Health : Thai-Style Herbal Therapies

Herbal sauna is no newcomer to Thailand.For many centuries people with just about any kind of affliction would visit a sauna, where herbal packs formulated just for their ailment would be added to a water heater. The resulting steam would be absorbed both through the nose and the skin.The heat also sweated out toxins and cleansed the pores. As recently as the beginning of this century, hundreds of these saunas existed in Thailand, but with the arrival of modern medicine, most went out of business. But even today, home-made herbal sauna — along with a diet regimen packed with herbs — is the post-natal therapy by which Thai women, especially those living in the countryside, still swear. Herbs also dominated Thai women’s beauty and skincare regimens. Sour tamarind worked wonders as a body scrub, for example, while crushed turmeric would be rubbed onto the skin to keep it soft and smooth. With the recent revival in holistic therapies, indigenous herbs are being rediscovered for their health and beauty benefits. Discover the Thai-style herbal experience at the following facilities, or at the spas listed on the next page:

Health : Thai-Style Natural Healing

Experience Thai-Style Natural Healing. A massage to restore balance between the elements. A herbal sauna to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. A herbal pack to calm nerves and redirect energy. All this may sound very New Agey in the West, but it has been part of daily life here for centuries.
Before the arrival of modern medicine, herbalists filled the dual role of doctor and pharmacist. Originally, village doctors were monks or former monks, since Buddhist temples were the center of learning, not only of religion but of more worldly matters such as astrology and medicine. Picture source : Banyan Tree Resort
Thai traditional medicine holds that the body has four elements: wind, water, earth and fire, and ill health results from an imbalance between them. To remedy an ailment, the village “doctor” would make a herbal pack for the patient to ingest, rub onto the skin, or add to a steam compress. Another major component of traditional medicine is energy. When the energy lines are blocked, the individual will become ill, physically or emotionally. A massage or sauna would be prescribed.

Experience Thai Massage Traditional Thai massage is a proven physical therapy that dates back to ancient India sometime before the lifetime of Buddha. It has been practiced here for centuries, and many swear by it as an effective cure for common ailments such as aches and pains, fevers and nervous strains.
Traditional massage reached the peak of popularity in the early 18th century. King Rama III,%2

Phuket Scuba Diving

Expeditions regularly leave Phuket for dives around neighbouring islands, and further afield, most particularly around the enduringly popular Phi Phi Islands in neighbouring Krabi province, some 2 hours east of Phuket, and the Similan Islands, some 110 km northwest of Phuket, and the Raya Islands, 1-3 hours due south of Phuket, depending on the type of boat. Diving equipment : Several dive shops concentrated in the Patong, Kata and Chalong areas have Asian and European expatriate(s) (speaking English and several other languages) and bi-lingual Thai dive instructors who offer inexpensive beginner's courses. All diving equipment is available for hire.

Scuba Diving: Phuket 's West Coast Phuket 's West Coast : Phuket's western shore is dotted with a dozen pristine white sandy beaches, including Surin, Patong and Nai Yang beaches, which abound with aquamarine life. Listed among the top 10 Scuba diving destinations in the world, the beaches on the west coast of Phuket offer some supreme Scuba diving with the depths from about 30 to 45 meters. Good close-up photographs can be taken. Also, regular diving cruises and private trips can be arranged to other highly regarded diving areas such as the Similan Island.

Instruction and equipment are readily available at the more developed beaches on Phuket. There are many courses, ranging from beginner to dive master.

The best time of year to visit is from late October to May, but good diving is available all year round.

Overnight or longer diving trips are available to almost all neighboring islands. Information on dive trips can be found at nearly all guesthouses and hotels in the area, as well as at any of the numerous dive shops.

Scuba Diving: Rawai Beach Rawai beach is frequented by foreign Scuba diving enthusiasts because it is convenient to the piers where Scuba trips to nearby islands can be arranged

Scuba Diving: Koh He (Coral Island) Only 5 km off Phuket's south coast and easily accessible by boats from Rawai and Chalong, He Island is well known for its unspoiled coral reef and is often referred to simply as Coral Island. The Island is a part of a marine preserve, however, various water sports, and diving, fine accommodation and restaurants are all available. Daytrippers from Phuket make the beach somewhat crowded in the daytime during the high season.

Scuba Diving: Koh Racha YaiRacha Yai island is an excellent place for beginner divers and snorkellers to start their diving adventures in Thailand. 1.5 hours from Phuket the island's dive sites offer 45 to 90 feet of visibility across hard coral gardens in the shallower waters with remarkable staghorn coral reefs down to 90 feet. Racha Yai Island has clean, powdery beaches like those of the Similan Islands. On the east, at Ao Kon Kae Bay, is a coral reef where the diving is excellent. With well preserved hard corals in both shallow and deeper water, snorkeling and scuba diving are the favorite activities.

Scuba Diving: Koh Racha NoiThe smaller brother of Racha Yai island and slightly further from Phuket, Racha Noi has a fine selection of coral gardens for the diver to explore. Visibility is said to be even better here than off Racha Yai and offers some deeper dive sites.

article by http://www.phukettourism.org.

Phuket Diving

Phuket diving sites number among the very best to be found. In fact, the readers of the top diving magazine voted Phuket diving among the top ten in the world. Diving Phuket's warm clear blue waters is best from mid-October to May, when the calm seas and rain free days make Phuket diving off Ko Kaew Noi, Ko Rajali Yai, Shark Point a truly unique experience.
Phi Phi Island diving is also one of the highlights for any serious dive itinerary, Phi Phi Island diving takes the diver to one of the most famous diving sites in the world, and facilities for Phi Phi Island diving are among the best for such a site.
Diving Khao Lak will introduce the diver to many new varieties of fish and coral. Khao Lak diving is a relatively unspoiled diving site offering much natural scenery and diving Khao Lak means entering into one of Thailand's premier marine national parks.
Scuba companies diving Phuket offer full training courses and equipment hire, so that experienced and amateur divers can experience diving Phuket waters without needing to worry about bringing more than their underwater cameras.

Natural Attractions

Khao Phra Taeo Wildlife Park : 22.28 square kilometers of virgin forest are coverd by this park, which also actively conserves a number of wild animals; they would otherwise be extinct in fast-growing Phuket. It is a center for study of the environment and the forest vegetation is spectacular. Giant trees supported by huge buttresses are thick with creepers and climbers of every description.One species of palm, the Governor's Palm or White Back Palm (palm lang khao in Thai) is especially rare. Langurs, barking deer, mouse deer, deer, bear, wild boar, monkeys, gibbons, and many species of birds inhabit the forest. Khao Phra Taeo serves also as one of Phuket's most important water sources.

Sirinat National Park : Located near Phuket International Airport, the national park covers an area of 90 square kilometers. The park stretches all the way to the island's northern tip. There are a number of interesting places to visit :
Nai Yang Beach ,Nai Ton Beach ,Mai Khao Beach ,Sai Kaew Beach ,Mangrove Forest

article by : http://www.phukettourism.org/

Natural Attractions

Khao Rang :A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Khao Rang Hill, on the town's northwest border. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable, expanse of grass s at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit, the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.

Mangrove Forest : Situated in Sirinat National Park, near Ta Chatchai on Phuket's northern tip, the mangroves--saltwater swamps with unique eco-systems much prized by scientists searching for clues about adaptation and evolution--cover about 800 rai.Anyone with an interest in horticulture will be interested in the many unusual perennial plants found here: mountain ebony (kong kang bai lek), red cycas (prong daeng), black myrsina (samae dam), the Lady's Nails quisqualis (leb mue nang), and various creepers and climbers are among the more significant. There are also many mongrove-dwelling animals with unique evolutionary characteristics. A nature trail has been cleared for the convenience of visitors with signs indicating and explaining the various species.

Ton Sai Waterfall : A small falls, over which pours a great volume of water during the rainy season. The trees, watercourses, and pools nearby provide one of Phuket's loveliest scenes. The park headquarters and a small restaurant with an excellent view are also at Ton Sai. Located near Thalang Town, 22 km. from Phuket Town.

article by : http://www.phukettourism.org/

Phuket Travel Guide

Patong Beach: Patong Beach is the most active beach in Phuket. Recently upgraded from "Village" to the status of "City". Famous for its long sandy beach but also for its famous hyper active nightlife, patong has the largest concentration of visitors on Phuket Island. Growing at the speed of light, it will offer a large range of activities during day or night, an amazing choice of hotels and a life style to fit any type of visitors. Since the past ten years, Patong Beach has changed a lot and became a family destination, eventhough all the bar girls are still at the same place (Bangla Road), you will see many couples and family strolling along the many new streets opened lately.
It offers a beautiful tropical beach ringed with lush green mountains. The bay is a 5 km gently curving crescent of beautiful white sand, suitable for every kind of water sport.
It is the most developed of all Phuket’s beaches, almost solidly lined with hotels, bungalow complexes and a concentration of restaurants, shops and night-spots appealing to all tastes. It is not recommended for those in search of tranquillity, but definitely suitable for those looking for a lively holiday.

article by : http://phuket-guide.net