Things to do (closed): April 2016

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Limelight

Limelight is an Urban Shopping Mall that was opened in 2104. It took over the area which was where a very popular restaurant - Lemongrass. This is now a smaller restaurant in the shopping complex Limelight.

There are a plethora of different things to do here and the image above is just an outline.
Food and Beverage, Fashion Avenue, Edutainment, Mini Supermarket, Health & Beauty, Cafe Bakery & Ice Cream and Food Capital.

We have been to Kasa Japanese Restaurant, Food Capital, Pancake Corner, Tops Daily and Mochi Ice Cream - restaurant reviews coming soon...

If air-conditioning and shopping are what you are looking for it then this is certainly the place to go.

AND of course it is next to the Phuket Indy Market - currently on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from approximately 5pm - a place to visit.

Sunday, 24 April 2016

Roadside Chinese Cemetery

The longer that I live in Phuket the more that I see.

There is a very large community of Chinese in Phuket and I try to visit and pay respect to all of them that I can visit.

This one was a little different because it was down at the end of a side road that we drive past regularly.

It was a surprise to see so much down this long road that sat so innocently next to the side of the road... The pleasure for me was that it was so innocent to me initially but then on entering it was so clear that it was looked after.

The arc of the shrine indicates the person to whom the structure is dedicated...

Saturday, 23 April 2016

Alex Face Mural (B4 end of May)

Surprised to read this today

The mural was completed on Saturday Apr 9, and following its completion, local residents took to social media to either severely criticise or praise the design. (See story here.)

In attendance at today’s meeting, held at 10am, were Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana, local media, residents, government officials and Wirachai Pranveerapaibool, leader of the “So Phuket” group who were part responsible for the mural being painted.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Wirachai said, “Following the first meeting held last week, I have decided to ask Pattcharapon ‘Alex Face’ Tangreun to paint over his mural on the side of the old Standard Chartered Bank Building.

“Mr Pattcharapon will paint over the mural himself between May 5-15,” he said.

“I understand that there are several opinions about the mural and about art in general,” he added.

Mr Wirachai went on to say that the mural on the old Standard Chartered Bank building is part of a collection of 12 murals being painted on various buildings around Phuket Town and that the project will continue until all 12 are complete.

“This project will go on until all 12 paintings are finished. Only four – including the one on the old Standard Chartered Bank – have been finished so far. Once all 12 are complete the artists will speak more about the project. This should be in October,” he said.

Story from the Phuket News

This was painted on the side of a historic building in Phuket Town - adjacent to the Standard Chartered Bank...

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Rang Hill Viewpoint, moths and roti

We visited here again because we had visited a restaurant in Phuket Town but as I write this I have forgotten the name of it - but there was not much to say about it because we had desert up here!

After the steep climb and missing the turn off (the road is not the best well lit road) we found a parking space and went to the end of the viewpoint. It was beautiful and I have to admit to being completely unprepared to take photographs in the dark - so we I didn't.

There is a lot to Rang Hill as can be indicate by the times that I have been lucky enough to visit. The difference today though was that there were a plethora of moths about and lots of different colours (so much for my Biology teaching).

So we set about trying to take a photograph with the telephone... which was entertaining.

So much so that we had to have a roti from a small shop there.

Not sure that I would be able to cycle up that hill though...

Previous visits

1) February 2016 - Rang Hill (night)
2) May 2015 - Wat Khao Rang

3) July 2014

4) October 2014 - Rang Hill viewpoint

5) February 2013 - cemeteries
6) September 2013 - a statue

7) November 2012 - Wat Khao Rang part 1

8) November 2012 - Wat Khao Rang part 2

Monday, 18 April 2016

Amulet Alley

Amulet Alley is a place in Phuket Old Town which can easily be missed - it is simply avery small (read easy to miss) alley in Phuket Town.

It is an alley which is approximately 150 metres long and it is a long row of stands and behind each trestle table is a smiling amulet seller - in fact at one end there is a gut cutting keys. This opposite to the terrible Chinese restaurant that still sells Shark Fins and then the other end is the Shrine of the Serene Light.

Behind the stands there are also small shops selling the same things. These displays attract a number of people - predominantly Thai or Buddhist and they are all there for their personal reasons. In fact I have even seen a monk there one day but I really should manage my photographs better...

A question which I continually get is how much people should pay for them - the amulets are NOT priced. You pay for them what you thing that they are worth! With knowing this the amulet can be made of gypsum, clay, silver or gold so there is further points towards cost...

What makes the Amulet more valuable on the open market is the place that it was made and then who it represents - but how are you supposed to work all of this out?

Amulets are very popular through Thailand and here it is quite a relief that I have never been harassed by any of the people selling them - in fact they welcome me back...

Amulet Alley is a place that must be visited in Phuket Town - it is of interest but amulets are not always the sacred ornamentation that you will find here either.

Whatever you come down here for please be respectful to the traders and their goods - I was given an Amulet recently...

Previous Visits
1) March 2013
2) August 2012
3) October 2010

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Lard-Yai Hostel and Toy Shop?

Lard-Yai Hostel is a little more than a Hostel - in fact I did not know that it was a Hostel.

does he deter shop lifters?

All I knew it was was a very entertaining collection of toys which I had not seen for a great many years.

I dare you - did you own a copy of this?

There is more than one little coffee shop like this in Phuket - this was along Thalang Rd.
I believe that the place that I visited was Lard-Yai Hostel - purely because of what I found on Foursquare.

Whether or not this is the exact place I am not sure - but it certainly is a Toy Shop...

what should i do with all my videos?

is that a toy?

i wonder if anyone liked Cherry Coca-Cola?

So where exactly is it - I am not sure but it is on Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town - somewhere...

Saturday, 9 April 2016

Kissing a snake

I hope you have read about my blog post and the man with a pet python?

Then the python left him...

But looking at this video I guess you shouldn't play or kiss a snake...

I guess you should think twice...

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Sino Portugese Buildings and more in Phuket

Sino Portugese Houses are something which I love to find through out Phuket - but I don't always remember where I saw them.

"In the 18th century, much of the island’s tin mining was carried out by Hokkien Chinese who became the big players in building the old part of the city. In the early 20th century, under Governor Phraya Rassada Nupradit, major European mining companies were invited in, and the major public infrastructure such as roads and canals was built.

No one knows exactly when the first building in this style was constructed, but old photographs from the reign of King Rama V (1853-1910) show that it was already well established by then. Two styles of building in particular stand out: the shop-house (Sino-Portuguese style) and the big mansion (Sino-Colonial style)." text is from Phuket 101

I have started to make a map but it did not keep up with all their locations.I did find that
Phuket 101 had a list of 13 and their locations - I liked it.

However they are always related to the commercially known buildings. The list with more information is provided by Ko Phuket.

"Phuket has a long association with European seafaring nations such as Portugal, Great Britain, Holland and France. It also has an established tradition of ethnic Chinese settlement, mainly from Fujian Province, during the tin mining days.

In addition Phuket city was a traditional meeting place of Thai and Malays. The overall result was a fascinating cultural mix, and the townscape of old Phuket is unique in Thailand." text is from Ko Phuket