Phuket Through My Eyes

The Year of the Water Dragon is here!

2012-01-20T23:31:00.000+07:00

2012 壬辰龍年新年快樂恭喜發財 Happy Chinese New Year! This Dragon can be seen at Mae Ya Nang Shrine in Phuket Town For more information about Chinese New Year visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year and for Dragons visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon

Phuket's own snake!

2011-12-25T17:26:00.004+07:00

Phuket Pit Viper งูเขียวหางไหม้ภูเก็ต Discovery of a new species of Pit Viper in Khao Phra Thaew on October 5th 2009, has given Phuket it's own snake: The Phuket Pit Viper or Trimeresurus (Popeia) phuketensis is known in Thai as Ngoo Khiew Hang Mai Phuket งูเขียวหางไหม้ภูเก็ต Photograph by Settawut Visetbubpha for Siamensis Thailand Nature Explorer For a full set of

Happy New Year!

2011-12-24T22:37:00.000+07:00

As the Christmas and New Year holidays draw close, the atmosphere in Phuket suddenly changes into a festive shopping centre full of Christmas trees and Christmas songs. Tourists and locals alike are busy shopping for gifts, and restaurants are filled with laughter and smiles. The New Year shopping frenzy is here! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Kao Rang Breeze Restaurant

2011-12-04T20:27:00.000+07:00

A recently opened restaurant located at the top of Kao Rang and competing with Tung Ka Cafe. The views may not be quite so good as they are blocked by the trees, but the atmosphere is just great! So was the food. They have live music in the evenings, and an outdoor seating area if you want a quieter location. The terrace is surrounded by orchids and the restaurant is built around a

Suriyadet Circle (Fountain Roundabout)

2011-12-04T19:18:00.001+07:00

Wong Wian Nam Pu วงเวียนน้ำพุ ภูเก็ต In the past this circle was home to a radio tower used to broadcast important news to the local people but was changed to a fountain in1962. Thanks to Phuket in Memorial

Or's Vegetarian Restaurant

2011-12-04T09:58:00.001+07:00

Or's Vegetarian Restaurant is located just opposite the entrance of Jui Dtui Chinese Temple in Phuket Town. Unlike a lot of Vegetarian Restaurants that only operate during the Vegetarian Festival, Or's Restaurant is open all year round. You can eat in, choosing a couple of curries or vegetables over rice which makes an all in one meal for a very cheap price or order to take away. The shop

Surin Circle Clock Tower

2011-12-03T01:31:00.000+07:00

หอนาฬิกาวงเวียนสุริทร์ The original clock 1950 style tower has now been replaced with a Sino-Portuguese Tower. Behind the old clock tower in the photo below you can see the Reungjit Cinema. A copy of this postcard can be purchased in The Books bookshop in Phuket Town as part of a set of Old Photos of Phuket (เก่า) ด้านหลังจะมองเห็นโรงภาพยนตร์เริงจิต A great ariel view of

Tung Ka Cafe

2011-12-01T11:02:00.000+07:00

Tung Ka Cafe is situated at the top of Kao Rang and was the first restaurant there, now many new restaurants have opened and these can be seen in other listings on this blog. Certainly being at the top of the hill has it's advantages with a beautiful view over Phuket Town during the day and the chance to see some beautiful sunsets in the evening. The entrance doesn't look too exciting but

Save The Nature @ Phuket Guide Book

2011-10-30T17:29:00.000+07:00

Click image to expand the book for reading or follow the links to print or get a PDF download. Open publication - Free publishing - More savethenature Open publication - Free publishing - More savethenature

Sarn Jao Mae Guan Im

2011-10-12T22:40:00.002+07:00

ศาลเจ้าแม่กวนอิมพระโพธิสัตว์ A small shrine that almost goes unnoticed to most passers-by. It is located in Bangkok Road just before you get to the Fountain Roundabout. Look for the gateway in the photo above. http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%88%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A1 http://

A Night Visit to the Shrine of the Serene Light

2011-10-08T01:11:00.000+07:00

Sarn Jao Saengtam (Dteng Gong Dtong) ศาลเจ้าแสงธรรม (เต่งก่งต๋อง) The newly finished enrtance gate. Construction work continues alongside the temple. Three chairs used to parade the Gods around town during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival See further information click here: Shrine of the Serene Light

Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011

2011-10-02T21:25:00.000+07:00

For the full story and timetable of events please view the reader below. Guan Yu Shrine procession through Chalong. October 4th 2011 Jui Dtui Shrine procession through Phuket Town October 3rd 2011 English Version (click 'expand' for full screen viewing)

Guan Yu Shrine (์Nabon) ศาลเจ้ากวนอู บ้านนาบอน

2011-09-20T00:20:00.004+07:00

As the story goes, around 1890 in the area that the shrine stands today was a inlet from the nearby sea. One day a Chinese man came ashore in a Junk bringing with him an image of the Emperor Guan Yu. The man built a small house and was seen to pay respects to the image of Emperor Guan Yu. After some time the Chinese man disappeared and the local villagers

Shrine of the Serene Light

2011-09-19T00:11:00.003+07:00

Sarn Jao Saengtam (Dteng Gong Dtong) ศาลเจ้าแสงธรรม (เต่งก่งต๋อง) Originally built in 1884 by immigrant Chinese who came to work in the tin mining industry in Phuket, the Shrine stood derelict for several years after a building had been constructed blocking the entrance. In 1995 one of the gods entered a spirit medium and told the people to restore the temple. Fortunately during the

The Moon Festival เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์

2011-09-13T21:53:00.002+07:00

The Moon Festival or Mid Autumn Festival known in Thailand as Tesagarn Wai Pra Jan เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์ takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar or the 10th month in the Thai Calendar. There is a story of the origin of this festival, it is said that in a plan to overthrow the Mongols, messages were stuffed into mooncakes (Kanom Wai Pra Jan

Hungry Ghost Festival 2011 Phuket, Thailand. เทศกาลพ้อต่อ ภูเก็ต ๒๕๕๔

2011-08-26T22:38:00.008+07:00

เทศกาลพ้อต่อ จัดตั้งแต่วันขึ้น 15 ค่ำ เดือน 7 ตามปฏิทินจันทรคติจีน (ตรงกับเดือน 9 ปฏิทินจันทรคติไทย) The Hungry Ghost Festival is known in Phuket as Tesagarn Por Dtor. For the period of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar (9th month in the Thai calendar) the spirits of the family ancestors are believed to return to earth. On the 15th day of the 7th lunar month a special feast

Turn Left Free...Turn Right Pay???

2010-11-16T23:32:00.004+07:00

I couldn't help but smile at this sign! But maybe I should explain for non-Thai residents. Here in Phuket it is allowed at certain sets of traffic lights for vehicles to turn left even on a red light providing it is safe to do so (free).

Only in Thailand!

2010-11-13T20:41:00.006+07:00

Water Pump. Chinpracha House, Phuket.On making a visit to a house that is part of Phuket's heritage, one expects to come home with photos of architecture and interior design. But if you just take the time to look a little bit further, behind the scenes there are things that will probably stay in your memories a lot longer.

Fresh Fish.

2010-05-23T20:56:00.004+07:00

On the way to Bon Island this morning we saw that the local 'Chao leh' fisherman had just pulled up their fish trap. Seeing the little fish jumping around inside we decided to stop and get some fresh fish to serve in our restaurant. Good fun was had by all my girls who boarded the boat to choose the fish. Beats the local market!Here's a music video about the fisherman

Coconut Hand Grenades.

2010-05-17T22:34:00.005+07:00

It is impossible for me not to touch on the political unrest Thailand is currently facing. Here in Phuket we are a long way from the bombs and bullets. Phuket remains the beautiful relaxed paradise it always has been. However today I couldn't help but noticing something that reflects on what is in the minds of all of the Thais who just want everything to get back to normal and continue

Kanom Jak ขนมจาก

2010-04-28T23:22:00.004+07:00

One of my first memories of Thai deserts was a visit to the small stall selling Kanom Jak on Rawai beach. Kanom Jak is a sweet made from grated coconut and palm sugar, wrapped in the 'jak' leaves and baked on a small charcoal grill. 'Bai Jak' is the leaf of the Nypa palm and is used for roofing, cigarette paper as well as a wrapping for food. You can see more information on the following

Phuket Long-tail Boat

2010-04-18T22:12:00.005+07:00

Definitely the best way to travel to Phuket's off-shore islands is by long-tail boat. The boat, traditionally used for fishing, is designed to cope with even the roughest monsoon season seas. The larger boats can take an unbelievable load, including anything from building equipment to large fish traps. Tourist boats are fitted with seats and generally take no more than eight people.

Delivery time!

2010-03-08T00:42:00.004+07:00

The local 'Chao lay' or sea people (often referred to as sea gypsies) make a living from the sea. Their boats are usually constructed from old jet skis, canoes or simply a piece of foam big enough to sit on. Starting early in the morning they fish for squid and other small fish along the coastline, bringing the catch into the village in the late afternoon to be sold on street-side stalls. The

Something you should know!

2010-03-06T21:43:00.006+07:00

School BusThe 'songtaew' is the traditional bus for travel in Phuket. Translated into English as 'two rows' it is a typical example of the way the Thai language uses a simple name to describe something and this same format is used for so many things. The songtaew has a row of wooden seats, perhaps better described as a wooden plank that runs along each side of the interior of the bus and is

Time for a refill?

2010-01-23T22:29:00.004+07:00

The wonderful thing about Thailand is running out of petrol (gas). Due to a restriction on pump opening hours a year or so ago, the local people resorted to the more traditional method of bottled benzine, gasohol and diesel. Although a bit more expensive than the major petrol stations, it is a very convenient way to fill up. Some stalls are open 24 hours which can really save the day for some of