A Trip into Phuket Town

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One morning some guests from the Cape Panwa Hotel and I took a trip into Phuket Town.

We drove along the coastal road into Yon Bay where we could see over to Chalong Bay and the Big Buddah in the distance.

Our first stop was in Old Phuket Town where we visited the Fresh Market. Our guests tried fruits - Durian, Dragonfruit, Lychees and Salak. After this I asked the guests to try other delicacies but they politely declined.

We walked through the market and the backstreets of Phuket and came to Thamachad (Natural) – a quite exquisite restaurant serving authentic Thai food. Not only is the food special but so are it’s surroundings – the tables have Sewing Machine legs, there is a PC with a fish tank in it, there are some 45’s on the wall and more. Click here for a look inside Natural.

Then we visited a Chinese Temple and Shrine. The Chinese Temple and Shrine is full of colour, beauty and interest. We removed our shoes and entered, joss sticks and candles were lit by many guests and bracelets were tied. The details of all the figures on the three blessing tables in the Temple were magnificent and absorbing.

After this we visited Rang Hill to enjoy the view over to Phuket Town and the Andaman Sea.

Shopping was last - but not least!!!! We visited Phuket Town and it’s plethora of Shopping Malls, CD-shops, restaurants, coffee shops and clothes shops.

AN UPDATE

Click here for an interesting article about the History of Phuket Town

5 best Thai traditional Phuket Town Noodle Shops - Mee Ton Poe, ถูกปาก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวไก่มะระ, Ao Ke Noodle, เยาว เยนตาโฟ สาขา-3, หมี่อ่าวเก

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I have to admit that I was not (at first) someone that was at the front of the queue to visit these Traditional Noodle Shop. After enjoying this then I will try the noodle carts!

Once I started to go I could not get enough - but they are not for everyone.

NOTE: don't forget to add the condiments at your table to enrich your food and experience - the condiments are sugar, fish sauce, chilli in vinegar and dried chilllis

This is my top pick for Noodles in Phuket

1: Mee Ton Poe (1+3)

This is certainly a place to have your noodles from. 

Reading all of the books and reading the Apps then this is certainly the place to visit. I agree that you may be put off with the appearance because it does look like it needs some paint - but this is not necessary. The beauty is in the food - isn't this why we go to a restaurant?

The choice for me would be their Traditional Hokkien Noodles - freshly made and an immaculate taste. 

It is located in the heart of Phuket Town - see the locations below on foursquare.

    

2:  ถูกปาก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวไก่มะระ

This is certainly for someone who can read Thai - there was no possibility of the menu being available in any other language! If it was not for my beautiful wife Chuen who is from Thailand I would not know where to start.

The first difference that I noticed here was that the food is booked by ticking a piece of paper as to what you want to eat - so if you do not read Thai this may be a problem! Looking closely now I have noticed that there is a facebook site.

The noodles were definitely for the Thai people - the soup and noodles was loaded with flavour and I could not eat much of it - but it was devoured by my wife and all those around us - definitely traditional Thai noodles.

The small restaurant seemed to be run by a family and that made the visit all the more enjoyable.

It is located in near Bangkok Phuket Hospital - see the location on foursquare.

3: Ao Ke Noodle

This was another wonderful experience! This was a place which I would never have entered but because I was given reassurance from my wife (again) we entered.

I was blown away with the rich flavour of the soup - in fact I kept having just spoonfuls of soup! The noodles were certainly fresh and the added chicken, dried onions, wontons were a great mix.

It is located near the centre of Phuket Town - see the location on foursquare.

4:  เยาว เยนตาโฟ สาขา-3

We chose to go to this noodle shop simply because the noodle shop is on the way home - convenience. This noodle shop is actually 'known' for it's pink coloured noodles - which I have yet to taste.

The noodles are actually cooked for you in the traditional way - in a noodle cart in front of the restaurant - maybe this adds to it's authenticity?

The noodles were also a joy to eat and I believe that there is something special in Phuket - the soup and the condiments (again) were the joy for me.

The setting may have been sparse (as Traditional Noodle Shops should be) and the service was wonderful - we eat here quite often but this time I did notice that there was a small Chinese Shrine in the corner.

It corner It is located in the outskirts of Phuket Town
- see the location on foursquare.

5: หมี่อ่าวเก

This is a local and Traditional Thai Noodle Shop - the key to this was that there really was no tourists at all at this destination. So I guess that if you want to have an authentic experience then visit a place like this one.

The atmosphere was tremendous - people on each table seemed to know each other on entering the restaurant (I only could say that it almost felt like a business that had been here for a long period and that the people who came were relatives).

The service was fantastic - we had more than just noodles and I had no time to even finish a game on Candy Crush before some food arrive

It is located near the centre of Phuket Town - see the location on foursquare.

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

Best places in Phuket to take a photograph

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There are a plethora of places in Phuket but I have condensed it to a list but it is by all means not an exhaustive list – make a list of all the places to go before you get in a taxi.

Wat Srisoonthorn 

1. A Buddhist Wat

The Buddhist Wat is a beautiful place to take a photograph. The candles, the Buddha figures, the shiny tile decoration, joss sticks, monks – there are a so many opportunities.

Here is the location of some Buddhist Wats to visit .

View Buddhist Temples in Phuket in a larger map

Please remember to take your shoes off when you enter and leave a donation when you leave.

2. A Sunset

A place that is near to CapePanwa Hotel is on the Promenade in the local village – this is a photograph of Emily and Justin who got married at Cape Panwa Hotel.

Khao Kad is a perfect viewpoint (or the beach below) near to Cape Panwa because the sun will set over Big Buddha – impressive.

(this is Jamies photograph) - used with permission

The most popular tourist destination for this is Cape Promthep but to be truthful this is where there are subsequently there are many places in Phuket to take photographs of the sunset.

3. A natural waterfall

There are three natural waterfalls in Phuket (Ao Yon, BangPae and Ton-Sai) and taking photographs of water is not always easy. An understanding of the camera, a tripod or a camera that is able to take ‘rapid fire shots’ is advisable.

If you able to visit the Waterfall and it has been raining then there may be the opportunity for you to have a swim!

4. A traditional market

There are lots or reasons for visiting the markets in Phuket but the early morning Traditional markets in Phuket Town are a great destination because of the mix of foods, fruit, clothes and the happy expressions on the faces of the Thai people, although it is only 6 a.m!

5. Phuket Old Town

Phuket Old Town is a must for all visitors to wander about.

The Sino-Portugese buildings are a must because of their beautiful patterned doors, windows and wood. Then there are places of interest like the Amulet Alley running alongside a small klong. There are a number of places that you will find; Buddhist Wats, Chinese Shrines, Chinese medicine shops, traditional noodle shops and so much more – definitely worth a day out.

6. Chinapracha House

After wandering through Phuket Old Town and gazing at the old style colonial shop houses it is wonderful to actually walk into one. It allows you to get a glimpse (all be it brief) of how the Chinese Tin Merchants lived in Phuket.

7. Koh Sirey

There are actually three opportunities to take a photograph here. Monkey See is where the road runs next to the mangrove swamp and there is a small spot to throw food to the wild monkeys.

Then there is Wat Koh Sirey – which is on top of the tall hill (accessible only by foot) and at the very top there is a Golden Reclining Buddha with the most wonderful views.

Then there is the Sea Gypsy Village – full of people living in their homes next to the beach undertaking the traditional way of live.

8. A beach

How many beaches are there in Phuket? We all like to see pictures of deserted beaches but one tip is to arrive early in the morning before everybody else – at the Cape Panwa we are lucky to have a beach that is adjacent to us.

9. A Chinese Temple

There are a number of Chinese Temples throughout Phuket and like the Buddhist Wats a re a joy to visit. Many of the temples have been here a number of the year and are special places for the local population.

Always look carefully inside the temples to find the ropes that have wooden snakes attached to the end, the carved tigers with the footballs, the Hanuman statues and don’t forget to take your shoes off when you enter the temples and leave a donation when you leave.

10. A festival

How many festivals are there in Phuket? – the Por Tor Festival, Chinese New Year Festival, Phuket Old Town Festival, the Mooncake Festival and the best for the camera – the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

Always find out a little about each festival before you go to take a photograph, little things such as wearing white when you attend the Phuket Vegetarian Festival will help you celebrate with them and then maybe you will get the shot that you want!


View Some of Phuket’s most photogenic spots in a larger map

The khlongs in Phuket Town

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There seems to be a number of khlongs which run through Phuket Town but I seem to find very little information about them. But from the mechanisms which are scattered about I imagine that they were fully operational.

I did find a map after seeing so many Khlongs but I do not know how to find them all.
  

Here are some...

This was near the bypass 

This was near the Queen Sirikit park in Phuket Town

Some times the khlongs are full and flowing

Phuket Town has a plethora of bridges all over the place.

Phuket Town is really quite beautiful.

 But not always - sometimes there are people cleaning the khlongs of rubbish and soil. There are more khlongs which are being used in Bangkok and around Thailand - I feel that it would be a nice idea to have all these khlongs working again.

Museums in Phuket

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Baan Chinpracha

The On On Hotel in Phuket Town

Phuket Philatelic Museum 

Phuket Sea Shell Museum in Rawai

The museum displays a large variety of sea shells and fossils, with an emphasis on shells found in Thai waters, which are highly prized by collectors. Although more like a large shell store, the displays are very interesting as well as beautiful. Among the museums exhibits are many rare or unique specimens, including one of the rarest golden pearls and the only left-handed Noble Volute. As its also a shop, you can buy some of these lovely shells which can make nice gifts.

Rare Stones Museum

It is a new tourist's attraction where you see art, and you see life. The most enjoyable part of visiting the Phuket Rare Stones Museum is that after the brief look at all stones, you select 5-6 your most interesting ones. Spending 5-10 minutes with each of the selected stones, the picture will be floated out from the stones as you imagine. Each stone can conjure up a different picture in each person's imagination. That is the art part. The deeper you imagine, the more you will see, and that can be the life part.

Thai Hua Museum in Phuket Town

Thalang Museum in Phuket Town

If you want to find out more  about Phuket's History, including it's archeology, ethnology and art, heard for the Thalang National Museum.  In it's two buildings, the museum houses a large collection of ancient artefacts from Phuket's long history, as well as from the neighbouring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi.  A dsplay reconstructs the Battle of Thalang, when the Two heroines led the people of Phuket in repelling a Burmese invasion.  Other  exhibits include a display of daily life during Phuket's Tin Mining boom in the nineteenth century and exhibits on the sea gypsies - the island's original inhabitants.

The Thavorn Museum (Phuket's Quirkiest Museum) 

Tin Mining Museum in Kathu

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