Phuket (pronounced
boo-get) is Thailand's larges
t island
and one of the most popular holiday destinations in south-east
Asia, attracting up to one million visitors each year. At 48
km long and covering 550 sq km, it is a province in itself -
and the wealthiest in the country. Originally this prosperity
was based on the production of tin, rubber and cashews, but tourism
is now the major earner. About 35% of the island's population
are Thai muslims and the mosques out-number the Buddhist temples.
Geography: Lying in the Andaman Sea off Southern Thailand's west coast, the island's terrain is incredibly varied, with rocky beaches, long, broad sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, forested hills and tropical vegetation of all kinds. The northern tip of the island is separated from the mainland only by a narrow channel of sea, over which runs the 700 metre long Sarasin Bridge.
Film Locations: Phuket city and province, in southern Thailand, was the second location for the film-makers whilst in Thailand. They used this large island as their base for the production office, studios, hotels and many of the locations. The locations in Phuket used for filming include: Cape Promthep, Hat Nai Thon-nui, Hat Surin, Hat Kata, Ao Po Pier, On-on Hotel and Phuket airport. They also had a studio in Ban Ma Yik, Thalang.
Weather Reports: The weather on Phi Phi island and
the surrounding area is very important to the film-makers at
the moment. There has been a lot of rain which has slowed the
progress of the shoot. Ironically, the day they had to shoot
a rain scene in the movie there wasn't enough rain so they had
to bring in a rain machine!
Getting there and Away: Phuket is served by an international airport which not only has dozens of flights between Bangkok and the island but to other cities around the world, too. A flight from Bangkok to Phuket takes just over one hour.
Maps: The following are links for some good maps on the internet showing the location of Phuket.
