April 2020

Promthep Cape is one of the most photographed locations in Phuket. Every evening, tour buses, scooters and private cars sweep through Rawai Beach and up the island's southernmost hill to watch the sunset, which can also be spelt as 'Phromthep Cape' (though it's said the same way). There's also a lighthouse displaying interesting historical maritime artefacts here. It commands spectacular views over the east and southeast of the island and its environs.

The lighthouse/museum is air-conditioned, and if you go up to the outdoor terrace, you can see the distinctive shapes of Phi Phi Islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi on a clear day. Most of the time, you'll be able to see nearby islands, like Koh Kaeo Yai with its Buddhist monastery.

Some people make the rather demanding trek down to the end of Promthep Cape's promontory, though most stay in the viewing part for sunset

From my trip in January 2020 to the hills of Kathu, I found the Phuket Mining Museum.

Stunning grandiose drive to this magnificent building. Which actually was more interesting on the outside than the inside. Most f this video is just that!

The outside and the inner quadrant of the mansion.

Something to view whilst stuck at home and remind ourselves of sunnier days out!

Phuket Mining Museum (or Kathu Mining Museum) was built with unusual grandeur in a very remote and isolated location behind the Loch Palm Golf Club of Kathu, somewhere in the hills before Patong. Museums in Phuket are not precisely living spaces where artists exhibit their creations, but this one gives you a pretty good vision of what Phuket was famous for during the tin mining era.

Driving through the Phuket Mining Museum massive double arch entrance gate and along the lake will lead you to a monumental Sino-Portuguese pink building.

Once you walked through the whole Phuket Mining Museum building, which doesn’t take long despite its size, you can explore the park around and have a look at some other mining remains and machine spare parts as well as a beautiful view on the nearby hills. As shown in this video.