All About SIAM (Thailand)

Wat Chalong is Phuket’s most important Buddhist temple and

is the biggest and most ornate of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist monasteries. The architecture is typical of wats found throughout Thailand. Wat Chalong is associated with the revered monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, both of whom were famous for there work in herbal medicine and tending to the injured. During the tin miners’ rebellion of 1876 they mobilized aid for the injured on both sides. They also mediated in the rebellion, bringing the warring parties together to resolve their dispute. Statues honoring them stand in the sermon hall (viharn). Many Thais come here to be blessed by the monks and receive a good luck charm in the form of a string tied around the wrist, which they believe protects them from injury and illness.

Many local Thais and Asian tourists will set off fire crackers and ask for the lucky lottery numbers, and have their fortune told. Just inside the main hall on the floor before the image are two cans of what looks like shaved bamboo chopsticks. Pick one up and shake the can back and forth rhythmically until one of the sticks works its way to the top and falls to the floor. Read the number, then walk around the corner to the right where there is a wooden cabinet on the wall. Open the drawer with the corresponding number and take one of the slips of paper inside. Get someone to translate it for you or hold onto it until you get back to your hotel where the desk clerk can translate it. Also on the floor are several pairs of red wooden blocks made from bamboo roots and shaped like twin halves of a mango. These help you make decisions. Pose a question that requires a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Toss the a pair blocks in the air and watch how they land on the floor. If both land with the same side up the answer is ‘no’; if they land, one up and one down, the answer is ‘yes’. Whichever form of divination you choose, be sure to leave a donation at the alter. It will go towards the upkeep of the shrine.

A beautiful lakeside setting that is worth a visit even if you do not jump. A pleasant place to sip a cold drink while waiting for the next brave soul to mount the platform. Unlike New Zealand where most bungy jumps take off from lofty bridges with rivers below, the bungy jump sites in Khatu uses an eletric lift to take you to the height of 50 meters.

Below the cage is a used tin mine lake. Anyone from 40 to 230 Kg are welcome to make the jump. The operation is highly technical, the equipment is of a high standard and the personnel are qualified Jump Masters. Couples may jump together if they desire. Costs 1400 baht per jump. Ten minutes from Patong on the main road to Phuket town just follow the signs.

This speedway sport around a loopy figure eight shaped track is great family fun. The circuit covers a distance of 600 meters and the 16 go-karts range from 100cc to 230cc classes. There are double seaters and smaller go-karts for children. Cost 800 baht for 30 minutes. Located about 2 km from Patong Beach on the main highway to Phuket Town

Offers an opportunity to water ski around a man-made oval lake in water the color of a cup of coffee with cream. A suspended cable propels you around the course at a boring slow steady speed. This is one of the establishments that feel visitors should pay more money than native Thai visitors.

There are two shooting ranges especially designed for those experienced in using hand guns and rifles. Available are hand guns and rifles of varying caliber. All ammunitions used are special range bullets. The cost varies according to the gun models and quantity of bullets spent. For example 10 bullets of 22 cost 350 baht and 5 bullets of 9mm cost 490 baht
The shooting range is located on 82/2 Patak Road, 800 meters from the Chalong traffic circle. Hours of operation are from 09.30 to 6.00 PM.