Phuket: Pearl of the Orient

Renowned for its natural wealth since ancient times, the southern Thai island of Phuket has acquired a new kind of international celebrity in more recent days as a place of rest and relaxation for over a million foreign visitors a year. Situated off the western coast of the Malay Peninsula, Phuket has seductive landscapes, unique cultural experiences and a variety of natural color. Sun-drenched, white-sand beaches of uncommon beauty are strung like jewels along the coast bordering the Andam...