The island was on one of the main trade routes between India and China and was often mentioned in the ships' logs of Indian, Arabian, Chinese and European visitors. The Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traded with Phuket. Other visitors were less friendly . The island's most famous monument is the memorial statue of the heroines Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sisunthon who rallied islanders in 1785 to repel Burmese invaders . Phuket's Indian Ocean coastline boasts the finest beaches while the eastern coastline overlooks some 30 lesser islands occupying largely tranquil seas.
Islands vary greatly in size.
Some are large enough to sustain fishing communities, coconut plantations, sea crocodiles, deer and wild boar. Others are little larger than massive rocks, while still others resemble fortresses and are riddled with caves containing birds' nests prized by gourmets. Please also see the following related reports from Travel-Asia magazine.