phuket

Looking at Phuket from a Standpoint of Status:

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Since the launch of the Phuket sandbox scheme on July 1, the southern island has welcomed over 42,000 foreign visitors to its shores. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has got the calculator out again and according to TAT Phuket director, Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, over 2 billion baht has been generated for the economy.

“We set the target at 100,000 visitors because we thought we would have both short-and long-haul visitors. But so far, most of our visitors are from the United States and Europe.”

The Bangkok Post reports that most foreign travellers came from the US, the UK, Israel, France, and Germany. A reduction in the number of days tourists must spend on Phuket means travellers can now venture to Krabi, Surat Thani, and Phang Nga after 7 days, instead of the previous 14. After 7 days at 1 of those tourist spots, they are free to travel elsewhere in Thailand.

In related news, Phuket health chief Dr Kusak Kukiatiikoon has confirmed infection rates on the island are on the decline.

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Kata Beach: Past, Present, and Future

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From the earliest days of the expansion of merchant sea captains from India sailing favorable winds, at the end of the Monsoon, down the eastern coastlines of the subcontinent, then across the azure Andaman Sea, Phuket has been placed firmly on the Map.

Adventurers indeed came also from the large island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), adjacent to the Indian mainland. They ventured out towards the Straits of Malacca, and the mystical Spice Islands. On the trade route, Phuket has been a crossroads of lucrative trades, religions, and myriad business opportunities for over two thousand years. First, the spread of Hinduism, then the evolving influence of Buddhism, which still holds sway today in the kingdom, to the coming of the more modern faiths, helped make the beautiful, international tropical destination of Phuket a draw for the people towards paradise.

The early traders and merchants that established the commerce networks from Arabi & East Africa, to China & beyond, named the island, Jung Ceylon, or New Ceylon. Jung Ceylon is, coincidently, the name of the largest shopping center in Patong Beach, the tourist mecca of Phuket. When the island became a part of the emerging Kingdom of Thailand in the 1700s, the name was changed to what we know today: Phuket.

The attraction in the old days focused on tin mining and the subsequent precious stone industry, where rubies, emeralds, and sapphires were plentiful and very profitable, as a residual reward from the tin mining operations. But the fishing industry has also always flourished with Phuket having direct access to the open ocean.

After the last of three wars against Burma in the late 18th century, including a period where the Burmese actually siezed the island of Phuket and its rich resources, the Thai Kingdom placed the amazing island firmly as a Province of Thailand. Now those massive tin mines have since been reclaimed, with the earthen destruction smoothed over and beautified by public parks, recreation areas, top-rated golf courses, historical museums, resorts, even a British International school, as well as, personal residences.

Kata Beach, placed on the south west side of the island, never did see much activity. Just a quiet fishing village for centuries, keeping its charm and semi-seclusion, by being tucked away in a perfect crescent bay adjacent the much larger and bustling Karon Beach, and also Patong Beach. Still today, holiday makers and digital nomads looking for the slower paced, simple, country life come to Kata Beach for the solitude and its natural, peaceful beauty.

Kata remained a typical, small coastal fishing village through both the 19th and 20th centuries, until the dawn of international tourism caused the eager development of Patong, Karen, Surin, and Bang Tao beaches, which eventually spilled over to Kata, with her effervescent charm, and luckily of a more sustained degree of development. Lovely Kata, with her gentle waves, and spectacular views.

Nestled in the tree covered, south corner of the bay, on a jutland point, the second project in the Horizon portfolio has some fantastic potential. Previously operated as Villa Elisabeth and reclaimed by the landowner, whom Horizons negotiates contract, the 15 existing units and villas are in need of serious renovation, but the endeavor to build an additional 10 ocean view units above the restaurant increases the value and opportunity magnificently. The Kata Beach Point project will certainly be a shining, precious jewel in the Horizons crown.

The fisherman still go out every morning, after all the centuries that have passed along that wonderful spot along the rich, blue Andaman Sea, bringing in the fresh catch of the day, for that perfect, romantic dining experience right there on the beach…

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The Story of Gold Pieces of Eight

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From the old folklore stories of hidden treasure and pirates sailing the seven seas, the Spanish Doubloons are known and remembered the world over. The references to Pieces of Eight were mostly the Spanish silver dollars, but also the gold “escudo” or “eight escudo” was also known as a Doubloon and a Piece of Eight.

In the famous Robert Louise Stevenson book, Treasure Island, the colloquial phrase “pieces of eight, pieces of eight”, as was squawked incessantly by pirate Long John Silver’s parrot upon his shoulder, stamped the words permanently on our collective memories. In the 15th and 16th centuries the doubloon was a primary international currency, where the coins were divided in eight equal parts to create smaller denominations, or Bits. That is where the term, 2 bits, equaling a quarter or 1/4th came into the zenglish language, and is still used today in country-side Americam slang. It is also speculated that this is where the digital crypto currency, Bitcoin, got its name. Now, not only can a Bitcoin be split into eight equal pieces, it can be divided into 100 million Satoshis. Any increment smaller than an Eighth can be termed a “Tidbit”. Napoleon Bonaparte stated, “Empires rise and fall on mere tidbits of information.” The axiom still holds true today.

In the New Horizons portfolio, the Phase I of Mandarin Oceanview boutique resort has 8 luxury two-bedroom condominium units. And, therefore, the theme of the Horizons’ website, and the Projects therein, became the Doubloon Collection: An eclectic array of luxury property opportunities in a true tropical paradise, and old stomping grounds of freeloading pirates from long ago. The coin featured on the Homepage is the extremely rare and valuable 1787 Brasher doubloon. A fitting icon for the New Horizons.