Koh Sirey Temple

We had time this afternoon for a drive around once the clouds had cleared, and I decided to head for Koh Sirey, a rather forgotten corner of Phuket, located to the east of Phuket Town, over a small bridge near the Rassada Ferry Terminal (from where you get boats to Phi Phi and Krabi).

 

Koh Sirey is rather undeveloped with lots of rubber plantations, coconut trees, a sea gyspy village, a few big houses, a school, a fair number of locals and a temple on the hill. The temple is just past the school. You pass through an entrance by the road up a slight hill to an open area, turn right and the road carries on up. Not much parking space (park where you like, it is unlikely to be busy) and head up the steps lined by 2 dragons. Inside the temple (if it's open) you find a large reclining Buddha. I have been several times and only saw the Buddha on my last visit - the photos below were added to this post in December 2008.





You can also walk around the outside, which is surrounded by other Buddha images and has some great views. A few other visitors came along, but it's a quiet place.





We have been to Koh Sirey a number of times and have eaten in a couple of different small beachfront restaurants there (just drive around the island and you'll find where to eat). The Sea Gypsy village is rather dirty, and there is a row of new houses built after the tsunami, with piles of garbage all around. You know I was in Malaysia last week and saw a sea gyspy village on Mabul Island (Sabah) which looked almost exactly the same, especially with the garbage. These people don't seem to have figured out what to do with their rubbish!







Koh Sirey is well worth a trip. You can have a nice lunch there, see the temple, get some views, see the sea gypsy village and get a feel for the Phuket that exists outside the tourist zones.

• More about Koh Sirey Island
• Koh Sirey Temple location on Google Earth