Elephant Ride and Big Buddah

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Big Buddah is normally mentioned as the tall hill in South Phuket which has a Buddah built on the very top.

That is not all that is on this hill - a quarter of the way up is also a place where you can go for an elephant ride.  There are a number of places where you can have an elephant ride in Phuket - but this is very convenient.

Big Buddha (7th visit)

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Big Buddah is supposed to be getting bigger but I do not know where and how.

We took mum up there and paid our respects to the Buddah.

On the way down we searched (and found) a geocache and then fed the elephant.


We have visited Big Buddha a number of times -
Sept 2011 / May 2011 and others and always worth it - visit Wat Chalong if you come here

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Visit Big Buddah (2nd visit)

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A wonderful location in South Phuket - a very necessary visit. 

Always interesting - can you caress this to make a sound?
- an example on youTube.





Interesting - what are they going to construct underneath?

more photographs

Whilst you are there I would also visit Wat Chalong which is close.

A Trip into Phuket Town

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One morning some guests from the Cape Panwa Hotel and I took a trip into Phuket Town.

We drove along the coastal road into Yon Bay where we could see over to Chalong Bay and the Big Buddah in the distance.

Our first stop was in Old Phuket Town where we visited the Fresh Market. Our guests tried fruits - Durian, Dragonfruit, Lychees and Salak. After this I asked the guests to try other delicacies but they politely declined.

We walked through the market and the backstreets of Phuket and came to Thamachad (Natural) – a quite exquisite restaurant serving authentic Thai food. Not only is the food special but so are it’s surroundings – the tables have Sewing Machine legs, there is a PC with a fish tank in it, there are some 45’s on the wall and more. Click here for a look inside Natural.

Then we visited a Chinese Temple and Shrine. The Chinese Temple and Shrine is full of colour, beauty and interest. We removed our shoes and entered, joss sticks and candles were lit by many guests and bracelets were tied. The details of all the figures on the three blessing tables in the Temple were magnificent and absorbing.

After this we visited Rang Hill to enjoy the view over to Phuket Town and the Andaman Sea.

Shopping was last - but not least!!!! We visited Phuket Town and it’s plethora of Shopping Malls, CD-shops, restaurants, coffee shops and clothes shops.

AN UPDATE

Click here for an interesting article about the History of Phuket Town

A visit to Wat Chalong

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Wat Chalong is the biggest temple in Phuket Town. I recently took some guests to visit it. We took the scenic route along the costal road where we could see Big Buddah in the distance and at other points could see the tide splash against the road.

When we arrived Wat Chalong was quiet and milling with people UNTIL BANG BANG…….. there were some firecrackers lit and although they were lit inside a honeycomb of bricks it was loud and it was a shock – have a look.

After this shock we visited the main temple. We purchased some temple packs that contained; three incense sticks, 2 candles, a lotus blossom and some gold leaf. We then respectfully did the following:

1: Candles were lit and placed outside - showing respect to the Buddhist doctrine and teaching
2: Shoes were removed – to show respect to the sacred ground that we were entering
3: Lotus flowers were placed in the monk bowls – the lotus is a revered flower in Buddhist culture because even though it grows in mud it can be perfect when it is grown.
4: We carefully sat down and held our offerings in front of us, formed a wai, and made a wish. We watched some people shake containers with sticks in until a stick fell out - this stick would mean something to them – usually an answer to a wish.
5: Three joss sticks were lit - this symbolises the Lord Buddha's wisdom, the second his purity, and the third his kindness. I did find out that you should not blow your joss stick out but wave them in the air – however in my readings I could not find a reason……….please send me your ideas.

6: Gold leaf is carefully peeled from the paper and placed on a Buddha image – this is to pay respect his teachings.
7: We politely made a wai to the images and left the temple.
We walked around the temple grounds sampling the food, the fresh coconuts and enjoyed the ambiance – maybe I should begin to practise Buddhism?

Click here for more photographs of the temple.

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Wat Chalong Buddhist Temple (2012)

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There are a plethora of Buddhist Temples scattered throughout Phuket.  The Buddhist Temple which is most commonly visited is Wat Chalong which is in the South end of Phuket.


So how do you pray? I have been asked this a number of times so have a look here.


After you pray and ask for good luck then have a wander around the temples and try to follow the stories painted on the walls.




If you want to ask for good luck you can always light some fire-crackers.

Then it is time for a drink - my favourite being a fresh coconut.  Once refreshed there are a number of 'market style shops' that you can visit for those bits and pieces.


Whilst you visit here it is worth wondering whether you should visit Big Buddah because it is very close to here?



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