Bang Wad Dam, Reservoir and Shrine

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We visited this reservoir because our friends wanted to go for a bicycle ride and a run - all with a push-chair.

After leaving and writing this I found that Jamie in Phuket comes here for a run in the mornings - so if you see him say hello.

It is certainly a peaceful place and it is popular with the local people to exercise in so it did get quite busy whilst we were there.

But then I looked again - there was a temple on top of the adjacent hill. I did count the steps to get up there.

It was worth getting up to the top of the hill.

At the top is a wonderful view - it's a lovely place to escape to and take some exercise. 

  

พอตาโตะแซะ - Chinese Shrine Monkey Hill

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พอตาโตะแซะ - is a Chinese Temple that we visited a number of times to feed the wild monkeys - we no longer do this however because the wild monkeys tend to be a little wild now however... so I would advise you to stay in your car now.

The shrine is halfway up the hill near a local restaurant. Here you can have lunch at Green Forest Restaurant - a little out of the way but worth it for the view. In fact if you were there on a good day you are able to see Wat Koh Sirey in the distance on top of the hill.

It is a particularly interesting shrine because when you look more carefully it represents more than one religion. What a wonderful example for me to share  - well I think.

So here's a closer look...

Ganeesha is here again

In fact I think that it is one of the most interesting Chinese Shrines in Phuket but only little is written about it - in fact I first recognised this shrine as Po Ta To Sa Shrine and I have no idea where I got that name from...

But it would be difficult for some people to visit and walk up as it does seem to be built on the side of the hill.

Don't forget to visit  Wat Chaoroen Samankit carefully tucked away on the left hand side at the bottom of the hill though. 

I wonder why the chills seemed big today?

The decorations were different throughout the whole shrine and I seem to recognise this  statue in the middle but I cant place it as I write this.

 Previous Visit

 1) July 2012 

 

Amulet Alley

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Amulet Ally is a place that you must visit when you are in Phuket but always visited with respect.

"Amulets are made using the Buddha image, image of famous monk, or even image of the monks who made the amulets themselves and let believers wear on for security and peace. Amulets have different kind of sizes, different shapes and different materials such as plaster, bone, wood, metal. It may include ash from incenses or old temple structure, hair from famous monk, to add protection power to the amulets.  After the amulets were made, the maker will then ask the monks who live in temples or monks from other temples join together and practice will, chant, pray and bless the amulets, this process may need at least one week more than three years." - text from Wikipedia 

Amulet trading in Thailand is an enormous industry - but I am not sure that I should refer to it as an industry. I have a number of amulets which are in our home but traditionally they are won around the owner's neck. I then found a Facebook, Google and even found a forum for trading!

I am not sure what all these amulets are for or who they are supposed to represent - a fascinating collection. Here is a link to the most famous Amulets. Not that I think any of them were down this alley...

Here is a listing and images or a number of Thai Amulets which are available. I would imagine that I could scroll through this site and identify what I have seen at the site and Amulet Alley in Phuket Town.

This is a salesman which I see almost every time that I visit.

The central figure is a giant demon - a Yaksha or Yuk.

This looks like a monk figurine - Phra Sivali. 

This reminds me of an Indian deity - there are a number of elements which are popular - the biggest being Ganesha at the time I write this - there is a dedicated shop in Phuket Town for Ganesha.

There are some strange things which I have found when researching - the most common would be the phallic objects but the ones that I have not found are the coffin nails - they have a specific quality...

Next time I will look for those. Thank you to the people who sell the amulets here everyday.

Previous Visits
 1) April 2016
 2) March 2013 
 3) August 2012  
 4) October 2010 

 

 

Kathu fresh market

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Fresh markets are a wonderful place to go for a number of reasons

You get a real idea of what the local Thai people eat.

The fruit is so yummy.

Still not sure about the Durian though...

The flowers are beautiful in the mornings (whoops, forget to mention that markets are best visited in the the earlier hours).

Then you can pay respects to a small Buddhist temple which is nearby.

Then there were the pile of shoes? Local markets are always worth visiting if you are in Phuket.

  

Nguan Choon Tong drugstore

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Nguan Choon Tong drugstore has an element of real beauty because it is still real. I do feel unconfident entering in here simply to take a photograph - maybe you will feel a little different?

I entered and I was taken with the all enveloping aroma when I entered and it is very similar to when I enter into a Chinese Temple. As Jamie indicated on his blog

"Wait outside and inhale deeply"

In fact Jamie's post on Nguan Choon Tong has some beautiful photographs on it - so I have posted his here - because they are so good and I have done with his permission.

"Nguan Choon Tong drugstore is the oldest herbal medicine seller in Phuket Province that is famous and well known to Phuket people. This drugstore has been open for almost 100 years since the time that the medical profession was underdeveloped.

Nguan Choon Tong sells both Chinese folk medicine and Thai herbal medicine - including Chinese herbal ingredients for cooking"

So that's why it smells so good...

Previous Visit

 1) November 2010