|
 Phuket
Island has been inhabited for at least two by different migrations
of traders, fishermen and pirates. Populations grew and disappeared
and then appeared again. The best historical accounts date from
two hundred years ago with the famous battle between an invading
Burmese army and a group of islanders led by the wife of the Phuket
governor who had just died.
Khunying Mook and her sister, Khunying Chan, rallied the women
around Talang to dress like men to fool the invaders. All the men
on Phuket were off fighting in other wars on the mainland. The army
led by ththousand years e two women was successful in repelling
the Burmese and today, set at a roundabout on the airport road,
a monument boasts their achievement.
But this is no ordinary monument as the Thai people believe that
the spirits of these two heroines still guard over the island to
this day. When passing the Two Heroines monument, you will notice
offerings of joss sticks and flowers and perhaps people praying
to these women to bring them good fortune and scare away bad luck.
On the road that travels east from the monument, is the Talang
museum, the most important center for visitors who want to learn
more about the culture, history and geology of the island. Open
every day, the Talang museum chronicles the colorful past of an
island once visited for it's exotic, medicinal bird's nests, tin
ore, rubber trees and today, for its beautiful beaches.
 |
North of the monument, the visitor on a tour or in an AVIS rental
car, will approach the town of Talang which was the historic home
for most Phuket residents in ancient times. People in the past would
not consider living near the beaches or around the Andaman Sea as
it meant they would be more likely to be kidnapped or murdered by
sea pirates.
When entering Talang, the visitor can see where the walled fort
once stood which today is a temple with reconstructed walls made
to look like the original wooden garrison. As most buildings in
the past were made from wood, there are few remains of the actual
buildings. Reconstructions have been made from descriptions given
by traders and missionaries who visited Phuket.
However, just north of Talang village is Wat Pratong with the famous
Buddha which local Thais believe is made of pure gold. Local legend
says that the body of the Buddha below the waist is actually buried
in the ground. Numerous invasions of Burmese pirates who attempted
to steal this precious Buddha image have failed and no effort to
unearth the Buddha at Wat Prathong has been successful.
An adventure exploring Thalang and its rich historical past will
make for a memorable experience during a visit to tropical Phuket..
|
