Enchanted Islands - About Phuket Thailand

Phuket Thailand is also called "Pearl of the South," by the tourist industry. It is the largest, most populous and most visited island. A lot of tourists flock to the beaches on the southwestern side of the island where there are numerous amenities and entertainment options.

Visit Phuket Thailand January to May, while the rest of Thailand experiences intense heat. Rains arrive in May and the water becomes cloudy and/or unpredictable, however, the crowds and prices are less. Near the end of the year, it seems the weather starts getting better in Phuket Thailand (December to April).

Phuket's Thailand's idyllic tropical weather patterns make it a favorite for all who love the beach. There are actually two seasons:

• Dry Season: Begins in December and lasts until April or May
• Wet Season

The most important occasion or event in Phuket Thailand is the Vegetarian Festival, which dates back to 1825. This festival usually takes place during late September or October. A lot of events and great food is present during this event. The fireworks are very loud.

April 13 - 15 each year, Phuket Thailand celebrates Songkran. This is the water festival celebrated on Thai New Year is characterized by splashing water on anyone in range.

The economy in Phuket Thailand

Since the 16th century, tin mining has been the major source of income for the island. Chinese businessmen and Chinese workers worked in the mines. Most of these workers were Hakka Chinese. The Hakka Chinese had a great influence on Phuket culture and cuisine that can still be felt today. Since the prices of tin have fallen, the mining industry has just about stopped in Phuket Thailand. Today, Phuket's economy depends on the rubber tree plantations and tourism. Thailand is the largest producer of rubber in the world. The various nightlife activities such as prostitution also attract thousands of men and women each year.

The sandy beaches on the western coast of the island have been heavily developed as tourist attractions. Patong, Karon and Kata beaches are probably the most popular ones.

The majority of people in Thailand are Buddhist. There are some Muslims (estimated at about 30%) in Phuket, which are mainly descendants of the island's original sea-dwelling people.

For more information about Phuket Thailand follow the link in the resource box of this article to Enchanted Islands web site.

Disclaimer: The URL address in resource box is not associated with any of the attractions or companies mentioned in this article. Enchanted Islands web site does not endorse any of the attractions or companies mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are provided as a resource for planning trips to Enchanted Islands.

Written by: Connie Limon Visit: http://smalldogs2.com/EnchantedIslands for more information about the most popular enchanted islands in the year of 2008. Visit http://www.camelotarticles.com for a variety of FREE reprint articles.

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