Written by Administrator
Thursday, 25 March 2010 15:37
Like
many other islands that sit astride trade routes, Phuket has been a port of
call for passing foreigners for millennium. The natural wealth of the island
and the generally hospitable nature of its original inhabitants, naturally
attracted many to stay.
The human streams whose blood courses in the veins of Phuket include the
earliest Sea Gypsies, Thai Buddhists, Muslim Malays, Arab traders, Indians,
Chinese and, in recent years, Europeans. Each of these has left some cultural
impact on the island as well, some of which is very obvious, like the mosques
of the Muslims and the shrines of the Chinese.
The visitor to the island with an interest in the cultural make-up of Phuket
will have fun discovering its cultural gems, many of which are hidden from the
less observant.
The many pages within this section contain in-depth stories and beautiful
photographs of each of these groups, along with stories and photos of the more
remarkable festivals, temples, shrines and architecture.
