Visit Koh Racha

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We were given a choice of where to go and were told to visit Koh Racha Island - a lovely bay about 45 minutes from Cape Panwa - so we did.  The island is home to an exclusive hotel - The Racha but we did not visit.


The journey on the Panwa Princess was fun and the boat crew were always there with a drink.

The bay at Koh Racha was certainly calm and the boat was almost immediately surrounded by fish.  The local restaurant was great - there was even a sea hawk at the front - although I was later told that it's wings were clipped.

Phuket Weekend Market - Talaad Thai-Rot

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My parents were here and I used them as an excuse to go to the local market.  We live at the South end of Phuket so this was a market which was only 15 minutes away.The market is close to Central Festival in Southern Phuket; take the road leading towards Wat Chalong and take the second turning left to Wat Naka.   The market is opposite this lesser known Wat in Phuket – or ask a taxi driver – there are a lot of them waiting outside!!


The pleasure that I get here is that I am visit a market which is not for the tourist - it is not like Patong where there are a plethora of football shirts, Billabong shorts and the such like - a blog will be forthcoming,


The Local market is a myriad of smells, people, ages, noise and goods for sale. There are a plethora of traditional Thai market restaurants and some are not for the fainthearted – I still find ‘insects’ a difficult dish – I dare you to have a go. I always find something amusing – I am fascinated with the stall which has approximately 150 different TV remote controls but my wife loves the selection of children’s clothes.  

Jemma (my daughter) likes to go on the rides at the back of the market - a roundabout of cars; that is powered by a fan, the train on tracks and the bouncy castle.  As a parent I was a little worried about the chaos on the bouncy castle but Jemma could not get enough of it - we had to bribe her to come off – something for everyone.

If you are in Phuket over the weekend make sure you visit go early (5 pm) as the darkness descends by 6 pm and it is not a place I would relish losing my daughter.

A wonderful outing finished with a nibble at Black Canyon's Coffee Shop in Central.

          

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Phuket Town

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The Chinese New Year is certainly a celebration - we had a Chinese Dragon and firecrackers at work and then I was told that Chinese New Year lasts all month!

I decided to do a little research and found out that there was a big party in Phuket Town for three days and the roads were closed - so off I went.

A wonderful atmosphere - full of happy people - i could have asked for nothing more.

I wandered around trying to ascertain when the activities were - only to be told that the original timetable had been changed - but hey this is Thailand after all and it did nothing to dampen my spirits.

Where do I start - stalls with foods, bands playing, painted people walking the streets, children selling cloth bags, a sword fight and more.

Definitely worth a night out - a real pleasure.