PHUKET'S Old Town Festival attracts international performers this year for what should be a great weekend of activities.
Among the highlights will be Himalayan Muslims from one of the coldest parts of the world and dancers from 10 Chinese provinces.
The opening night on Friday saw hundreds of people enjoying the benefits of a large section of Phuket Town being closed to traffic, with local food, music and history on show.
Earlier, Phuket City Municipality Mayor Sonjai Suwansupana told Phuketwan: ''This year is much, much more exciting than last year. You wouldn't want to miss it.
''Last year numbers increased by 50 percent, and we expect another dramatic increase in the turnout this year.''
The three-day event includes a celebration of Phuket's background as a centre for Chinese traders, and it's really an extension of Chinese New Year on Phuket.
Old Phuket Town remains the historic heart of what is now the sprawling Phuket City.
Normally limited to a short stretch of Thalang Road, where all the wiring has recently been placed underground, the festival this year expands for the first time to include parts of Yaowarat Road, Krabi Road, and Phang Nga Road.
''It should be even more spectacular than usual,'' Mayor Sonjai said.
Highlights each night will include Shaolin Kung Fu, acrobats from Beijing, tribal dancing from Tibet, Chinese opera, a puppet show and mask-changing performers from Sichuan.
Phuket's pink buses, known as seung tao (twin benches) but more generally called po tong locally on Phuket, will ferry people around from one Chinese temple to another during the festivities.
The fare of 50 baht is expected to help raise 10 million baht to restore one of Phuket's finest Chinese temples.
Groups of people will be coming from Penang and Singapore, both islands with similar Chinese trading backgrounds, to show their own versions of local Chinese culture.
While every day will bring Phuket magic, the final day, when the spirits of the goddess Kuan Im will be invoked, promises to be even more unmissable.
Klong Bang Yai, which once was the main transport system for Phuket's highly developed export business, will be the means for five traditional boats to carry people on short trips.
Old Phuket Town Festival, February 19-21
13.09 hrs. Leave from Queen Sirikit Park for Bang Neow Shrine
Visit at Bang Neow Shrine, perhaps the best-known of the temples during the Vegetarian Festival, to pay respect to the Chinese Gods
14.09 hrs. Leave from Bang Neow Shrine direct to Kiu Tien Kiong Shrine at Sapan Hin.
14.59 hrs. Leave from Kiu Tien Kiong Shrine direct to Pu Jor Shrine.
15.19 hrs. Visit at Jui Tui Shrine.
Taste local Thai dessert, which is believed to bring good luck all year.
16.29 hrs. Visit Sang Thum Shrine, on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, paying respects to Sun Tai Sai God.
17.09 hrs. Leave from Sang Thum Shrine to The Chinese New Year.
Phuket Beach Party Draws 2000 - and CriticsAmong the highlights will be Himalayan Muslims from one of the coldest parts of the world and dancers from 10 Chinese provinces.
The opening night on Friday saw hundreds of people enjoying the benefits of a large section of Phuket Town being closed to traffic, with local food, music and history on show.
Earlier, Phuket City Municipality Mayor Sonjai Suwansupana told Phuketwan: ''This year is much, much more exciting than last year. You wouldn't want to miss it.
''Last year numbers increased by 50 percent, and we expect another dramatic increase in the turnout this year.''
The three-day event includes a celebration of Phuket's background as a centre for Chinese traders, and it's really an extension of Chinese New Year on Phuket.
Old Phuket Town remains the historic heart of what is now the sprawling Phuket City.
Normally limited to a short stretch of Thalang Road, where all the wiring has recently been placed underground, the festival this year expands for the first time to include parts of Yaowarat Road, Krabi Road, and Phang Nga Road.
''It should be even more spectacular than usual,'' Mayor Sonjai said.
Highlights each night will include Shaolin Kung Fu, acrobats from Beijing, tribal dancing from Tibet, Chinese opera, a puppet show and mask-changing performers from Sichuan.
Phuket's pink buses, known as seung tao (twin benches) but more generally called po tong locally on Phuket, will ferry people around from one Chinese temple to another during the festivities.
The fare of 50 baht is expected to help raise 10 million baht to restore one of Phuket's finest Chinese temples.
Groups of people will be coming from Penang and Singapore, both islands with similar Chinese trading backgrounds, to show their own versions of local Chinese culture.
While every day will bring Phuket magic, the final day, when the spirits of the goddess Kuan Im will be invoked, promises to be even more unmissable.
Klong Bang Yai, which once was the main transport system for Phuket's highly developed export business, will be the means for five traditional boats to carry people on short trips.
Old Phuket Town Festival, February 19-21
13.09 hrs. Leave from Queen Sirikit Park for Bang Neow Shrine
Visit at Bang Neow Shrine, perhaps the best-known of the temples during the Vegetarian Festival, to pay respect to the Chinese Gods
14.09 hrs. Leave from Bang Neow Shrine direct to Kiu Tien Kiong Shrine at Sapan Hin.
14.59 hrs. Leave from Kiu Tien Kiong Shrine direct to Pu Jor Shrine.
15.19 hrs. Visit at Jui Tui Shrine.
Taste local Thai dessert, which is believed to bring good luck all year.
16.29 hrs. Visit Sang Thum Shrine, on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, paying respects to Sun Tai Sai God.
17.09 hrs. Leave from Sang Thum Shrine to The Chinese New Year.
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