අපේ පුකෙට් සංචාරය

Phuket Through Sri Lankan Eyes

Last week, nine of us spent six days in Phuket, Thailand.

After a day or two, a rather unusual comparison came to mind: imagine lifting Trincomalee off the map of Sri Lanka, together with its sea, and setting it down among the hills of Kandy. That is something like how Phuket felt to me!

On our final day, we held a little “debriefing” about the trip. I asked everyone what they had noticed that felt different from Sri Lanka. These were the observations we all agreed upon:

1. Six days without hearing a horn. None of us could recall hearing a vehicle horn at any point during our stay.

2. Hardly a policeman in sight. Although we walked considerable distances each day along busy roads, we saw a police officer on the street only once.

3. Heavy traffic, but few visible public transport options. Traffic seemed comparable to Kandy’s, perhaps even heavier, yet we did not notice a regular public bus service in the areas we explored.

4. Where were the children? We hardly saw any local young children in the tourist areas we visited.

5. Well-maintained roads. The roads generally appeared wide, well constructed and properly maintained.

6. Shopping designed around tourism. There were countless shops clearly catering to visitors. The enormous Jungceylon shopping complex was particularly impressive, while restaurants such as McDonald’s offered round-the-clock service.

7. Many motorcyclists without helmets. This was another striking sight on the roads.

8. Remarkably patient drivers. Throughout our stay, we witnessed no angry honking, aggressive gestures or obvious displays of temper behind the wheel. Despite the traffic, drivers seemed courteous and considerate.

9. Warm and friendly hospitality. Many of the hotel staff we encountered were young women, and their kindness and friendliness towards guests left a lasting impression.

10. Cannabis shops openly lining the streets. We saw shops openly advertising cannabis, including places that appeared to allow customers to use it on the premises.

11. A noticeable mix of visitors. Many tourists we encountered appeared to be from Arab countries, India and Russia. Of course, this may simply reflect the season and the particular areas we visited.

These are simply the impressions of nine Sri Lankans after a six-day visit, rather than conclusions about the whole of Phuket.

What stayed with me most was the calmness on the roads and the warmth of the welcome. As visitors, we remember the scenery—but we remember how people made us feel just as much.