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Just off the mainland coast in the bathtub-warm Andaman Sea, Thailand’s largest island is a magnet for an international crowd of honeymooners and hedonists. The shoreline holds long, sandy beaches -- including some of the country’s best, concentrated on the island’s west coast -- and resorts that range from budget lodging to five-star private villas. Thick with bars, discos, hotels and shops, Patong, with its 2-mile-long beach, is the center for action and nightlife, whereas Karon and Kamala offer a somewhat less raucous ambience. A popular day-trip that offers serenity and solitude is kayaking among the remarkable limestone islets, cliffs and caves of the marine preserve at Phang Nga Bay.
With its dramatic landscape of hilly green jungles, steep cliffs dropping into the bright blue Andaman Sea, and stark white sands, Phuket, an island off the west coast of Thailand, is yet another reason to travel to this country. Known as the Crystal City, Phuket has appeared on ancient maps and texts as early as the 3rd century C.E. The island passed through the hands of several kingdoms, including the Shivites, the Burmese, and finally, to the Thai in the late 18th century. In the 19th century, Phuket became a huge center for the production of tin and rubber, and plantations of scarred rubber trees can still be found on the island. Today, shellfish is a lucrative export. Phuket can accommodate both luxury travelers and the budget backpacker. Five-star hotels and bungalows can all be found on the island, as well as a range of restaurants. The locals are a mix of Thais, Chinese, and Muslims and the food on Phuket is wonderfully varied, from grilled beef on skewers, to fried curried noodles, and grilled mussels in a spicy coconut milk sauce. Festivals and celebrations take place often, so check your calendar to see if your visit will coincide with one. You won't want to spend all of your time on Phuket. You'll want to take time to wander through the numerous smaller islands off shore, where you can wander through narrow passageways and grottos carved by the sea. The waters around Phuket and its islets are ideal for sea kayaking, snorkeling, and diving. Guides can be hired to take you out to the more secluded islands, and to the series of limestone islands that served as the backdrop for the 1974 James Bond movie, "The Man with the Golden Gun."