The other side of Phuket not in guidebooks: Phuket town, neighborhoods, crime, and garbage issue
Phuket is a grand holiday island destination favored by heaps of holiday makers and tourists from all over the world. Famed for its scenic beaches, luxury resorts, tropical and lax, yet modern and bustling lifestyle, Phuket features some of Thailand’s most renowned entertainment, accommodation, and leisure scenes–undoubtedly reserving a special presence in millions of folks hearts, whether on the island or afar.
Looking for a tour information on Phuket? If so, you are better off checking out this Phuket travel and living site, as well as this Phuket one and all site
The Siamerican Wanderer is far from being the guru on Phuket travel and leisure living, as he has mainly experienced the Thai side of Phuket in the provinces administrative capital, Phuket town (which by definition is really a city), located on the Southeast coast. Despite being only 20 some kilometers from Phuket’s famous beach city, Patong, Phuket town is a world and a half away from the tropical Phuket paradise popularized in pictures and guidebooks.
Despite the name Phuket having ‘international’ implications, Phuket town is just an ordinary local city, where foreigners are still by far, a minority, and the majority southerner Thais go about their days, somewhat oblivious to the thriving tourism scenes elsewhere on the island.
On the surface of the medium sized city capital of Phuket island, the highlights one will find include its grand shopping mall (Central Festival), several superstores (Big C, Lotus, Robinson, and Makro), your typical array of local shops selling everything from antiques, clothes, wine, motorbikes, and electrical appliances to hardware, snacks, furniture, and various other specialties and novelties–mostly concentrated around the central fresh market, or downtown, dissected with a grid network of narrow two lane roads (both one way and two way)–filled with two and four wheel vehicles scurrying about .
Phuket city is hardly different from most other medium sized Thai cities, though does claim its own unique architectural character in some parts, identified by its colonial style Sino-Portugese theme uniformed in the hundreds of low-density commercial shop-houses throughout its heart.
Though the cities neighborhoods on the North, West, and South edges of town are maintained to a respectable standard, well within top-standard educational, medical, and other city facility grids. Phuket’s east side is far below such an international standard. This is the Phuket that the Wanderer has come to know first hand.
Particularly, there is Saparn Hin neighborhood, where Phuket�s primary canal-sewer empties out into the sea at the city�s main public ocean-front. At this particular seaside area, on one�s first impression, everything seems dandy with an abundance of playgrounds, sport facilities (tennis, basketball, soccer, swimming, etc.)bicycle and walking paths, grass and trees and rain shelters�couples and students lounge around and picnic under all along the grassed area aligning the canal and coast.
For decades, Saparn hin has been revered by many as a sacred and historical area, particularly among the island�s Chinese inhabitants. One of Phuket�s main Chinese shrines is here, marking the spot where immigrants half a century ago and beyond first set foot on the island�now serving as the finale gathering spot of many Chinese events such as the Vegetarian festival.
All that said, what�s so bad about this neighborhood?
While one is intaking the peaceful scenery of Phuket city�s prized ocean front (There aren�t any chunky foreigners sun bathing in speedos), one may eventually notice a wretched smell invade their nostrils. After turning ones head to the south, just on the other side of the canal they notice a huge white structure, quite out of place. Upon further examination, seeing garbage trucks speeding in and out of the facility, one realizes they are looking at Phuket�s garbage incinerator�where over 200 tons of the island�s rubbish is sent to burn each day with many tons of excess being buried on a last thought of desperation.
Just at the edge of the incinerator is a grimy slum-standard neighborhood and public school that have to reap the island�s waist smells and fumes on a daily basis as Phuket struggles to solve a serious waste management issue. Most would find no connection that Saparn Hin also has one of Phuket�s highest murder rates, particularly among unruly youth, but the Wanderer believes its all connected: Burned garbage fumes=hate of environment=instill hate in life=Low land values=high crime rate, etc. etc.
You would think that those in charge would find innovative and cosmopolitan ways to deal with such an issue, especially if Phuket is to maintain a reputation of an international standard place and someday be on par with truly international standard island cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Perhaps, utilizing the garbage for benefit�knocking two birds with one stone–creating sea land fills for special developments (i.e. Sentosa island in Singapore) or perhaps designing a Tsunami wall out at sea (as in Japan) surely there are ways to tackle the problem and keep land values high, right?
Well, apparently, according to this, the next solution is to build another garbage incinerator�a dual power plant as to appeal to private investors who would gain, right next to the over-used current one! Talk about geniuses who hold Phuket’s fate in their hands�NOT!!!!
It doesn�t seem like any God, Goddess, Lord, Buddha, Alah, or any deity can save Phuket from such ignorance and doomed future that greedy and ignorant politicians are creating for Phuket. Obviously, certain folks are getting fatter pockets with such idiotic solution to build another garbage burning facility�never mind the future and face of the residence of Phuket, let alone the environment�Burn it all! Who gives a Fluck!
The Siamerican says let the Governor of Phuket and all other investors and involved parties (You know who you are!) take up life-time residence right next to the incinerator(s) at Saparn Hin! Burn, burn, burn!
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