Gurdwara Sikh Temple

This is a place that I have only walked past as I was unaware that the people inside were so receptive to people from outside.

But Jamie visited so click here for more information.

Dino Park - again

With the number of times that we have visited here with Jemma I am surprised that the desire is do strong from her to go BUT go we do and enjoy it.

This week we went with our friends Olivier and Mantana - we went to the Butterfly Garden release with them in 2011 and they came to Jemma's 5th Birthday Party.

It was great fun - not sure about real golf though!

Website: http://dinopark.com/

Email:  info@dinopark.com

Phone Number: 076 330  625

Approximate price: you must pay to enter even if you don't play 

Address: Marina Park Resort Karon

Hours:  10:00 - 24:00 (not sure about late night golf though?)

View Golf Courses in Phuket in a larger map

Thalang Park - Phuket Town

Sometimes we like to go somewhere different and this time we chose to visit Thalang Park in Phuket Town. Thalang Park is more famous for having the Chinese Golden Dragon Statue in it.

On the other side of this (and the car park) is something different - a small but well maintained park with children's playground equipment.

As we sat down to have our picnic Jemma played on the playground items and we watched the Thai ladies exercise and the Thai men play takraw.

The sunset over us and I moved across the road to look at the restaurants - to where the Indy Market is on a Thursday and a Friday - but Jemma fell asleep and we returned home.

Next time...

 

View tim in phuket - shopping in a larger map

Koh Tapao Noi

This is an island at the South end of Phuket and is also referred to as 'Hornbill Island' - there are usually Hornbills nesting on the Island.

We left with a local fisherman from outside Phuket Aquarium and the journey took us only 20 minutes and it was an easy journey.

The first thing that I noticed was the level of rubbish that we found on the beach - I contacted John Gray of the world renown 'John Gray Sea Canoe' and asked him whether a clean up would be possible...

The family began to play on the beach and catch the crabs and I set off to find the hornbills and deposit a geocache on the top of the Lighthouse. I kept hearing the hornbills as I walked steadily up the hill but could not get a good photograph - next time.

At the top of the hill was the Lighthouse and the view is really quite good - you need an App (or a fab camera) which is able to take multiple shots and gives you a wide shot - I like Panorama.

Then there is the Lighthouse to climb up and it is a long way and is a little claustrophobic - but it was closed this time (Nov 2012).

Following this we picked fresh Tamarind from the tree and slowly made our way back to the beach. Here Jemma made a friend of a very cute local dog and I decided to try for some hornbills - I found none but I did find something else.

I took a left instead of right towards the Lighthouse  and after battling through the trees I found that there was a canon on the top of a hill on the island and this canon was part of a fortified structure - but what? 

After finishing trying to understand this I returned to join the family - worth a trip out but I do not know how to ensure the hornbills are flying and the Lighthouse door is open.

View Koh Tapao Noi in a larger map

Koh Yao Noi

We had to drive to the North East of Phuket to take the local Ferry for Bang Rong Pier. We travelled along a dirt road and through the mangrove swamps and arrived at a very simple pier.

It was not the most safety conscious trip that I had been on so if you are a little hesitant than I am not sure that this trip is for you - the luggage was on top of the life vests and I am not sure that the number of people getting on the speed boat were counted.

The price was 350 Baht each (I think) and the people taking the ferry were mostly local people.

The trip was a little rough and I did worry a little but we were at Koh Yao Yai in 15 minutes, we dropped off some people at Klong Hia Pier and carried onto Koh Yao Noi.

When we arrived at Koh Yao Noi we were greeted by a number of taxi / buses who wanted to take us 'somewhere' - Chuen my wife (who is Thai) chose to share with a family who lived on the island. We travelled North along deserted roads through very attractive scenery.

We then stopped on the coast for a bite to eat at a restaurant in front of Asia Villaguna - here there is beautiful stretch of beach and again it was deserted - somebody had put up a swing and my family loved to play on this. The restaurant was lovely and they served us our food on a table next to the sand whilst Jemma played.

After this we set off again to find another stretch of beach... here we found a beach with  a number of local children and Jemma loved to play in the ocean with them.  We then got back on the bus and he took us round the island and we ended up at Lam Sai Seafood restaurant.

This is a special place because it is up a dirt road and overhangs the ocean. There is a wooden floating pier - reached by a rickety wood and the view is magnificent - great chocolate milkshake - next time we will have something to eat.

We all got back on the bus a little tired and travelled back to Manoh Pier to pick up the boat to return to Phuket...

A fun day out and we will go again.

View Trip to Koh Yao Noi in a larger map

Fish Spa

There are articles that tell you not to try this but we did

and we have done before.

10 minutes is enough.

After a round of golf at Dino Park.

Weekend Market - Personal beauty

1) Beauty

As all the gossip about Thailand permeates the Internet we read constantly about the items that are available for purchase in Thailand. On e item that is proving to be very popular (available here) is perfume. The perfumes are clearly not in the right bottles but I have to tell you that they smell real...

Another item that is proving popular in Asia is coloured contact lenses. When I looked a little closer there was some indication that there was a 'strength' to the lenses BUT I am not sure you should put these items in your eyes.

Then there is the false hair - many Thai ladies like to have different coloured hair and the wig gives them the opportunity to have a go and then got to work on Monday.

The stalls do have any number of other items - fake teeth braces, creams and potions but they do not photo well and are not particularly interesting for me.

The Weekend market opposite Wat Naka is open from 16:00 until 10:00 each Saturday and Sunday.

The number of different items for sale are enormous and I have blogged about this previously but on reflection I think that it may be easier to look at the types of thing for sale here. I have started a list.

Sapan Hin - Mangrove Walkway

There is a lot more in Sapan Hin than I read and we choose to go here because it is relaxed, there is a park, street food and it is calm.

Why I choose to post here is the fact that there is walkway built through the mangrove. My daughter loves to walk along here and it is peaceful.

The mangroves used to cover a great deal more land on the coasts of Phuket that did have mangrove swamps but then there was a lot of development and mangroves are not always the best for investment so it is a pleasure to see the natural habitats allowed to prosper.

I would hate to see all the mangrove swamps be destroyed near my house - there seems to be a great deal of development at the moment...

View Sapan Hin - South Phuket in a larger map

Army Fatigues

Not my choice of a place to go but on my travels along this road - Soho Inn Coffee Shop is wonderful.

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

But this might be a place that you want to visit?

Your choice?

Big C

Big C is between Central Festival and Tesco Lotus and next to Phuket International Hospital - it is a long and busy road but you are able to walk from end to end if you really want to BUT crossing the road can sometimes be a little difficult.

Big C is essentially a big shopping supermarket and it can be cheaper than other places near by.

Inside Big C there are a plethora of different things to do;

 1) A very large children's ball room (downstairs).

 2) A number of places that can 'fix' your telephone (downstairs).

3) Bits and pieces for your little one or someone who needs Angry Birds something.

4) Or that pink bag...

A treasure trove

View tim in phuket - shopping in a larger map

Khao Kham Panwa Buddhist park

This is a place that I visit with my family because it is close to our home.

The Khao Kham Panwa Buddhist park is only a park at the moment and they are collecting money to make it into an Educational Centre I believe. So our family takes regular donations to the monk for this to be developed.

The development is progressing slowly and there are improvements which are noticeable each time that we visit. If you are this way then it is certainly worth popping in and please leave something for them to continue.

Peace is found here and a wonderful monk. 

King Crossbreed - Tropical fish and more

You may find this interesting but I would classify this as a place more 'different' than places that you normally expect to visit on your visit to Phuket, Thailand.

We came across 'Crossbreed' when I needed to visit Coffee Ice and Jeng Ong Chinese Shrine.

Crossbreed is an enormous Aquarium Shop where you are able to purchase Tropical fish and inside there are a plethora of them BUT I was not allowed to enter in to take a photograph.

BUT outside were these animals and I really have no idea why these animals were outside a Tropical Fish Aquarium - it was fun to look at though BUT why were these animals there?

Well it is another place to visit during some rain and you can always visit the Jeng Ong Shrine, Coffee Ice and the Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World?

Making Flower Garlands in Phuket Town

So what do I know about these Flower Garland Arrangements?

Not a much would be the reality.

But I have did learn to make them whilst I was working for Cape Panwa Hotel.

Whilst in Phuket Town I met this lady and her son making them.

I will leave it for this wonderful blog to explain the nuances.

Check with your hotel if they have this activity?