Phuket Philatelic Museum (Post Office Museum)

Now I'll admit that a post office museum may not be top of many peoples top 10 things to do in Phuket list, but 'tis the nature of this blog to avoid the crowds, plus this little museum is in Phuket Town, which I like, and .. come on, admit it.. who didn't have a stamp collection when they were little? Within the history of stamps you can find the history of a country. Kings heads, famous people, historical buildings and even countries changing their names - before 1939, the word Thailand did not exist - the country was called Siam, and this of course is reflected in old stamps. Yes, as a kid I had stamps, inherited from older family members, and I do recall the name Siam.. but could not find it on a map.

Phuket Town has several small museums - there is the Thai Hua School museum, and a neat little collection of old stuff at the Thavorn Hotel. I like the town, a welcome break from the tourist beaches. The old town is great, lots of old buildings, small cafes, interesting shops, alleyways and markets, Chinese shrines and Buddhist temples. Phuket Town always has something interesting to find.

So, some weeks ago, while on a mission to get a new internet connection from the C.A.T office, I had a spare 20 minutes, and took a 3 minute walk around the corner to the main post office in Phuket town, on Montri Road, just east of the old town, or a block west and north of the main bus station. The old post office is right next door and houses the Phuket Philatelic Museum (see location on Google Earth).





Now, in some way this is a "let's put some old stuff in some old rooms and call it a museum" kind of place. First room I looked into had the following exhibit...



Yes, a "Writing People Table"... a wooden desk where people can write their letters or postcards or telegrams. Worthy of a museum? You be the judge. There are a couple of rooms full of old junk, old phones, scales for weighing parcels and even a (fairly modern) teletype machine.





But where are the stamps? Well, there is a sizeable display with old stamps and a history of the Thai postage stamp. History buffs and philatelists will enjoy. A reminder that Phuket does have some history... tourists only appeared at 11:55pm on the history clock.





The museum is open Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm; Saturdays 9am - 12pm. Closed on Sundays. If you happen to be in town, well, why not. Entry is free, as it is for the Thai Hua museum and Thavorn Hotel. Have a look around town, I do recommend getting off the tourist beaches sometimes. Life is happening all around.

A few related pages on Jamie's Phuket:

• Old Phuket Town
• Thai Hua School Museum
• Phuket Town Photo Walk
• Explore Phuket Town
• Thalang National Museum