Phuket Aquarium
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| Tropical fishes
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An island vacation wouldn’t be complete without fish, and
not just seafood. For an afternoon of fun – learning about
what you eat and what might eat you (not really) – the Phuket
Aquarium is required viewing.
Over 30 tanks of freshwater and saltwater creatures give children
lots to reasons to point and say, “Mom, look!” The fascinating
weirdness of the undersea world cannot be overstated: cuttlefish
hover like spaceships, razorfish look like sinking sticks, and the
so-ugly-you-can’t-help-staring stonefish could go by no other
name. The diverse selection includes eel, crab, shrimp, sharks,
and fish that range from brilliantly coloured to cleverly disguised.
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| The tunnel |
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The star attraction is a large tank with a tunnel through its centre.
Inside, you’re surrounded by a kaleidoscopic swarm of rays,
snapper, grouper, wrasse, sharks, and others. (Show up at lunchtime,
say 11:00, on weekends for the added bonus of watching the fish
devour a meal.) Stepping out the end of the tunnel, you’re
greeted by eight massive man-sized cod in the aquarium’s 110-ton
tank.
All exhibits are labelled in Thai and English, with interesting
facts about the creatures included. Floor-to-ceiling wall-displays
go into greater detail about marine life, habitats, and conservation
issues. Outside the main gallery, a nature trail leads to turtles;
lots of them. Large pools contain baby hawksbills and green sea
turtles honing their swimming technique, and injured adults enjoy
an early retirement in the rehabilitation area.
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| Outside view of
the aquarium |
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The aquarium is part of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC)
– eight hectares (20 acres) of prime waterfront on Phuket’s
southeast coast devoted to marine education, research, and protection.
Management is planning to harness the PMBC’s considerable resources
– including a research vessel, hatchery, and endangered species
museum – and develop a hands-on, educational day program for
children in the near future.
Open from 08:30 until 16:00, seven days a week. Adults 100 baht,
children 50 baht. Gift shop and snack bar onsite. Tel: +66 (0)76
391 126. http://phuketaquarium.org/
Phuket Monkey School
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| Fun for the kids
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A monkey show is a sure-fire way to get your kids to squeal with
delight, if only for an hour. During the 30-minute presentation,
the little furry primates perform human tasks like riding a tricycle,
exercising, hawking trinkets, playing catch, and swimming. They
also show off their original trick: picking coconuts. Plenty of
monkey-on-your-shoulder audience participation and mild scatological
humour that kids (and, admit it, adults) love. After the show, feed
the performers bananas – of course – and make the most
of the final photo ops. Refreshments are available for purchase.
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