They filmed part of James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun in Thailand 38 years ago and its still a major tourist attraction. James Bond Island (real name Ko Tapu) forms the crux of many day trips through Phang Nga Bay which leave from Ao Po on the west side of Phuket, Thailand. Perhaps the significance was lost on me, but I don't understand the popularity of this place. The island in itself is what you see in these photos. Its small, but I guess it has a weird shape to it - getting narrower near the base. What you probably don't see in the many photos tourists take of themselves - either posing and pretending to be James Bond (in the film played by Roger Moore) or doing the whole forced perspective thing where it looks like you're pushing the island or holding it up - is the market selling knick-knacks, an ice cream and soft drink vendor and a well established port behind them.
Perhaps the significance is lost on me because 1), I wasn't even alive in 1974 and b) I haven't seen the movie. Perhaps the middle-aged tourists come to this place to fan-girl over Roger Moore in the same way that I would visit say, the set of the Lord of the Rings.
In any case, this may well be the best case of milking something I've ever seen. But hey, if it keeps bringing the baht then why not?
Have you been to James Bond Island? What did you think?
More photos from the trip in the snapshot page.
The day trip was booked through my hostel and cost 1200B (about $48NZD) which included transfers from the hostel, buffet lunch on board and canoeing.  | ||
A still image from James Bond: The Man With the Golden Gun in 1974. James Bond Island, left, in Phang Nga, Phuket, Thailand is still a major tourist attraction 38 years later.
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