(I couldn't resist the title. But the "H" is silent. The place is pronounced "poo-KET".)
We went from coast (Samui island) to coast (the eastern mainland shore of Thailand) to coast (the western shore of the mainland) to coast (Phuket island) in a butt-throbbing 9 hours of van-ferry-bus-bus-jitney. All to arrive in Phuket Town, still not at a beachside. The Sinthavee Hotel ($13 with ensuite and wifi) is a faded version of its former glory. All its shops/bars/restaurants/massage/etc. were closed long ago. But the marble staircase and chrome lobby are kept gleaming, like polishing the bumper on a junkyard Chevy.
The dull mould-stained architecture in the old town is Chinese-Portugese, reflecting the two trading nations that founded the place in the 17thC. But lots of colour in the many fabric shops and at the Queen's park. Otherwise, the streets are the usual crazy-quilt of wires, motorbikes, and local transportation. The jitneys are half-truck, half-bus. Does that make them "trus" or "bruck"?
There are more and more Muslims apparent, probably because we're nearing
the border of Islamic Malaysia. But the next big celebration is Chinese
New Year. Shops are full of firecrackers and other red stuff. And this
guy will spend many days hanging those lanterns. Don't touch those wires
--- only 50% are live but which ones? Oh well, Phuket!
We went from coast (Samui island) to coast (the eastern mainland shore of Thailand) to coast (the western shore of the mainland) to coast (Phuket island) in a butt-throbbing 9 hours of van-ferry-bus-bus-jitney. All to arrive in Phuket Town, still not at a beachside. The Sinthavee Hotel ($13 with ensuite and wifi) is a faded version of its former glory. All its shops/bars/restaurants/massage/etc. were closed long ago. But the marble staircase and chrome lobby are kept gleaming, like polishing the bumper on a junkyard Chevy.
The dull mould-stained architecture in the old town is Chinese-Portugese, reflecting the two trading nations that founded the place in the 17thC. But lots of colour in the many fabric shops and at the Queen's park. Otherwise, the streets are the usual crazy-quilt of wires, motorbikes, and local transportation. The jitneys are half-truck, half-bus. Does that make them "trus" or "bruck"?
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