post to head a protective talisman. This has created confidence and morale in Phuket with a very And Wat Chalong is like a fortress stronghold in the battle camp. Agongien until they are able to overcome. When King Rama 5 Whereas he know it. Somnseudit the Cham royal father. As provost of purity Wongsa Chan Yan Muni. To the position of city Seongฆpaoamukht Phuket This is where most of the time. And graciously signed a temple Chalong Chai Thararam but then.

Wat Phra Thong

Wat Phra Thong, is located in Thep Krasattri, Tha Lang on Phuket Island, Thailand. The architectural style of the Ubosot is very similar to the style commonly seen in Northeast Isan region of Thailand.

From a historical marker at Wat Phra Thong:

This temple is known among the villagers as Wat Phra Phut or Wat Phra Lo, where approximately one cubit of Ketumala, the finial, of a golden Buddha's head, was told to have emerged from the ground. According to legend, this area used to be a pasture. One morning, a boy took his buffalo to graze here and tied it to the image's final, unaware of what it really was. The boy returned home, fell sick and died; so did his buffalo. At night the boy's father learned from him to dig out the image. Amazingly, the ones who were digging, but not the viewers, were stung by a swarm of hornets from the dug up earth. The ruler of Thalang learned of this miraculous incident and had a shelter built to cover the golden finial. Several years later, a white-clad ascetic or Chipakhao came to stop at Thalang. For fear that the golden finial would be cut and stolen, the ascetic and villagers prepared a cement mixture out of burnt shells and sand to cover the Buddha's head.In the reign of King Rama I, southern Thailand was invaded by Burmese troops and Thalang was seized. the Burmese soldiers tried to dig out the image, wishing to take it back to their country. They were bitten by a swarm of tiny ants from the dug out earth. Hundreds of them fell sick and died while the reset set fire to the ants and continued digging as deep as the neck of the image. Fortunately, the ruler of Nakhon Si Thammarat led his army to successfully liberate the city. After that, a monk from Sukhothai came to stop at Thalang and persuaded the villagers to build a temple here to include a Kuti - the monks residence, Wihan - an image hall and Phra Ubosot - the ordination hall, with Phra Phut being the principal image. The Buddha's head was covered with a new image for religious performances.

Two Heroines Monument

Two Heroines Monument

Images of the Two Heroines can be found throughout Phuket, most noticeably atop their monument on the Bypass Road between Phuket City and the airport as well as dozens of small statues in temples, schools, and libraries not to mention upon the logos of most local government departments. But most tourists don’t investigate much farther than that, and sadly miss out on one of the island’s largest and most extravagant festivals.

Officially called the Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisunthorn Commemoration Festival, using the heroines’ noble titles, it is held each March to increase awareness of local history and culture among Thai citizens. The highlight is a two-hour dramatic performance featuring over 1,000 cast members recreating the penultimate battle against the Burmese in a one-month-long war that ended 13 March 1785. This year’s play will even feature the acting debut of Phuket governor Tri Augkaradacha who will portray King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I).

The two heroines were sisters known as Kunying (Lady) Jan and Lady Mook. When Jan’s second husband, Phraya Surintharacha Pimon-Aya (Khan), became the governor of Thalang (as Phuket was called at that time), Jan was appointed as Mae Muang or assistant to the governor. When her husband died, King Rama I jailed her at Pak Phra Camp to settle an indebtedness to the country. Not long afterwards, King Padong of Ang Wa (Burma) invaded Siam with 144,000 soldiers, When Burmese troops defeated Pak Phra Camp, Lady Jan escaped and eventually made her way back to Thalang Town. Yee-Wun, a Burmese commander, led troops down Siam’s west coast defeating the towns of Kraburi, Takuapa, and Takuatung before arriving at Thalang.

The local people were unorganized due to the recent death of the governor but Jan and Mook gathered villagers from Baan Saku, Baan Nai Yang, Baan Mai Khao, Baan Kanan, Baan Lipon, and Baan Raing and organized a defensive position at Wat Pra Nahng Sahng in order to protect Thalang Town from invasion. The Burmese built a camp at Khok Chana Pama and prepared for assault. Meanwhile, the Siamese villagers led by Jan and Mook set up a camp in order to slow the Burmese troops down. Women were dressed in soldier’s uniforms and given tin-coated swords made from coral wood. They wanted to create the impression that Thalang had received military reinforcements.

The siege lasted about one month which caused the Burmese troops to become fatigued and short of supplies. The Thalang defenders used potassium nitrate and firearms to counterattack the Burmese troops. A cannon blast destroyed a coral tree in the enemy camp causing the Burmese to finally retreat on 13 March 1785. When King Rama I heard of Jan and Mook’s courage in defending Thalang, he bestowed upon them the noble titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sri Sunthorn.

When Prince Mongkut visited Phuket in April 1909, he stated that, "Thao Thep Krasattri is a brave woman, which is hardly found in Thailand. As a consequence, it is more than appropriate to erect their statue in order for the next generation to remember this great victory." The project for building this monument wasn’t begun until 1940 but soon discontinued. In 1963, a former Phuket governor by the name of Auan Soorakul continued the project, declaring that the statue should be moved to the center of the island so that everyone would be able to worship it. The Fine Arts Department of Thailand worked closely with local authorities and the statue was moved up to the top of the base in March 1966. Built at Baan Tharua in the Sri Sunthorn Subdistrict of Thalang District the Two Heroines Monument was officially inaugurated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.

Most of the Heroines Festival activities occur from 13-15 March this year at the Thalang Victory Memorial Field, around seven kilometers north of the Two Herorines Monument. This is located across from the wet market and Thalang Witthaya School on Dom Chom Tao Road (Route 4030) in Thepkrasattri subdistrict, near the intersection with Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402). Local food and OTOP products will be sold starting at 17:00 each evening. There will also be a "paramotor" show (whatever that is) and Thai arts and cultural performances until midnight. The main light and sound show recreating the Battle of Thalang should last from 19:00 until 21:00 each evening and consist of twelve acts. Dr Sawit Pongwat, screenwriter and director of the Thalang Historical Drama production promises, “The scenes will be more realistic than in performances in previous years." He has also said, "My wish is that this drama will make the audience love their nation and learn about its history at the same time."
I’ve missed this event every year and aim not to make that mistake again. Admission is free so the only difficulty is transportation. Now that I know exactly where to go is a big help – two years ago, a friend and I attempted to find the festival and mistook a separate local fair next to the Heroines Monument as being the correct location. We simply thought we were too late for the performance!