Phuket Social Information
People
 Phuket
has a population of 200,000. The main centers of population are
on opposite sides of the island. Phuket Town, with a population
of about 63,000, is located on the east side and Patong Beach, whose
population varies widely depending on the time of year, is located
on the west side.
The residents are Thais who migrated from the mainland,
Chinese who arrived to work the tin mines, Muslims of Malaysian
extraction -- many of who come to work the rubber plantations --
and Chao Nam or sea gypsies -- who may have occupied the area for
a millennium or more.
The Chinese now comprise 35 percent of the island’s
population. They differ from those who settled in Bangkok and many
other areas of
Thailand in that they came from the Hokkien region of China, as
did those who settled in Singapore
and Malaysia.
As elsewhere in Asia, many of the Chinese have made the transition
from providing cheap labor to being merchants. The Chinese have
inter-married with native Thais and have largely been assimilated
into Thai culture. Today the descendants of the early Chinese settlers
are responsible for much of the trade and commerce that take place
on the island.
The influence of Indonesian-Malayan culture is
still apparent today in the ethnic makeup, language, art, and religion
of the southern Thais. About 35% of the Thais living on Phuket are
Muslims. Concentrated mostly around Surin and a few other big villages,
they work as rice and rubber farmers. In addition to Thai and Malay
languages many also speak ‘Yawi’, an ancient dialect of
the Malayan language.
One of the most interesting groups of people who
have lived on Phuket are the (or Sea Gypsies), traditionally a nomadic
peoples who traveled from cove to cove, staying until the fish and
other resources were depleted. They then moved on, allowing the
cove to re-establish its former ecological balance before returning
to repeat the cycle. Their history and cultural lifestyles are hard
to trace as they do not have a written language. Sea gypsies are
said to have originated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between
India and Burma. They are generally darker skinned and heavier with
curly black hair. They speak their own language and follow their
own animistic religion.
Sea Gypsies consist of three groups. The Mokens
still prefer their ancestral sea nomad-style of living and are commonly
found occupying the islands north of Phuket. The Orung Laut and
the Moklens have settled on coastal areas. There are three Sea Gypsy
villages in Phuket. The one located at Rawai is thought to be the
oldest and is visited by busloads of tourists everyday. Another
village is located 8km north of Phuket Town at Sapam Coast, and
a third village is located on Siray Island which is accessible by
bridge from Phuket Town.
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The King, Queen and the Royal Family are genuinely
respected by the Thais. Most homes and businesses, have one or more
photographs of the King or the royal family prominently displayed.
Showing any form of disrespect to the Royal Family will not be appreciated
by the Thais and could cause you serious problems. If you attend
a cinema during your stay, when the portrait of the King is shown
on the screen during the national anthem you are expected to rise
and remain standing for the duration.
Thailand is known as the "Land of Smiles",
and for its tolerance and hospitality. The simple rule is that if
you smile people will like you. A smile is an easy way to say ‘thank
you" and can also be used to ‘excuse yourself’ for
small inconveniences. A smile is the proper response to acknowledge
the wai or greetings of small children, and with hotel and restaurant
staff. Most of us were raised with the "Golden Rule" and
that will work for you as well in Thailand as it does at home. Nevertheless,
we will provide you with a short list of things that you should
know to help you overcome any ‘culture shock’ you may
encounter.
-
If you are invited into a Thai home, you are
expected to remove your footwear before entering the door.
-
It is considered disrespectful for anyone to
put his feet on the table while sitting. When seated make sure
your feet are not pointed at anyone as this is offensive to
Thais.
-
Thais regard the head as the highest (purest)
part of the body, so refrain from touching or patting the head
in a friendly gesture because it is considered impolite.
-
It is not proper to lose one’s temper
or show exasperation during a misunderstanding. "Jai yen",
or a "cool heart" the Thais believe will solve the
problem.
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 Is
one of the more interesting cultural activities for visitors during
their stay in Thailand. Visitors are welcome and discreet photographs
may be taken. Shoes must be taken off before entering a temple,
wearing shorts or other revealing clothing is frowned upon.
Monks are the most important people in Thai society and must be
treated with respect at all times. A monk’s vow of chastity
prohibits him from touching or being touched by a woman. Women are
usually advised to smile and slightly bow when encountering a monk
and maintain enough distance to prevent any contact with the monk
or his robes.
Temple fairs are held during the cool season (November through early
March) to raise money for temple maintenance. They are great fun.
There is a carnival atmosphere lots of good food and a chance to
see normal Thai people enjoying themselves.
 If
you get up early (sunrise) for a walk, you are likely to encounter
monks making their rounds for offering of food. Monks carrying a
bowl will be approached by Thais (usually women) who will offer
food to the monks (merit making). Thailand is a Buddhist country
and this ritual can be seen every day all over the country.
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