In a pint-sized Phuket

All walks of life in miniature world. Photo/Adisorn Chabsunghuen

Shortterm visitors who want to explore Phuket's corridors of time might be disappointed - you need a week or so to really soak up the history of the 210rai Old Town.

But for those with just a day or two, life as it once was in Phuket has been shrunk down to fit,  complete with historical buildings. The "2nd Miniature World" exhibition kicks off today at Jungceylon shopping complex, carrying the theme "Inheriting the Legend of Phuket".

The show features more than 100 miniatures built on a scale of 1:10, and celebrates the classic architecture, traditional cuisine and life of the island's bygone days. The multimedia exhibition features lights, sounds and action from interactive displays.

A bird'seye view

Chupan Banchongchat, one of the artists responsible,  says the exhibition is split into three zones: Phuket Old Town, Retro Trolley and Temple Fair.

"In the Old Town zone, we have created two model roads and put all our famous old buildings on them, including Phuket Police Station, the Standard Chartered Bank and a SinoPortuguese style house," he says.

The Retro Trolley Zone features a 2.4m by 2.4m model of a tram, which runs around the shrunken version Old Town.

Finally, in the Temple Fair Zone visitors get to watch miniature figures acting in traditional plays, such as khon and nang talung.

Xtra

Watch where you step

>>The "2nd Miniature World" exhibition is open from 11am to 10pm every day through May 25 at Silang Hall, inside Jungceylon.

>>Admission is free and part of money spent on food and activities will be donated to the Old Phuket Foundation for restoration work.

>>Visitors can also learn how to make their own miniature pieces with the artists involved in the exhibition.

>>For more information, call (076) 600 100.