Home Phuket Tourism News Phuket Tourism News, Movies in Phuket, Phuket Traffic and Leatherback Turtles
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Patong motorbike racing
Last week a large group of French motorbike racers in Patong were arrested and charged with various traffic offenses.
Phuket, Patong police received a number of complaints that a group of tourists was racing motorbikes in Patong. Footage of the racers also went viral on local social media platforms, causing outrage among many Patong residents.
Patong locals complained that the racers were disturbing them when they were trying to relax, and posing a threat to the safety of the people. Most of the riders were not wearing the required protective motorcycle helmets as per Thai law.
Patong Police have also taken action against the motorbike rental operators who allowed foreign tourists to rent vehicles without a valid driving license. These operators were fined 1,000 baht each for their actions.
Hollywood movies here in Phuket
Phuket and its surrounding areas have been the backdrop for plenty of movies, and as a whole Thailand has always been eager to attract Hollywood and the international cinema industry as a way to promote tourism in the country.
Some of the films shot in Phuket:
Shot in 2000 and directed by Danny Boyle, The Beach is based on the eponymous Alex Garland novel. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie made a small cove on the western side of Koh Phi Phi Leh world-famous: Maya Bay.
Shot in 1974, The Man with the Golden Gun was the 9th James Bond movie. Featuring Roger Moore as the iconic British spy and Christopher Lee as the villain, Francisco Scaramanga.
Shot in 2004 and directed by Beeban Kidron, this sequel to the successful Bridget Jones’s Diary reunites the same cast members: Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy, and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.
Shot in 1993, Heaven & Earth is a superb film by Oliver Stone about the Vietnam War and its consequences. Based on a true story written by Le Ly Hayslip.
Shot in 1995, Cutthroat Island is a romantic/comedy/action/pirate movie starring Geena Davis. The film was a big flop, credited for ending the production of any pirate-themed Hollywood movies until the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Shot in 1997 and directed by Roger Spottiswoode, Tomorrow Never Dies was the 18th James Bond movie of the series, and the second using Thai locations to represent other Asian countries
Shot in 2005 and directed by George Lucas, the 3rd episode of the world-famous Star Wars movies saga has a few scenes filmed in southern Thailand. The tall limestone cliffs and lush vegetation of Krabi Province were used to represent Kaashyyk, the home planet of the Wookiees.
Shot in 2012 and directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, The Impossible is based on the true story of a British family that was staying in a Khao Lak beachfront resort for Christmas 2004, when the tsunami occurred.
Leatherback turtles have been seen in Phuket
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world. They are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell. They are named for their tough rubbery skin and have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs.
No marine life encounter is guaranteed but the chance of snorkeling with sea turtles whilst in Thailand is pretty high. Turtles can be seen almost anywhere, the most common places are the Similan Islands (mooring rocks, island number 9), the Surin Islands and the Phi Phi Islands.
Where is the best place for Thai Food
Thai food emphasizes on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. It’s all about the juggling of elements to create a harmonious finish.
Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and kaeng (curries). Deep-frying, stir-frying, and steaming are methods introduced from Chinese cuisine.
Back in 2017, seven Thai dishes appeared on a list of the “World’s 50 Best Foods”, an online poll of 35,000 people worldwide by CNN Travel. Thailand had more dishes on the list than any other country: tom yam kung (4th), pad thai (5th), som tam (6th), massaman curry (10th), green curry (19th), Thai fried rice (24th) and nam tok mu (36th).
There are so many amazing Thai restaurants to choose from, and our top tip is to head into Phuket Town and go on a food tour so you can really experience the amazing Thai food.
A Chefs tour offers amazing Food tours
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Shaun is the Co-Owner and Founder of 5 Star Marine Phuket. After visiting Phuket for a holiday he never left and over 13 years later he calls Phuket home with his wife and kids. Shaun is passionate about Phuket and the Islands surrounding Phuket and loves helping fellow travellers explore.
