vol.3 no.5 may issue

Andaman Cruises Oriental Events 5-Star Massage and Beauty SalonPhuket Butterfly Garden & Insect World Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket East 88 Beach Lounge

Maps Diving Tours Things to do Places to go Shopping Accommodation Restaurants and Much, Much More...

www.theguidephuket.com www.facebook.com/theguidephuketMay 2012

9TH FLOOR AD FOR THE GUIDE PHUKETSIZE:190 (W) X 250 ( H) CM. 1/1 PAGE

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47 Rat-U-Thid Rd., Sky Inn Condotel, Patong Beach, Phuket, www.the9thfloor.com or www.facebook.com/the9thFloorTable reservation recommended, please call 076 344 311 or 081 079 2699

Swiss Fonduealways tastes better

at high altitude.

Cool food – Cool drinks - Cool sounds - Cool vibes

14 Moo 5 Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83130 ThailandTel. +66 (0)76 371 900 E-mail: [email protected]

2km south of Chalong circle. Just follow the lady in the pool

“follow the lady in the pool”“follow the lady in the pool”

ConTenTSLifeSTyLe

Getting to Know... Kritidech Srabua 14A Serene Sundown at Serenity 16Life’s a Beach 18The Guide Social 54Events & Promotion 59Shopper’s Delight 60

WATeRSPoRTS & ACTiviTieSHot Activities 10Activities On the Island 20Activities Off the Island 22flutter over to Phuket’s Butterfly Garden 24

HoTeLS & ACCoMMoDATionHotel Highlights 26In bed with... Phuket Vintage Park 28Phuket Pulse 58

fooD & ReSTAuRAnTSIn the kitchen with...Two Chefs 30A Truly Grand Sunday Lunch 32Let’s do Brunch 34Wine Dinner 36The Secret behind the Jungceylon Galleon 38Restaurant Highlights 39Koffee Culture 42

HeALTH & BeAuTyLuxury Chocolate fix 44Spa Highlights 46Radenska for a healthy body and soul 49Aloe Vera 50

PRoPeRTyPhanason Residential Resort 52Property Buyer Guide 53

TiMeTABLeBangkok Airways Timetable 63Thai Airways Timetable 65

iMPoRTAnT TeLePHone nuMBeRS 63TRAnSPoRT on THe iSLAnD 64

MAPSKata - Karon 44Patong 61Phuket Island 62

Star Phuket Media & Design Limited Partnership65/573, Moo 2, T. Vichit A. Muang, Phuket 83000

Tel. +66 (0) 76 513 064, Fax: +66 (0) 76 513 016

E-mail: [email protected], www. theguidephuket.com

Managing Director & Editor: Punnaporn Eamso Guinault

[email protected] Mobile: 089 474 4704Consulting Editor: Barry Daniel

[email protected] Mobile: 084 305 3974Creative Director: Design 457 Studio

[email protected], [email protected]: [email protected] Tel. 076 513 064 Mobile: 089 474 4704Distribution Manager: Thitinan Thanatchantapoch

Mobile: 086 911 5515

The Guide Phuket is an exciting publication aimed at providing tourists and local ex-pats easy access to key information on Phuket. The Guide Phuket will cater to the needs of all, including the most up to date details on places of interest, where to travel, where to stay, where to dine, the best places for entertainment, dining and relaxation, in addition to business services, information and contacts. The Guide Phuket is published monthly and distributed to Bangkok Airways Lounge (Suvanabhumi International Airport and Phutket International Airport), Thai Airways Lounge, major resorts in Phuket region, restaurants, spas, travel agents and car rental. Please direct all editorial enquiries and contributions to [email protected].

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www.impiana.com

41 Taweewongse Rd., Patong Beach, Phuket 83150 Thailand.

Tel: 66 (0) 7634 0138, 66 (0) 7634 2100 Fax: 66 (0) 7634 0178 Email: [email protected]

No one sleeps closer to the Patong Beach than our guests.

Surrounded by nothing but pallid white sandy beach and fringed with tropical greenery, the island's and Patong’s best boutique resort haven is situated at the heart of Phuket's most popular beach, Patong Beach. There are no roads separating you from your single storey cabana, allowing you to be closer to the sublime beauty of what the island has to o�er… the per fect getaway as the saying goes…no one sleeps closer to Patong Beach than the Impiana guests.

www.impiana.com41 Taweewongse Rd., Patong Beach, Phuket 83150 Thailand.

Tel: 66 (0) 7634 0138, 66 (0) 7634 2100 Fax: 66 (0) 7634 0178 Email: [email protected]

No one sleeps closer to Patong Beach than our guests.

Surrounded by nothing but pall id white sandy beach and fringed with tropical greenery, the island's and Patong’s best boutique resort haven is situated at the heart of Phuket's most popular beach, Patong Beach. There are no roads separating you from your single storey cabana, al lowing you to be closer to the sublime beauty of what the island has to offer… the perfect getaway as the saying goes…no one sleeps closer to Patong Beach than Impiana guests.

10 / Watersports & Activities

XTReM AvenTuRe PHukeT

The latest harnesses and safety equip-ment, receive expert training and

briefing, and then take on the 69 different treetop challenges of the Xtrem Aventure Park. All the installations are assessed by an independent professional company and checks are regularly performed by a botanical expert to preserve the health of the trees.

With sites suitable for every age from four years and up, Xtremaventures Phuket is located near Big Buddha and Luang Pu Suppha Temple on Chaofa Road, just five minutes drive from Chalong Circle. Tel./ Fax : +66 (0)76 383 689 Mobile : +66 (0)81 536 8909

www. xtremadventuresphuket.com

www.theguidephuket.com

HoTACTiviTieSfLying HAnuMAn

No other activity in Phuket will give you such a burst of adrenaline and

excitement as the Flying Hanuman se-ries of aerial rides through the treetops of a forest on a Katu hillside.

This is an eco-friendly and com-pletely safe adventure for kids as young as four and thrill-seekers as old as eighty. Zip lines, sky bridges and Flying Fox rides send you zipping through the up-per canopy of trees at up to 60 kilome-ters an hour. You can make the experi-ence “extreme” or relaxing….. just tell your guide how you want to play it.

Flying Hanuman is all about adrena-lin and fun!

www.flyinghanuman.com

PHukeT SiMon CABAReT

Since opening in 1991, Phuket Simon Cabaret has established itself as a mar-

ket leader of professional entertainment venue. For sheer entertainment, our set designs are outstanding, costume extrava-gant and the performers glamorous ! In the exclusive, luxurious and intimate theatre with hi-tech sound and lighting equip-ment. Our show is truly international fea-turing modern and traditional acts from around the globe in English and alternative languages. You will arrive relaxed but will leave confuse as our performers are more of a man than you will ever be and even more of a woman too !

www.phuket-simoncabaret.com

HoRSe RiDing

Here at our stable we offer you the greatest experience.Let your work

worries and the pressure of modern society gradually fade away and nature take over.

Whether a beginner or an experienced rider we have the right horse and the right program for you. Our knowledgeable staff will match you with horses that suit your riding skills. We offer more than 20 Australian, Appaloosa, Thai horses and ponies for riding, our horses and ponies are professionally trained and friendly; whether you are a novice or an experienced rider you will have great fun with us. Tel. 076 324 199

www.phukethorseclub.com

Watersports & Activities / 11

XTReM AvenTuRe PHukeT

The latest harnesses and safety equip-ment, receive expert training and

briefing, and then take on the 69 different treetop challenges of the Xtrem Aventure Park. All the installations are assessed by an independent professional company and checks are regularly performed by a botanical expert to preserve the health of the trees.

With sites suitable for every age from four years and up, Xtremaventures Phuket is located near Big Buddha and Luang Pu Suppha Temple on Chaofa Road, just five minutes drive from Chalong Circle. Tel./ Fax : +66 (0)76 383 689 Mobile : +66 (0)81 536 8909

www. xtremadventuresphuket.com

www.facebook.com/theguidephuket

HoTACTiviTieS

www.thanyapura.com www.simonstarshow.com

SiMon STAR SHoW

“A Place Truly Brings You Beyond The Stars” Simon Star Show is proudly

presented by Phuket Simon Cabaret, a new branch of luxurious and intimate theatre seats over 600 audiences, located right in the heart of Phuket town. Our new fabu-lous stage design is enhanced by state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. You will be astoundingly enticed by glitterier and extravagant costumes and spelled by irre-sistible by our new generation and ambi-tious performers. Our new dimension and theme of performance. Which are mould together into a spectacular and extravagan-za performance and give you a night to re-member. Come and enjoy through a lifetime experience at Simon Star Show, Phuket.

THAnyAPuRA SPoRTS & LeiSuRe CLuB (TSLC)

Discover paradise at TSLC 230,000 sqm megaplex with extensive

world-class sport facilities & leisure activities for everyone. Recently opened in Nov 2011, TSLC is a destination in itself. Get rejuvenated at Thanyapura Spa; Experience Divine’s signature dishes and drinks created from fresh local organic ingredients; Entertain yourself at Booster Bar with live sports on big screen. Tree Club service available for kids below 10 yrs old. Open 8am-8pm daily. For more info, contact T: 076 336-000 | E: [email protected]

BuTTeRfLy gARDen

Phuket Butterfly Garden is the largest and most desirable butterfly garden in

Thailand. In operation from 1990, it has become a magnificent place for families and loved ones to enjoy. Imagine the natural beauty that surrounds you as you walk in a tropical garden surrounded by an abundance of flowers and butterflies. Phuket Butterfly Garden is simply heaven on earth. 8000 butterflies per month inhabit the lush green tropical garden, enabling it to be a place of fun, tranquility and pleasure. Discover their secrets, search for hidden eggs, watch as they sip nectar and witness the emergence of new butterflies.

www.phuketbutterfly.com

TAi CHi kAMALA

Created by mystic Taoist sages, Tai Chi has been valued since ancient

time for its refined art of self defense and positive effect on health. The Concept of harmony with nature is reflected in the slow , rhythmic movements practiced within fluid, changing moments The mo-mentary release of worldy concerns calms the body and stills mind.

www.taichiphuket.com

Mon, Tue, Thr 09:00–10:30amSat Morning 10:00–11:30am

Tel.+66 81 728 9980



HoTACTiviTieSTAWAn SeA ADvenTuReS

Tawan Sea Adventures is Phuket’s newest fun activity on the water.

Cruises amongst the famous sights of Phang Nga bay from your RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) and enjoy the bursts of speed when the boat will thrill you and ensure you go home with a big smile ! Safe yet great fun, these new boats are the activity you must not miss during your stay in Phuket. Contact our sales department for more information: [email protected] or call 0818943234 (English/French) or 0898712176 (Thai/English).

www.tawanseadventures.com

RoLLeRBALL

A Rollerball or Zorb, as called in other parts of the world, is a specially de-

signed plastic sphere which can safely de-scend a hill with two passengers, floating on the water inside, headfirst, feet first, backwards or upright. The experience is hard to define but the result is always the same, lots of fun, laughter and big smiles all round, GUARANTEED! Suitable for all ages, rain or shine. We have an amaz-ing sun set view site at Kalim Bay, Patong, with two runs, straight and twist and can boast to be one of the longest in the world at 190 meters. Come and join us, play, drink and watch the sun go down into the beautiful Andaman sea. Open 10am.

Tel. 089 872 6532



kATA yogA

Hot yoga, the most popular yoga for men and women. It is the best 90

minutes workout, toning your muscles and getting you in shape fast! Beginners are welcome and it’s challenging for ad-vanced practitioners, your instructor will guide you through the postures to provide you with the best workout ever. Sweat, detox and lose fat. No more stress, aches and pains. Kata Hot Yoga class is like a gas station, you gain energy instead of los-ing it. After the class you will feel amazing with a big smile full of vitality, wanting to come back for more. Get a healthy mind and a healthy body. Kata Yoga studio at the beach in Kata.

www.katahotyoga.com

HoTACTiviTieSBLue eLePHAnT Cooking SCHooL

Blue Elephant Cooking School has recently opened its Phuket branch

where you can participate in one of our world famous cooking classes. Learn how to cook Royal Thai Cuisine with experi-enced chefs who will take you step-by-step through each recipe. Enjoy a tour around the local market where we will show you what are the popular ingredi-ents of Thai food. When the cooking is all over you can sit and enjoy all of you hard work.

Morning and afternoon classes are available starting from 2,800 THB++ per person.

www.blueelephant.com www.phuket-fantasea.com

PHukeT fAnTASeA

This is Phuket’s Mega show; it’s a cultural spectacle on the grandest

of scales, complete with armies of war-riors, vast troupes of dancing girls and el-ephants that literally rise up into the sky. The show takes place in the evening with a delightful dinner buffet. The park is the perfect family destination, rain or shine, offering a wonderful walking street with loads of traditional Thai handicrafts and colorful souvenir shops, exciting outdoor shows, fun arcade games and a tempting variety of delicious local foods.Located at Kamala Beach, mini buses run back and forth picking up customers from their hotels.

8.00-9.30

17.15-18.45

19.15-20.45

NOW 3 classes Daily

getting to know

He is quick to acknowledge that the very success of Phuket as an international travel destination has sometimes come too quickly for timely private and government response and that we all have to work to-gether on some pressing issues. He firmly believes that development of good public transport systems will bring many ben-efits to both local people and visitors and result in much needed improvements to road safety and traffic congestion as well as helping to ease some of Phuket’s conten-

tious taxi issues. This is one of the many ways in which good cooperation between government and private interests can bring long term benefits for everyone and he is al-ways very happy to promote such positive solutions.

This very optimistic Phuketian also has many pressing reasons for such a positive outlook on Phuket’s future. With over 100 staff in his organization, his lovely wife Mrs Pathitta at his side and four lively children,

ranging in age from 10 to 20 years, to carry on his legacy he is indeed a very busy man.

So what is Mr. Krit’s advice on host-ing a successful event in Thailand? “Work closely with a well established Thai com-pany with strong local connections that can plan and react quickly to every eventu-ality” responds Mr. Krit. Very good advice from this well respected professional, who always remains calm under pressure and is truly the perfect ambassador for this island paradise!

Mr. Kritidech Srabua (also affection-ately known as Mr. Worapot until his spiri-tual advisor counseled that Kritidech was a name more suited to him) heads up the highly successful Oriental Events Company and also the Oriental Leisure Company, that arranges 5-star individual ‘tailor-made’ tours and DMC services throughout South-east. He happily responds to both names, however, and is definitely the ‘go to’ man for all your event and party planning!

Having established his companies in Phuket in early 2002, Mr. Kritidech has now expanded his offices into Bangkok and Chiang Mai and has built a strong team of in-house design and construction special-ists that work miracles on a daily basis. The highly talented creative teams are led by Kai - Florist and flower designer, Som-chai -Production Director, Zam - Creative Director and Kae - Chief of Graphic Design. This dynamic quartet inhabits a rare world of creativity and boundless energy and en-sures that every event is unique and special. If you can dream it, they can create it!

Already firmly established as the ulti-mate wedding specialist in the region, Mr. Kitidech has built a very impressive portfo-lio of discerning clients in this specialized field. The most respected wedding plan-ners, agencies and event companies in Asia, India and the Middle East, as well as many A-list private clients, already have him on their speed dial!

Telephone Hotline: +66 (0)81 8955664Check out the full list of services offered

by Oriental Events and Oriental Leisure at www.oriental-events.net

Kritidech SrabuaFounder / CEO Oriental Events & Leisure

Optimism is always refreshing but, when such optimism is combined with wide experience and keen insight, it can be truly inspiring.

Kritidech (Krit) Srabua is a true Phuket icon and his wide circle of friends and business associates

extend way beyond these island shores. Born and raised on the island his extended family is deeply rooted in its lush soils and his commitment has always been to pre-serve the best of island life. Hungry for knowledge, Mr. Krit has worked and trav-eled extensively over the past 25 years in order to gain ideas and experience in the international travel business. Building on this knowledge he established the highly successful Oriental Events company on Phuket more than 10 years ago and he and his creative and operational teams have set a benchmark for high-end event produc-tion throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia. Adding offices in Bangkok and Chi-ang Mai in recent years, he has also built on his international contacts and his close ties with Thai government tourist development agencies. An early driving force in the im-portance of the international MICE market he has worked tirelessly to promote Thai-land as a premier resort destination. With yearly visits to trade shows and road shows in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia he is always watching and listening and al-ways seeking the best travel solutions for Phuket and Thailand.

A firm advocate of sustainable tourism, Mr. Krit also works hard to persuade oth-ers to respect the country’s and the island’s culture and traditions and to work in har-mony with the rich natural resources. He understands well that perfection should always be aimed for but has the patience to work quietly in a more measured approach, “Phuket is filled with natural beauty and remains the very best value for money as a tropical island retreat” he proudly says, “but that is not to say that we do not still have some challenges to face.”

Hungry for knowledge, Mr. Krit has worked and traveled extensively over

the past 25 years in order to gain ideas and experience in the international

travel business.

14 / Lifestyle


By Vicki Gregory

Lifestyle / 15


“All the �avours of typical Italian cuisine with the atmosphere of

Italian festive days”

Open daily from 11am till latePhone / Fax: +66 (0) 76 284318

www.capannina-phuket.com

30/9 Kata Road T.Karon A.MuangPhuket 83100 THAILAND

“We are just a few steps away from Kata Beach, one of the most attractive beaches in Phuket”

Phone / Fax: +66 (0) 76 284450www.phuket-capannina-inn.com

98/84-85 Kata Rd., T.Karon, A. MuangPhuket 83100 THAILAND

A Serene Sundown at Serenity

Ahhhh! Sunday in Phuket….a time for kicking back and relaxing with friends and family whether you are

on holiday in the Pearl of the Andaman, or you are lucky enough to call the island your home. There’s something about Sun-days that make you want to take things

easy, enjoy some great food and celebrate the passage of the sun across our dazzling blue skies with your best friends, some cool drinks and cool sounds in a beachside club with a great ambience.

Well, East 88 Beach Lounge offers you all this and more in one of the island’s most stunning locations….looking out over the tranquil waters of Chalong Bay and the dreaming islands of Phang Nga.

East 88 Beach Lounge sits right on the sands of Chalong Bay on Phuket’s east coast in the deep south of the island and com-mands fantastic views from one of the is-land’s best vantage points. Unlike the often sterile and featureless west coast, Chalong Bay is full of life and action. From the abun-dant array of islands, to the passing long tail fishing boats, pleasure craft and yachts, to the horse riders on the sands, to the abun-dant wading birds, to the occasional hunt-

16 / Lifestyle


Story By Baz Daniel

ing sea eagle, to the shell fish gatherers on the sandy flats at low tide, Chalong Bay is a kaleidoscope of action and fascination.

A kaleidoscope of action and fascina-tion also goes on in East 88 Beach Lounge itself from around 4pm on Sunday after-noons! Here the island’s in-crowd gather to chat, laugh, down cool beers, wines and cocktails and listen to the coolest sounds around Serenity Resort’s beautiful huge

azure pool. There’s an extensive menu of healthy and tasty cuisine to choose from and as the shadows lengthen and the sun loses its ferocity, the gathered crowd kicks back and rejoices in the finest sunset loca-tion in Phuket.

It feels great to be alive and a part of this wonderful ritual and it is all available to you every Sunday at Serenity Resort and Resi-dences, East 88 Beach Lounge.

Lifestyle / 17


Live every Sunday at SunsetPjae Stanley Band

Funky Blues and Jazz

SALA’s North CoastCrab and Seafood Bake

Mai Khao Beach, Phuketwww.salaphuket.comTelephone:(66) 763-8888

Tel. +66 (0)76 371 900E-mail: [email protected]

www. serenityphuket.com

18 / Lifestyle


With a vast array of different beaches on Phuket’s coastline why stick to just the one nearest your hotel? Take a look here at the choices available.

Mai khao BeachNorth of the airport is a beach to really

get away from it all. Mai Khao beach is very, very long, and very straight, so it misses the cozy feeling enjoyed by many of the other beaches on the island, but the sand and wa-ter here are just as stunning plus it’s almost empty! The place feels deserted even during high season when the beach umbrellas are five deep on Patong.

nai yang BeachJust south of the airport is Nai Yang, a

charming beach with a unique atmosphere all of its own. With just a scattering of ho-tels and bars to entertain the few that stay there, Nai Yang is as relaxed as they get. Ever dreamed of eating seafood right on the beach? This is your spot.

nai Thon BeachA little further south from Nai Yang is

Nai Thon, possessing a similar feel to its big brother, Nai Thon has long been a favorite

with the regular visitors to the island. This quiet bay nestled at the foot of high hills has a fine strip of sand and a handful of pleasant eateries are situated just off the beach.

Layan Beach This is a small and relatively unknown

beach, nestled in a shallow bay at the north-ern end of Bang Tao. You get there by follow-ing the small road that winds right through the back holes of the Banyan Tree Golf Club. Layan Beach is more of a bay than a beach, and although very picturesque the water is quite shallow; great for families but if you fancy a real swim it’s not the place to go.

Bang Tao BeachBang Tao Beach has in recent years

seen a lot of development with many 5-star luxury resorts in the area but the beach re-mains very pleasant. At certain times of the year swimming can be dangerous due to the strong tides. At the northern end of the beach the coral creates good opportunities for snorkeling.

Surin Beach Surin Beach is located between Bang

Tao and Kamala beach. It is one of most beautiful beaches on the island with fine white sand and emerald sea. The beach can have rather strong winds which make it ide-al for windsurfing. A lot of popular resorts surround this beach.

Laem Singh BeachLaem Singh Beach is small and very pop-

ular; it is located between Surin and Kamala. To reach the beach you need to walk down a short, rocky trail that is clearly signposted. If you are lucky and it’s not too crowded then Leam Sing Beach is absolutely stunning.

kamala BeachKamala is a 3-kilometer long beach situ-

ated in the middle of Phuket’s west coast which has undergone recent developments to its main street, but the beach remains largely unchanged. Behind the beach lies a growing village with two distinct commu-nities; Buddhists by the beach and Muslims further back at the foot of the encompassing mountain range.

Patong Beach The most famous beach on the island

is the center of entertainment, restaurants, shopping and hotels.

Patong is indeed a famous beach with beautiful soft sands and warm clear water. But right behind the beach is the hustle and bustle at the center of Phuket’s tour-ism business. Here the hotels, restaurants, entertainment and bar areas, street bazaars and shops are crammed in a colorful and lively mix that typifies a Thai tourist beach town.

Paradise BeachParadise Beach is a little beach just 5

minutes south of Patong. To get there follow a small cement road up to the hill through the jungle. It is a nice small beach with white, soft sand and large rocks flanking either side.

Life’s a Beach

Mai Khao Beach

Layan Beach

Laem Singh Beach

Nai Yang Beach

Bang Tao Beach

Kamala Beach

Nai Thon Beach

Surin Beach

Lifestyle / 19


karon Beach Karon is another of the beautiful, west-

coast beaches that have made Phuket fa-mous. This beach is the first main stop south of Patong, and is separated from Patong by a large headland. A quick 10 minute drive con-nects the two.

kata BeachKata is certainly one of the most beau-

tiful of Phuket’s beaches; a half-moon cres-cent of white sand lining a bay cut deep between two green headlands. Crystal clear waters and soft coral offers excellent snor-keling and just outside the bay lies a small rounded island that seems to wave its coco-nut haircut to those on the beach.

kata noi BeachJust south of Kata Beach is Kata Noi, a

smaller beach with only a few hotels and lit-tle other development. The beach is superb for snorkeling as many fish inhabit the rocks and corals along the headland to the south.

Ao Sane BeachAo Sane beach is a small bay and is lo-

cated to the north of Nai Harn beach. To get to this beach you need to go through The Royal Phuket Yacht Club. Ao Sane is a very small, rocky beach but it is peaceful.

nai Harn Beach Nai Harn is one of the more isolated

beaches, nestled at the southern tip of the island in a bay defined by headlands and

islets. The beach is backed by the green of Casuarina trees and coconut palms, acting as shade to the restaurants that now line the beach.

yanui Beach Yanui Beach is a small bay, 10 minutes

north from Leam Phrom Thep. It offers kayaking and snorkeling with equipment hire, both off the beach itself and around the small island about 500 meters distant. The beach is not so long and the sand is beauti-fully soft and rarely crowded. It is also a fa-vorite bathing and sunbathing location.

Ao yon BeachAo Yon is another peaceful beach ideally

suited for watching the sunset. It is located near Cape Panwa, 10km from Phuket Town. Although quiet with beautiful emerald sea this beach is not really suitable for bathing or relaxing as the bay is usually full of boats and yachts.

Nai Harn Beach



Crowded Beach, Quiet Beach - find the one that suits youSpend most of your holiday in Patong and you might think the beaches of Phuket are crowded. While Patong buzzes with people and activity, there are many other beaches to which one can escape in complete solitude. You just have to drive. As one moves away from Patong the beaches become progressively quieter.

By the time you get to the top of the island you’re guaranteed kilometres of sand to yourself, even in peak season, so remember crowded beach, quiet beach; the choice is there.

visiting Wats – Buddhist MonasteriesAll Buddhist Monasteries are open to the public during the day, and visitors are usually welcome. Since these are active holy places of worship, and the residence of monks, visitors

should show respect in keeping well dressed and remaining quiet, Mum and Dad; keep the kids on a leash and always be culturally sensitive.

elephant TrekkingThe wild elephant population of Phuket was wiped out last century, but has been replaced in recent years by an influx of animals for the tourist trade. Today there remains just a few hundred elephants on Phuket Island, all domesticated, most working in tourism.

Indeed, riding an elephant is an experience not to be missed. The lumbering monsters are incredibly agile. Taking an elephant ride helps to keep the beasts employed, fed and out of the cities, where many can be

taken by destitute owners in search of money and food.

Phuket TownPhuket Town is small but incredibly interesting, a potpourri of different cultural influences, of markets and shopping centres, restaurants and other entertainment facilities. Anyone spending a few days on Phuket Island should take time to visit, be it for sight-seeing, cultural or historical interest, or shopping.

ZooPhuket’s only zoo is small, but pleasant, displaying some of Thailand’s almost vanished wildlife. Their tigers are fed well enough that one can sit with them and have a photo taken. We recommend going early or late, to avoid the tour buses that arrive mid morning and mid afternoon. It is in a small road off the east side of Chao Fah Road, about half way between the town and Chalong’s 5-way intersection. The turnoff is well signposted and easy to find.

Bungy JumpConsider yourself adventurous? Got real guts? If you haven’t tried bungee jumping yet, you should take the ride to the top with a big rubber band around your ankles and fight the internal struggle that every jumper meets when standing 54 metres above the ground. Logic might tell us it is quite safe, but another part of our body screams “No! Don’t jump!” But with their friends at the bottom, waiting expectantly, most people manage to throw

it’s a big island, offering all manner of things to do.It’s surprising that so many holiday makers, who are trying to get away from it all, soon get bored with that dreamy combination

of a perfect beach, a comfortable hotel room and great food. After a few days, most people want more. They want to go places, to see how the local people live and to experience new things. Happily, with Phuket being a large island, about 50 kilometres long, there are all sorts of interesting things to do here. Below we offer some suggestions.

The Island

ActivitiesON

Patong Beach



themselves off and experience a rush like no other.

Cultural VillageCultural shows featuring skilled Thai dancers from the different regions of the country, martial arts demonstrations, elephant rides and Thai dinners are all brought together at Phuket’s original cultural garden; there is also an attached orchid farm for all the budding botanists out there.

Jungle TrekkingWith most of the rainforest on Phuket long since eaten up by rubber plantations, it is not so easy to find ideal trekking grounds. Again, it’s best to sign on with a company providing this service. Often they take their trekkers right off Phuket into neighbouring Phang Nga province, where some beautiful areas of forest remain.

Spas; massage and herbal steam roomsHealth resorts, spas and herbal saunas are proliferating, and some fine examples offering a wide range of treatments are now found on Phuket. Thailand has its own traditional herbal saunas, and there are several local ones around the island.While many large resorts now feel they are incomplete without a spa, there are also several independent establishments.

View PointsPhuket’s most famous view point, Laem Phrom Thep at the very bottom of the island, is on the ‘must see’ list for every Thai visitor to the island. Thus it attracts a fleet of tour buses and cars each evening as people come to witness the sun fall into the Andaman Sea. Indeed, it’s often a spectacular sight, but there are many quieter

Created by mystic Taoist sages, Tai Chi has been valued since ancient time for its re�ned art of self defense and positive e�ect on health. The Concept of harmony with nature is re�ected in the slow, rhythmic movements practiced within �uid, changing moments the momentary release of worldy concerns calms the body and stills mind.

Mon, Tue, Thr : 09:00 – 10:30 amSat, Morning : 10:00 – 11 : 30 amThe Tai Chi CenterPhuket Kamala Nathong House99/148 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, Phuket 83150Tel.+66 81 728 9980 Email : [email protected] www.taichiphuket.com

places. The view point on the hill behind Kata Noi attracts fewer people and when the

heavens turn red, the view from any of the beaches can also be spectacular.

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RENTALSTel. 086 911 5515 or 085 571 1970E-mail: [email protected]



half the fun. The other reward is finding remote places with few other people. There are bunga-low resorts on Phi Phi, Koh Mai Thon (up-market) Koh Racha, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Naka Yai and along the Krabi Coast.

Phi Phi IslandThis pair of islands 40 kilo-

meters southeast of Phuket is justifiably famous for the spec-tacular rock walls rising from crystal seas and the stunning scenic beauty of its beaches and coves. Unfortunately, mass tourism has now found these islands, with hundreds of trip-pers being deposited here every day. But even this cannot de-stroy the overwhelming beauty of the place, and Phi Phi is still worth a visit. There are many small bungalow resorts here and it is undoubtedly best to

stay overnight. The evenings and early mornings are the most beautiful times and are free of the mid-day masses.

KrabiFacing Phuket from the east

side of Phang Nga Bay this re-gion of soaring rock walls and stunningly beautiful beaches is now famous as a destination in its own right. Those who have time are strongly recommended to make a visit here, either by

Phang Nga BayA visit to Phang Nga Bay

on the east side of Phuket is the one big ‘musts’ for visitor to this region. Photos of this bay, with its mystical rock formations towering vertically out of green waters, are almost as well-known as Phuket itself. There are many tour options, with the many tourists taking one of the inexpensive bus-and-boat trips. By far the best way to see the beauty of this bay and avoid mass tourism is to take one of the boat trips that depart from Phuket Island itself.

James Bond IslandThis strange but over-rated

rock was featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun and has never had a quiet day since. The mass of tourists who take the standard

bus-and-boat tours to Phang Nga Bay are all deposited on this island where they are be-sieged by trinket vendors. The day boat tours generally just pass by this islet, giving tourists only the quick glimpse that it deserves, so that they can spend their time amongst the more spectacular parts of the bay.

Sea Gypsy Village (Koh Pannyi)

This village balancing on stakes out in the bay is also a part of the standard bus-and-boat tour of Phang Nga. At lunch up to 3,000 tourists are all deposited here to eat and shop. Indeed, the village is fascinat-ing, but again it’s best if you can take a boat tour that avoids the midday crowds. And just for the record, there are no ‘Sea Gyp-sies’ in this misnamed village. The people here are all in fact Muslim fishermen.

Island GetawaysGetting to some of the many

little resorts on remote islands in this region is not so easy. But for those who succeed, that is

driving a rented car, or by tak-ing a ferry from Phuket Town pier. The car trip takes one through attractive rural coun-tryside with rice fields, rubber and palm oil plantations nestled amongst towering rock cliffs and mountains. The famous portion of Krabi is a peninsula that is entirely isolated by sheer cliffs and can only be reached by boat.

Game FishingPhuket is not that famous

for game fishing - more due to the lack of modern, fast boats than the number of fish. In fact the seas surrounding the island team with a variety of good game fish, principally sailfish, Wahoo, barracuda, tuna, marlin and bottom fish are also com-mon. During the winter months sailfish congregate around the islands south of Phuket in such incredible numbers, and jump so regularly, that fisherman can enjoy an all-day dance and splash show around their boat as these speedsters of the ocean round up schools of bait fish.

Scuba DivingSerious SCUBA divers ev-

erywhere know Phuket as one of the world’s top spots for undersea adventure. The most famous sites are out in the An-daman Sea near the Similan Is-



lands. Here one will see incred-ible numbers of reef and pelagic fish and have a good chance of encountering shark, turtles, rays and whale sharks. Manta rays are common, the coral is exceptionally varied and color-ful and the water is incredibly clear, warm and calm. To enjoy this underwater fantasyland one needs join a live-aboard trip, readily available through many operators on Phuket.

SailingThe Andaman Sea is fast

catching up to such traditional sailing grounds as the Carib-bean and Mediterranean with a reputation for excellent cruis-ing and sailing. The winds are good during many months of the year, the anchorages are located in spectacular scenery, the waters are warm and clear and the locals are especially friendly. Asia Marine operates a full fleet of bare-boat char-ters here and privately owned yachts are available through the major charter company.

Longtail and Speed-boat Rentals

For those who want to en-joy Phang Nga Bay, or some of the many small islands in pri-vate style, renting one’s own ‘longtail’ or speedboat for the day is the way to go.

Traditional longail boats are available from most beaches. They are always available at Chalong Bay or Rawai Beach where a range of these fun craft is limited. A speedboat can take you on a private tour of Phang Nga Bay with time to spare for swimming, snorkeling and a picnic lunch on a quiet island. Speedboats vary in price and quality, from a WATER TAXI, to cheap craft from local op-erators off the beach in Chalong and Rawai.

Boat CruisingFor those who want the

ultimate experience in Phang Nga Bay there is only one way take an overnight cruise and enjoy the most beautiful times of day, sunset and early morn-ing, in this sea and mountain wonderland. There are a num-ber of charter boats available with captain, crew, great cook-ing and fresh seafood from lo-cal fishing craft. Again, a major charter agent like Asia Marine can find the right craft.

Self-drive ToursIf you want to see Phuket

you simply have to rent either a car or motorcycle and drive. The island is large and public trans-port does not reach many beau-tiful beaches and places of inter-est. The first thing to do is drive the west coast road that takes you to all of the major beaches of Phuket. These range from crowded Patong to remotely quiet Nai Thon Beach and a couple of other small, hard-to-find ones without names.

To see more of the region drive right off Phuket into Phang Nga province or on to Krabi. All routes in these prov-inces pass through magnificent scenery, and accommodation can be found in all directions. Pick up some maps and go. You can ask questions along the

way. It’s easier than one might think.

Koh SamuiThe second of Thailand’s

tropical resort islands is not far away, yet the atmosphere of Samui, which basks in an entirely different ocean, is low-key and laid-back compared to Phuket. One can drive across the Thai peninsula in four hours, then catch the hourly car ferry to Samui. But the easiest way is via the regular daily flight with Bangkok Airways just a half an hour’s flight. This is also a re-warding way to stop off on the way back to Bangkok. Check BKK AIR schedules, which vary with the seasons.

Sea CanoeingWith reason, this is now

one of the most popular day

tours out of Phuket. There is no better way to appreciate the in-ner world of strange geographic formations, plant and animal life of Phang Nga Bay than to be paddled quietly through its caves and lagoons in sea canoes. This is a more satisfying tour of Phang Nga than the junkets to James Bond Island.

If you are seeking a fasci-nating and uplifting way to spend a few hours,

whether as a tourist to Phuket, or as a local, and most certainly if you have children, then a visit to Phuket’s charming Butterfly and Insect Garden situated not far from Tesco Lotus and the Bangkok Phuket Hospital on Soi Paneung on Yaowarat Road is an absolute ‘must’.

The Butterfly Garden and Insect World is one of Phuket’s original attractions which opened in 1990 and is well rec-ognized as one of SE Asia’s best butterfly and insect exhibi-tions. The gardens are laid out over an extensive area, with pools full of fish and abundant vegetation and plants upon which the butterflies feed, as you walk amongst them. There

are a whole range of fascinating exhibits and videos depicting the life of insects and butterflies as well as a good collection of various types of spiders, wasps, bees and much more.

Throughout the exhibits a strong environmental message is communicated and the Gar-dens do much important work in breeding and releasing but-terflies which are so important as agents of plant pollination, as well as being aesthetically de-lightful of course!

Over the years, the venue has been through a number of

Flutter over to Phuket’s Butterfly Garden

renovations and changes and the latest innovation includes Pym’s indoor café and restau-rant where you can enjoy all sorts of good food and beverages during your tour.

You will find a great deal for your children to do while visit-ing, including feeding both the fish in the pools and the but-terflies themselves and also see-ing the grubs feeding, the pupae maturing and even the mating of the paired butterfly species. The gardens constitute one of those hard-to-find experiences which combine a good, fun time with learning and education for kids.

The outdoor tropical garden itself is a colorful, plant-filled area in which the Farm’s breed-ing pool of around 6,000 – 8,000 butterflies and up to 30 species flutter freely while you walk amongst them watching their



By Baz Daniel

fascinating behavior at very close range. The best time to visit is on a sunny day as butter-flies are usually more active the brighter the day. Their wings are in fact composed of thou-sands of tiny platelets which act as organic solar panels absorb-ing the sun’s radiation to ener-gize them.

Before entering the unique butterfly breeding section, visi-tors can observe the caterpillar display stations close up and personal. It is always fascinat-ing to learn how Nature works her magic turning the caterpil-lars via two other intermediary stages into beautiful butterflies. And be sure not to miss the ex-hibition of the rare specimens such as stick insects, tarantulas, leaf insects and scorpions

On the way out visitors also visit a well-equipped silk mu-

seum. A demonstration shows how the humble cocoons turn into expensive material as well as demonstrating local meth-ods of the looming and dyeing which have been passed down from generation to generation.

In addition to Pym’s Café for good food and coffees, there is also a small gift shop for those who want to bring home some unique butterfly souvenirs such as framed butterflies and in-sects, jewelry and key-chains.

Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 – 17:00 Location: Soi Paneung on Yaowarat Road in the Samkong Area, not far from Tesco-Lotus Supermarket and the Bangkok Phuket Hospital. The farm is well sign-posted.

Tel: +66 (0) 76 210 861 www.phuketbutterfly.com

The Phuket Butterfly Garden & Insect World is the first-of-its-kind in Thai-land and was created by breeding and preserving rare and endangered species.



26 / Hotels & Accommodation


HoTeLHIGHLIGHTSPAToNGAmari Coral Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 340 106-14Andaman Beach Suites Hotel +66 (0) 76 341 879-83B-Lay Tong +66 (0) 76 344 999Banthai Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 340 850 Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong+66 (0) 7634 9800-7Deevana Patong Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 341 414-5 Duangjitt Resort & Spa + 66 (0) 76 342 090-4, 340 310-1 Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 340 680-5 Holiday Inn Resort Phuket+66 (0) 76 340 608-9Horizon Beach Resort Hotel +66 (0) 76 292 526-30

Impiana Resort Patong, Phuket+66 (0) 76 340 138 www.impiana.com

Merlin Beach Resort+66 (0) 76 294 300 www.merlinphuket.com

Mercure Patong +66 (0) 76 302100Novotel Phuket Resort +66 (0) 76 342 777Patong Bay Garden Resort +66 (0) 76 292 914-5Patong Merlin Hotel +66 76-340 037-41Patong Paragon Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76-290-555Royal Pawadee Village Hotel +66 (0) 76 344-622Safari Beach Hotel +66 (0) 76 341 171-4Salathai Resort +66 (0) 76 296 631Sawaddi Patong Resort +66 (0) 76 343 444

Patong Resort Hotel +66 (0) 76 340 551-4 www.patongresorthotel.com

The 9th Floor Residence +66 (0) 76 344 987 www.roomsatthe9th.com

The Royal Paradise Hotel+66 (0) 76 340 666 www.royalparadise.comThe Nap Patong+66 (0) 76 296 631-4 Thara Patong Beach Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76-340 520

KARoN BeACHHilton Phuket Arcadia +66 76 396038-44Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 284 555 Karon Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 330 006-8 Karon Sea Sands Resort +66 (0) 76 286 464Karona Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 286 406-10Mövenpick Resort & Spa+66 (0) 76 396 139-48www.moevenpick-phuket.comMarina Phuket +66 (0) 76 330 497Phuket Orchid Resort +66 (0) 76 396 519-23Ramada Phuket Southsea +66 (0) 76 370 888 The Front Village +66 (0) 76 398 200-5

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket+66 (0) 76 201 234

www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cpbr

KATA BeACHAlpina Phuket Nalina Resort and Spa+66 (0) 76 370 999

Impiana Privete Villas +66 (0) 76 330 770www.impiana.com

Capannina Inn +66 (0) 76 284 450www.phuket-capannina-inn.com

Club Med +66 (0) 76 330 455-60 Ibis Phuket Kata Hotel +66 (0) 2 659 2888Kata Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 330 530-4Kata Plam Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 284 334-8Katathani Phuket Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 330 124Sugar Palm Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 284 404The Beach Boutique House +66 (0) 76 333 113

Two Chefs Bungalows+66 (0) 76 284 155

www.twochefs-phuket.com

BANG TAo BeACHAmora Beach Resort Phuket+66 (0) 76 324 021-2Bangtao Beach Resort+66 (0) 76 270680-5 Banyan Tree Phuket+66 (0) 76 324 374Angsana Laguna Phuket+66 (0) 76 324 101

Hotels & Accommodation / 27


HoTeLHIGHLIGHTSDusit Laguna Resort Hotel +66 (0) 76 324 324Mövenpick Residence+66 (0) 76 396 139Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas+66 (0) 76 336 900Laguna Beach Resort Phuket +66 (0) 76 324 352

SURIN BeACHAmanpuri+66 (0) 76 324 333Ayara Hilltops Boutique Resort&Spa+66 (0) 76 271 271Courtyard Phuket at Surin Beach+66 (0) 76 303 300The Surin Phuket +66 (0) 76 621 580

Twinpalms Phuket+66 (0) 76 316 500

www. twinpalms-phuket .com

KAMALA BeACHAquamarine Resort & Villa +66 (0) 76 310 600Cape Sienna +66 76 337 300Kamala Beach Estate +66 (0) 76 324 111-4 Kamala Beach Hotel & Resort +66 (0) 76 279 580-5

RAWAI BeACH & NAI HARNAll Season Naiharn Phuket Hotel + 66 (0) 76 289 333 Friendship Bungalow +66 (0) 76 288 996Goden Tulip Mangosteen Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 289 399

Serenity Resort & Residences+66 (0) 76 371 900

www.serenityphuket.com

The Evason Phuket +66 (0) 76 381 010-7

www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Phuket/

The Vijitt Resort Phuket+66 (0) 76 363 600The Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club+66 (0) 76 381 360-6

NAIYANG & NAITHoRNDewa Phuket +66 (0) 76 372 300Indigo Pearl +66 (0) 76 327 006-9Naithon Buri Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 318 700 Naiyang Beach Resort +66 (0) 76 328 300Trisara+66 (0) 76 310 100 The Imperial Adamas Beach Resort+(66) 76 316 000 L’esprit de Naiyang Resort+66 (0) 76 510 032-5 Airport Resort & Spa Naiyang Beach+66 (0) 76 327 771-4 Kasalong Phuket Resort+66 (0) 76 205 208-10

MAIKHAo

Sala Phuket Resort and Spa+66 (0) 76 338 888

www.salaphuket.com

Anantara Phuket +66 (0) 76 336 100Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 363 999JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 338 000Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Maikhao Beach+66 (0) 76 603 699

Thanyapura Retreat +66 (0) 76 336 000www. Thanyapura.com

CAPe PANWACape Panwa Hotel, Phuket +66 (0) 76 391 123-5The Kantary Bay Hotel, Phuket+66 (0) 76 391 514Radisson Resort Phuket Panwa Beach+66 (0) 76 602 500Sri Panwa, Phuket +66 (0) 76 37 1 000

PHUKeT CITYi Pavilion Phuket Hotel+66 (0) 76 210 445-7Katina Hotel+66 (0) 76 223 111-9Phuket Merlin Hotel +66 (0) 76 212 866-70 Rome Place +66 (0) 76 223 560Royal Phuket City +66 (0) 76 233 333Sino House Phuket Hotel+66 (0) 76 232 494-5The Metropole +66 (0) 76 215 050

oUT oF THe ISLANDHoliday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island+66 (0) 75 627 300Khao Lak Seaview Resort & Spa+66 (0) 76 429 800La Flora Resort & Spa (Khao Lak) +66 (0) 76 428 000The Racha Tel. +66 (0) 7635 5455The PARADISE KOH YAO Boutique Beach Resort & Spa +66 (0) 76 584 450The village coconut island+66 (0) 76 352 148Zeavola Resort+66 (0) 75 627 000

Thanyamandra +66 (0) 76 336 000www. thanyamandra.com

Novotel Phuket Vintage Park is a 4-stars resort featuring contemporary

mixed South East Asia architecture and modern equipment. The hotel is a few steps from shopping centers and Patong’s lively nightlife,40 minutes drive from Phuket In-ternational Airport. The Novotel Phuket Vintage Park offers a wealth of varied ac-tivities for everyone to enjoy. From water-based activities in the 2,000 sqm swimming pool to aerobic classes, Thai cooking classes to batik painting.

The Novotel bedroom : your own living area

• 303 rooms: 207 Superior, 74 Deluxe, 14 Pool Access, 7 Family rooms and 1 Suite

• Private Balcony with Pool View• Individual Air Conditioning• Satellite TV Channels• Free WIFI internet access• Coffee/tea making facilities• Electronic Safety deposit box

Phuket Vintage Parkenjoy the simple pleasures

• The Square Restaurant (06.30-22.30 hrs.)• Night Blooming Lobby Lounge (15.00-1,30 hrs.)• Velvet Pool Bar (10.00-19.00 hrs.)• 24 hour room service

Meeting@Novetel : expert advice• Three meeting rooms cater for up to 320 delegates• Free WIFI internet access • Pillarless ballroom• Sound Proof• Latest high-tech audio visual equipment

Family & Novotel : the family spirit• Accommodation and breakfast free

for two children under 16 years old sharing room with their parents with existing bedding

• Kids Club for all children over 4

28 / Hotels & Accommodation


years old with daily activities program

• Outdoor kid’s pool• Play Station and Toys• Baby-sitting available at extra charge• Open daily from 10.00 am until 06.00 pm

In Balance by Novotel : a healthy getaway fitness

• 2000 sqm swimming pool with daily activities

• Health club-Fitness• In Balance Spa • Steam room • VIP room

Complimentary services• Web corner on a Mac• Free WIFI internet access • Concierge service • Porter / Bellman • Local Newspaper • Safety deposit box • Minimart

Novotel Phuket Vintage ParkRat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road

Patong BeachTel. 66 (0)76 380 555 Fax: 66 (0)76 340 604

E-mail: [email protected]

Hotels & Accommodation / 29


Indian Wedding• Theme parties • Product Launch• Anniversary • Birthday partyPhuket • Bangkok • Chiang Mai

Contact us at:Hotline Telephone: +66 (0)81 895 5664

Email: [email protected] www.oriental-events.net

After more than 10 years of creating and managing premier weddings and events in Thailand, Oriental Events

is proud to offer our unique production services for your special occasion.

30 / Food & Restaurants


Three great restaurants in southern Phuket of-fer unrivalled food, great

value and all round good fun. The Two Chefs chain of three restaurants have definitely found that magic formula that spells success.

You know you are entering a successful restaurant offering great food, fun and value when it just happens to be packed with

customers on a rainy Wednes-day evening as the low season begins to bite. That was the case at the regular Wednesday Tex-Mex Night over at Two Chefs on the Karon Beach walking street close to the turning circle in early April. As thunder clouds circled and lightning danced an eerie Bolero above the treetops the Two Chefs indoor/outdoor entrance presented a warm and inviting aspect to the passers-by. And judging by the large num-ber of happy diners inside, more than a few of them had chosen to accept the invitation to dine

and enjoy inside the welcoming restaurant.

There was up-tempo live music, the Tex-Mex buffet brim-ming with a huge range of tasty dishes, copious drinks being quaffed and an all round feel-ing of happiness laughter and fun. You immediately felt that this was exactly the place to be this rainy old Phuket night and that all the savvy “in crowd” were here with you enjoying the scene.

The buffet which fairly groaned under the weight of assorted dishes ranging from salads, smoked salmon, red and

2CheFs 3ResTauRanTs

4GReaT Food and Value!By Baz Daniel

Food & Restaurants / 31


black snapper fillets, chili con carne and pork fillet skewers. There are also Mexican favorites like tacos, nachos and chicken fajitas and hardcore cowboy tucker such as hickory flavored pork ribs.

At Two Chefs it’s important to plan your dining campaign so that you leave some room for desserts such as cheese cake, chocolate cake, apple crumble with homemade vanilla sauce, strawberries and whipped cream.

Two Chefs launched their first outlet in Kata Village in 2,000 followed by their Karon Beach eatery and then their Kata Hill restaurant opposite the Dino Park.

From the get go Two Chefs got it right. The switched-on Swedish owners realized that what Phuket most loves is good food, plenty of hooch, live music, all brought to you at reasonable prices, so that the end result is

lots of fun and good times. It’s a formula they have stuck with since they opened and their cur-rent popularity is proof positive of their insightful reading of Phuket’s tourist and local resi-dents sectors.

On Mondays Two Chefs of-fer their Surf Night Buffet at the Kata Beach outlet for just 495 baht for the all you can eat sea-food buffet.

On Wednesdays it’s Tex Mex Night at the Karon Beach restaurant that we had the great pleasure of attending. Again just 495 baht for the buffet plus an extra 300 baht for free flow beer and or Sangria all evening.

On Saturdays Two Chefs leads Phuket’s weekend charge into brunch mode with their Kata Village restaurant offer-ing their all you can eat brunch buffet for 395 baht, plus an addi-tional 300 baht for the free flow beer and/or wine option.

Kiddies dine for just 250

TWOCHEFS @ KATA BEACH229, Koktanod, Kata Beach, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100

Phone: (66) 076 284 155 Mobile: (66) 081 979 6285E-mail: [email protected]

TWOCHEFS @ KATA CENTER32, Karon Road Karon sub-district, Muang district, Phuket 83100

Mobile: (66) 089 195 7928E-mail: [email protected]

TWOCHEFS @ KARON BEACH256-7, Patak Road T.Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100

Phone: (66) 076 286 479E-mail: [email protected]

baht a head at any of these events and they are made most welcome at Two Chefs.

All these prices are net – with no additional costs….surely some of the best value in Phuket!!

All these great special eve-nings feature live music with the very comely raven-haired Philippina singers Megan and Mia weaving their happy magic backed up by drummer and gui-tarist.

InMay/June Two Chefs are opening a new bakery and cof-fee shop outlet on Patek Road and on May 11th they will also stage a New Orleans Night with Creole food BBQ and musical ac-companiment at the Kata Cen-tral outlet.

Be part of the in-crowd who continues to enjoy Two Chefs special brand of food, fun and value, every night of the week.



The wonderfully-situated Centara Grand adjacent to the luscious sands and sparkling Andaman Sea

on Karon Beach has just launched a new Family Sunday Lunch that is as spectacular in its cuisine, libations and ambience as the name Grand suggests.

Grand by name and Grand by nature is most definitely the style of this new lunch.

A truly memorable Sunday lunch de-mands a terrific location and there in no doubt that the Centara Grand has one of Phuket’s most perfect lunching spots for a relaxed and ebullient Sunday with family, friends, or both! The airy, expansive open-sided sala of Mare Restaurant in which the lunch is cited overlooks the beautiful beach and sea, with festoons of verdant vegetation

and tropical flowers gracing the gardens around it. The sun dances, cool winds caress and the happy throng of diners breathes a deep sigh of satisfaction as they settle into the enjoyable task at hand.

Mare’s huge open spaces encourages walking around, checking out the abundant and tempting food stations, while chatting with friends and the many other guests who seemed to have found this lovely new Sunday option from the first day of its ini-tiation.

The food includes irresistible cold wa-ter imported sea foods such as French oys-ters, giant Canadian crab claws, lobster and crayfish, all of which were a mega-hit on the Sunday of our visit.

The sushi and sashimi station drew an enthusiastic crowd as the offerings of tuna, salmon, yellow fin, seaweed, ginger and the like with soy and wasabi were fresh and ex-tremely tasty.

Then there are plain and pre-mixed sal-ads to cleanse the palette prior to taking on the full array of meats…steak, lamb, pork, fish and fowl, or the many cooked dishes is their silver salvers that are set out along the fringes of Mare’s huge, state-of-the-art modern kitchen with its retinue of attentive

a Truly Grand sunday lunchBy Baz Daniel



chefs awaiting your every request. We found the New Zealand lamb

cooked exactly as we requested to be a highlight, but quite frankly there is so much great cuisine on offer that we were only able to sample a few of the temptations that abounded!

A word of caution, as the offerings at this new lunch are so abundant and spec-tacular that you MUST pace yourself and leave some space for the desserts, ice creams and fresh fruit and particularly the HUGE array of cheeses which are set out in their own cool room….without doubt one of the best selections we have seen in Phuket.

A wandering singer and guitarists walk among the happy throng playing requests….which included a couple of birthdays with lovely cakes brought on to the surprised re-cipients during our afternoon there. Doubt-less this Family Lunch will become a birth-day favorite for kiddies and adults alike and the easy informality of the afternoon will be an attractive enticement to families for sure.

The only things not Grand about this new lunch is its happy informality and the price with the all you can eat food option priced at 990 baht per person and the food option plus a half bottle of lovely wine per

guest at 1,390 baht and remember children under 6 are free and from 6 to 12 are half price.

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket683, Patak Road, Karon Beach, Muang, Phuket 83100, ThailandPhone: +66 (0) 76 201 234 Fax: +66 (0) 76 201 235 Email: [email protected]

Centara Grand Sunday Family lunCh Looking for a family-friendly place to spend your Sunday afternoons?

Mare Restaurant at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is proud to present the Phuket’s most extensive “Sunday Family Lunch”. Come and enjoy this spectacular lunch every first Sunday of the month.

C e n ta r a G r a n d B e a C h r e S O r t p h u k e t

683 Patak Road, Karon Beach, Muang, Phuket 83100 l T : +66 (0) 7620 1234 l F : +66 (0) 7620 1235 l E : [email protected] www.facebook.com/centarahotelsresorts - www.centara.co.th

• 990THB net per person included softs drinks, water, coffee & tea

• 1,390THB net per person with half bottle of red, white or rose wine

• Free for children under age 5 & half price for children ages 6-12

Valet parking services provided.Limited booking for 80 persons. To join us, please make a booking in calling the 076 201 234 or send email to [email protected] look forward to seeing you!

CPBR_Sunday_Family_Lunch_Poster_20112_04_170x108mm.indd 1 10/4/2555 17:55:25



Let’s do Brunch!Sunday Brunch Twinpalms

Every Sunday from 12.00-15.00

The place to see and be seen is the Sunday brunch at The Oriental Spoon. A highly fashionable international crowd browse the abundant food offerings from fresh seafood and cold water NZ oysters, to sushi and sashimi.

• 3,490++ THB per person includ-ing a bottle of champagne per couple

• 1,490++ THB per person including a bottle of wine per couple

• 1,190++ THB brunch only

Tel : 076 316 577www.twinpalms-phuket.com

Sunday LunchVijitt Resort

Every Sunday From 12.00-15.00

Enjoy our expansive mouthwatering Seafood Buffet, Sushi, Live cooking sta-tions, BBQ, Western and Thai hot dishes, and our all you can eat Home Made Des-serts.

• 999 THB net per person with free flow soft drinks.

• 1,299 THB net per person with a bottle of wine per couple.

• 2,999 THB net per person with a bottle of champange per couple.

Tel : 076 363 600www.vijittresort.com

Saturday BrunchTwo Chefs

Every Saturday from 12.00-15.00

The Two Chefs Saturday Brunch is not an ordinary brunch, it is a brunch with carefully chosen home made specialities ith the scandinavian flavours that you miss from home. With their own smoked salm-on, moked prawns a large variety of meat and a lot more for only 395 THB and if you add an extra 300 THB you get to drink as much Carlsberg Draught beer or wine as you like.

Tel. 076 330 065www.twochefs-phuket.com

Fantastic View - Great Cocktails & MealsElegant Romantic Breeze

For private candle light dinner or any special private eventPlease contact the Front Desk: T+66 (0)7634 9800 E [email protected]

Opening hours17.00 - 24.00



Sunday BrunchSt. Tropez Beach Club

Every Sunday From 12.00-15.00

See the glistening Andaman Sea, jungle clad mountains and crazy Patong skyline.

Hear the sounds of the coolest local and international DJ’s spinning chilled out Sunday tunes.

Taste a selection of delicious Cambo-dian, Laotian, Vietnamese and Mediter-ranean dishes and sublime tropical bever-ages.

Brunch experience at 700 Baht / per-son and special for IndoChine members.

Tel. 076 380 860, 086 470 2122www.indochine-group.com

Let’s do Brunch!Sunday Brunch

Trisara

Every Sunday from 11.30am – 16.00pm

Come and indulge on Roederer Cham-pagne or a wide variety of wines whilst Trisara’s Kids Club welcomes all children with complimentary snacks.

Reservations are essential as we limit the number of guests to keep the brunch intimate.

• 3,800++ THB per person includ-ing a bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne Brut for two

• 2,900++ THB per person including a bottle of your choice of sparkling, white, rose or red wine for two.

www.trisara.comTel : 076 310 100

Sunday BrunchRe-KA-TA

Every Sunday from 10.00am – 15.00pm

There is so much wonderful cuisine on offer at so many enticingly different food stations that it is imperative that you have a well thought-out STR-AT-EGY!

Enjoy RE-KA-TA Sunday brunch from 10am till 3pm for 1,200 baht per head for food only, or 1,500 baht per head including one bottle of wine per couple, plus tax and service charge. Children under the age of six eat free.

Tel: 076 330 421 www.rekataphuket.com



Wine Dinner

dusit Thani Laguna Phuket joined the worldwide Earth

Hour effort on Saturday 31 March 2012 at 8.30 – 9.30 (Phuket local time). To mark the occasion the lights were switched off on the ex-terior of the building, as well as the lobby, restaurants and some public areas for an hour. Meanwhile the Casuarina beachside restaurant and pub also created a special event ‘2012 Earth Hour Evening Gathering’ set on a long dining table right on the beach allowing the assembled guests to share a candlelit dinner together. The Resort’s guests and Phuket resi-dents enjoyed a four course wine din-ner which the chefs prepared using carefully chosen locally grown and sourced organic ingredients perfectly paired with selected wines.

While the many guests sa-vored the wonderful cuisine and wines, the in-house band performed an unplugged mini-concert throughout the night.

Homemade ravioli with duck ragout, rosemary jus and Foie Gras.

RE KÁ TA Club on the beach

welcomes 3 Michelin star chef, Jordi Roca

from left: Marie-Laure Fleury (General Manager of Boathouse), Mr. Jean-Noel Lu-mineau (Exc. Chef of Boathouse Wine & Grill), Mr. Jordi Roca (3 Michelin star guest chef), Mr. and Mrs. Leon, Mr. Bryan Burger (Chef of RE KA TA Seafood Beachfront Restaurant)Slow cooked beef striploin with lagavulin whisky

Chef Jordi Roca

Course 1 - squid and scallops.

Phuket’s trendy new RE KÁ TA Beach Club hosted an exclusive culinary evening on April 6th with Jordi Roca, the youngest of the internationally renowned Roca broth-

ers and a celebrity of the culinary world, Chef Jordi is known for his innovative and inher-ently creative style in desserts and for touching personal emotion through his cuisine.

2 0 1 2earth hour evening Gathering



black sticky rice combined with caramel and chocolate malts making it a richly flavored dark colored brew. There’s also Orien-tal Wheat Beer which combines wheat, oatmeal, Thai tangerine peel and coriander to create a fresh buttery textured white beer. All the beers are hand craft-ed and use only natural ingredi-ents with no artificial additives.

The pub also offers a full range of Craft Cocktails which use only fresh fruit plus wild honey, palm sugar and the best selection of spirit ingredients in the whole of Phuket. The spe-cial cocktail is Thailand’s official signature drink, “Siam Sunrays” which features fresh Thai herbs blended with super premium spirit.

The response to all these innovations was so good that Khun Sukij has now introduced Bohemian Lager a Czech-in-spired pale golden style lager

with the grilled Norwegian salmon steak with pepper pu-ree cream sauce and served with homemade mash potato.

Dark Ale with Full Moon Brew Work’s Signature Ribs. In this pairing the intense and well rounded flavors of the chocolate and caramelized malt comple-ment the intense flavor of the Full Moon Brew Work’s signa-ture dish - the BBQ Ribs. They are juicy and tender and topped with Dark Ale and Tennessee Bourbon and wild honey BBQ sauce.

Oriental Wheat with Phuket Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice. Here the light citrus flavor with spices from the Thai tangerine peels and coriander make this rice dish a hero featuring locally grown pineapple and shrimps from the Andaman Sea.

With all this fabulous inno-vation of both food and beer hap-pening at the Brew Works there is only one thing to do. Get on over there and say… “CHEERS!”

Full Moon Brew Work Mi-cro-Brewery and Restaurant is located behind the Big Chinese Junk at Junceylon Shopping Center

Tel: +66 (0) 76 366 753www.fullmoonbrewwork.com

Facebook.com/Fullmoonbrewwork

made with a mix of German and Australian hops which bring out passion fruit notes with a smooth, clean, crisp taste

A Wild Honey Pale Ale and Oatmeal Stout will soon be in-troduced and a number of “Guest Beers’” are also planned.

Like any good pub, the food selection is also sensational with a full menu available and items

like the steak and ribs in wild honey, Bourbon and dark beer sauce being best sellers. The Aussie tenderloin, American burger with onion marmalade and traditional fish and chips are also hot favorites.

New on the Brew Works menu are great food and beer pairings, where beer and food complement each other, such as:

Pkuket Lager with Grilled Norwegian Salmon Steak. Here the unique characteristics of the light sweet and malty aroma of the special lager fit very well

The Secret behind the Jungceylon Galleon

The Full Moon Brew Work is situated right behind the huge Jungc-

eylon galleon and is worth dis-covering as it is one of Phuket’s best dining and party venues.

The huge Chinese ship that graces the entrance to Patong’s Jungceylon shopping and en-tertainment center actually hides an important secret that you should take the time to dis-cover. If you walk around BE-HIND the big ship you will find yourself outside the Full Moon Brew Work, which is not only Phuket’s only craft beer brewing microbrewery restaurant and bar, but a delightful location to meet your friends and enjoy ter-rific food in a happy welcoming environment.

Khun Sukij is the friendly and extremely knowledgeable owner and manager and he and his friendly staff will welcome you whenever you drop in for a pint, some great food and a chat. After studying brewing in Berlin and then working in small scale craft breweries, he decided to go it alone and pioneer Phuket’s first craft brewery and in par-ticular introduce unique beers made with specific Thai ingredi-ents such as black sticky rice and coriander.

On regular offer at the Brew Work are a pale, refreshing Thai-style Phuket Lager made with Thai Gaba rice from the King’s Royal project which delivers a sweet and malty aroma. They also have a Dark Ale which uses

By Baz Daniel



FULL MooN BReW WoRKInternational

Small batch, handcrafted beer served with freshly made food. What else could you ask for? A re-laxed atmosphere and good prices? Ok you got it! Open daily for lunch

and dinner this is Patong’s only micro-brewery. Tel. 076 366 753www.facebook.com/fullmoonbrewwork

Location: Patong

TWo CHeFSInternational

We are proud to introduce our deli-cious food - imported juicy steaks, fresh seafood, pasta, modern Thai food and much more. Enjoy your food in one of our nice restaurants with a good glass of wine from our extensive international wine list. We also serve

breakfast, lunch, texmex menu, and Saturday Brunch. Open Daily 0800 - 2400. Kata : 076-28 41 55 Kata Centre : 076 33 00 65 Karon : 076-28 64 79 www.twochefs-phuket.com

Location : Kata, Karon

CAPANNINAItalian

This place offers the best pizza in Phuket, by far, with good choice and quality ingredients. Mario, the boss, is “al forno” making pizza himself. The pasta

dishes are also perfect, We recommend the 4-cheese penne, seafood spaghetti ‘scoglio’ red sauce or tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms. There is also a great variety of fresh and cooked salads for the lighter option.Tel. 076 284 318 www.capannina-phuket.com

Location: Kata

THe eAST 88 BeACH LoUNGeInternational & Thai

East 88 Beach Lounge is Phuket’s cool-est restaurant and bar located right by the sea within Serenity Resort &

Residences. Lounge or dine in style and enjoy the view over Chalong Bay while being pampered by our team, food, drinks and cool vibes. “Special events, theme evenings and happen-ings” Happy hour from 17.00 – 19.00h. Free use of pool facilities for customers. Tel. 076 371 900

www.serenityphuket.com Location: Rawai

ReSTAURANT HIGHLIGHTS



ReSTAURANT HIGHLIGHTS

SALA BUAInternational

Where East Meets West; this stylish restaurant serves creative food right at the waters edge.

Tel: 076 430 138 ext. 8301www.impiana.com

Location: Patong Beach

Le CeLTIQUeFrench & Thai

French specialities; snails, white asparagus, scallops, saffron sauce and an excellent pork hock or a rack of lamb with goat cheese, also large choice of Bretain

Crepes, salty or sweetie Bertrand is the king of sauces, and Lek always welcomes you warmly.Tel. 076 613 098, 089 588 9517, 084 842 6233 E-mail: [email protected]

Location: Saiyuan Road, Rawai

KANeANG@PIeRSeafood & Thai Cuisine

The amazing waterfront location with a stunning view of Chalong Bay... day or night. Outstanding for locals and

visitors for an idyllic setting outdoor and indoor eating areas. Served a unique style of seafood barbeque.Tel. 076 381 212www.kaneang-pier.com

Location: Chalong Bay

WHITe BoxFusion

The cuisine here is refined. Stand out dishes include the tuna carpaccio and tuna tartare, ribeye and tenderloin beef. My personal favourite is the

wagyu tartare, just a little bit spicy to help compliment the flavor of the meat. For fish lovers there is the excellent snowfish, and for Asian food there is a variety of dishes including Massaman curry. A great choice of wine, friendly welcome and beautiful surroundings.www.whiteboxrestaurant.com

Location: Patong Beach

Unveil the Ratri Italian Bar & Grill with stunning sea views overlooking Kata Beach!

We bring our Italian mama's recipes served with our warm Thai hospitality.

74/1 Patak Road, Karon, Phuket 83100T: 076-333 538F: 076-333 539

E: [email protected]



IndoChIne WateRFRont RestauRantIndochine & European

In the same concept as the iconic Singapore Waterfront restaurant,

famous Indochine and European dishes are served. Open 17.00 to 23.00 hours with Sunday Brunch starting at noon.

www.indochinephuket.com

Location: Kalim Beach

RestauRant hIghlIghts

gIogIoRne RestauRantItalian & Thai Food

Giogiorne Italian & Thai Restaurant in Kata Beach serves a range of deli-cious Italian and Thai delights. Locat-ed on Kata Road just before the Kata

Palm resort. The restaurant is open from 10.30am – 23.00 daily. Tel. 076 330 679, 081 797 0679 E-mail: [email protected]

Location: Kata

the 9th FlooR BaR and RestauRant Mediterranean

The 9th Floor Bar & Restaurant, Pa-tong’s highest ‘open-air’ restaurant on the top floor of the Sky Inn Con-

dotel, is a hidden treasure dedicated to the enjoyment of fine, fresh Mediterranean, Alpine and Thai food, a comprehensive list of some of the best wines available, beautiful well-trained waitresses and a warm, elegant ambience reminiscent of a so-phisticated members’ club.Tel. 076 344 311 www.the9thfloor.com

Location: Patong

sala RestauRantInternational & Thai

SALA Phuket Restaurant offers an exceptional blend of mouth-watering international cuisine and scrumptious traditional Thai delicacies. Serve fresh seafood,

exceptional international cuisine and Thai favourites. Tel. 076 338 888 www.salaphuket.com

Location: Maikhao



An innovative and elegant compact automatic coffee cap-sule machine brings convenience into every household.

The compact range sets the standard for sophisticated coffee culture at 19 bar barista level. Enjoy your coffee after a warm-up time of 15 second, crowned by a unique crema. A smart energy saving concept, the latest technology and stylish de-sign make the coffee pleasure perfect. Available in automatic version in 3 colors that go perfect with every setting.

The intricate design that comes in BURGANDY RED, PIANO BLACK and TITAN SILVER and user-friendly sys-tem makes every push an extravagant experience.

With seven different capsule blends like Ristretto, Alba, Espresso, Crema, Leggero, Per Macchiato and Decaffeinato to choose from, all you will need to do is drop the capsule, push the button and there you have your perfect cup of cof-fee every day.

Appealing and Delicious - Premium Swiss QualityBoncafe is proud to present CREMESSO- the next best

thing in the coffee drinking experience.

CREMESSO - COFFEE CAPSULE SYSTEM Engineered in Switzerland

Contact Information:BonCafe Phuket455-457, Yaowalard Road, Mooban Samkong, Talardyai, Amuphur Muang, Phuket 83000Tel: (076) 355-600-1 Fax: (076) 524-099 E-mail: [email protected], shop.boncafe.co.th



If you are searching for an ideal place to meet up with

friends, have a business meet-ing, check your email or just relax and enjoy great food and service, then Delish Cafe is it. Only 2 minutes from Chalong Circle, this Mecca for espresso addicts has ample off-street parking and is in a peaceful garden setting away from the busy Rawai traffic. The Cafe is air-conditioned and also has outdoor tables and there is even a supervised playground next door.

Delish Cafe produces vir-tually all food and beverage onsite using fresh ingredients. The features are:

• Some of the best espres-so coffee available on Phuket, freshly made juices, ice teas

DELISH by Name…Delicious by Nature

Fisherman’s Way Business Garden, Rawai, Phuket. Phone: +66 7638 4680 www.delishcafe.net

Computer guru and author Woody Leonard is something of a legend around Phuket and his chain of somewhat eccentric

Coffee Shoppes are a testament to his innovation and good taste. His growing chain of shoppes spans Patong Beach just off Rat-U-Thid Road; Cherng Talay at the entrance to the Laguna Complex; In Chalong at Fisherman Way Center on Chaofa East Road; In the Villa/Homepro Shopping Center on Chaofa West Road and com-ing soon to the Boat Lagoon.

And what’s so special about Khun Woody’s Shoppes? Well…..Air conditioning, cool and crisp. No street noise. Free, fast

broadband Internet, available via Wi-Fi or two desktop PCs.Large two-, four-, and eight-person tables. Strong wooden

chairs, and some deep comfortable overstuffed chairs & sofas-- you won’t see those weak wobbly plastic chairs in our place. No-body hurrying you to finish, or shooing you away from the table to make room for the next customers.

Electrical outlets, properly wired and grounded 3-pin type, for your laptop computers & cellphone rechargers.

The latest newspapers free-to-read-and-return. De-motiva-tional posters, Escher art, free tourist maps, even art for sale. Free self-serve ice water. Clean, tasty food. A free-to-use conference room in our Laguna Shoppe. What’s not to like?

Sandwich Shoppe in Patong. Tel. (0)76 290 - 468Sandwich Shoppe in Laguna. Tel. (0)76 324 - 313

Sandwich Shoppe in Chalong. Tel. (0)76 282 - 403Sandwich Shoppe in Villa Market, Chalong. Tel. (0)86 470 - 6025

Woody’sSandwich Shoppes …and

so much more!

www.khunwoody.com

and coffees, fresh fruit smooth-ies and shakes;

• Home-baked delicious cakes, cupcakes, muffins, crois-sants, biscuits, savory tarts, frit-tatas, tortillas;

• A big range of breakfast items, including the freshest eggs, home-made muesli pan-cakes. Sausages, hash browns, roasted vegetables and more.

• Fresh salads, hamburg-ers and toasted sandwiches for snacks or lunch.

Delish also specializes in producing great cakes for cater-ing and parties and catering for groups can be either onsite or at the customer’s venue.

The staff is well-trained and very friendly – so that every visit is enjoyable.

Seems that cocoa powder (from which chocolate is made) is a wonderful and

powerful antioxidant that pro-tects and clears the skin of those free radicals that cause signifi-cant damage to your epidermis and so those talented folks at RarinJinda have just introduced a highly effective Moor Facial Mask, made from chocolate. This amazing new facial treat-ment is just packed with benefi-cial antioxidants and is highly effective in nourishing and moisturizing your skin.

Luxury Chocolate FixIt is not often that one of Thailand’s most acclaimed spa sanctuaries will recommend the great benefits of chocolate, but the innovative folk at RarinJinda are now doing just that.

A wonderfully relaxing hour in their luxurious spa and the skilled ladies at RarinJinda will pamper your face with a soft and glowing confection – good enough to eat and with not one calorie added! This glorious ‘spa facial’ really does help reju-venate the skin and leaves you with a wonderfully fresh feel-ing, evening out the skin while providing considerable cellular benefits. Definitely a treatment to add to your ‘must do’ list and such a delicious aroma.

RarinJinda Wellness Spas

health & Beauty / 45


in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket have long been recog-nized both locally and interna-tionally for their unique natural products, expert therapists and the international standards of their latest spa technologies, but they also remain deeply rooted in the Thai massage and healing traditions. A real oasis of health and wellness in Phuket and located close to JungCeylon Shopping center in the heart of the bustling west coast resort of Patong.

Prime Minister H.E. Yin-gluck Shinawatra visited Rarin-Jinda Wellness Spa & Resort’s Booth at Miracle Year Amazing Thailand 2012 at Impact Muang Thong Thani on Thursday 29th March 2012. Other dis-tinguished guests include Mr. Chumphol Silpa-Archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mrs. Thit-ima Chaisaeng, Deputy Secre-

tary General to the Prime Min-ister and Mr. Surapon Svetsreni, TAT Governor. RarinJinda Wellness Spa & Resort has been selected by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as a Thai Spa Showcase in the Wellness Section, one of the seven prod-uct offerings highlighted. The distinguished guests took time to sample and discuss the large range of Spa Products displayed at the booth and to meet the tal-ented owners of the spas.

For more information on all the unique treatments to be found at RarinJinda, please call 076 366 800 or visit their great website: www.rarinjinda.com where you can also check out their special discount packages.

46 / health & Beauty


PRovolutIon CenteR PhuketProvolution Center Phuket is the Phuket wellness center

of Michael & Orranut Stephens offering reiki energy therapy, intuitive card reading, meditation classes, reiki certification, and free personal development books and downloads.

Tel. 081 446 7714www.provolutioncenter.com

the oasIs sPa PhuketThe ultimate spa experience where treatments are cre-

ated combining ancient secrets and advanced discoveries in beauty and wellness. Luxurious Spas designed with a Thai atmosphere to allow clients to enjoy superior service with-out unnecessary formality.

Open 3 Branches in Phuket Laguna, Bang Tao PhuketKamala PhuketKata Phuket

Tel. 076 337 777www.phuketoasis.com

spahighlight

RaRInJIndaRarinJinda Wellness Spa is one of Thailand’s leading

wellness spas with expertised therapists and latest spa tech-nologies.RarinJinda Wellness spa offers clients wellness, good health and luxurious pampering in a spa sanctuary.

RarinJinda is an urban spa fully equipped with all of the latest spa technology and facilities of the highest internation-al standards, yet deeply rooted in the Thai massage and heal-ing traditions. RarinJinda is an oasis of health and wellness in Thailand’s tourist capitals, located adjacent to the back of Jungceylon Shopping Center

Tel. 076 366 724, 076 366 800-2www.rarinjinda.com

let’s Relax sPaRelaxing the mind and revitalizing the body seems to be

what everybody needs nowadays, after a hectic schedule, a busy lifestyle and a stressful city living.

But when and how can you afford to take time off to free yourself from so much stress and take time to relax your body and revitalize your senses with your busy lifestyle?

At Let’s Relax, you can let loose, reward yourself, in-dulge , relax and enjoy the fineness pleasure of pampering yourself.

Tel. 076 346 080www.letsrelaxspa.com

Further information pls. visit www.hiranyikara.com or send me an e-mail at [email protected] TEL.+66 (0) 76 203280-1 , MB + 66(0) 81 370 0202

A Spa with men in We are the 1st luxury spa for men located among peace-

ful nature about 200 meters away from Kathu community area, only 10 minute from Phuket town and 15 minute from Patong Beach Hiranyikara is the perfect soothing haven to hide away from the city’s turbulence, where you can indulge yourself in the various relaxing spa and health treatment to soothe your pains, calm your mind and up lift your spirits.



spahighlight

hIRanyIkaRa sPaIndulge your body, mind and spirit. Located in peaceful

surroundings, Hiranyikara is the perfect, soothing haven to hide away from the city’s turbulence, where you can indulge yourself in the various relaxing spa and health treatments to soothe your pains, calm your mind and uplift your spirits. It is an ideal place to recharge your batteries after a long hard day. With our range of spa services we can pamper you with our highly experienced male therapists.

Tel. 076 20 3 280www.hiranyikara.com

vaRa sPaAt Vara Spa, from the moment you step through the

doors, you become the center of our attention. Every element has been carefully designed for your comfort. Indulge in sensuous soothing and pampering which will completely revitalize and recharge both your mind and your body.

Vara Spa where Thai local wisdom matched with Western contemporaryideas creates immaculate beauty and skincare.

Tel. 076 34 3 444www.patongsawaddi.com

5 staR Massage5 Star Massage in Patong is a unique, elegant, modern

and comfortable salon where the very well-trained staff of-fer a complete range of massage and beauty treatment ser-vices at reasonable prices. 5 Star Massage is French owned and managed. All the massage girls are certified from mas-sage schools in Thailand and only offer authentic massage services that will make you leave refreshed, revitalized and rejuvenated. Open Daily 10.00-23.00 and offering great value for money.

Tel: 089 535 4637www.5-star-massage.com

senses health & Beauty ClInIqueWelcome to SenSes where international health and

beauty has been taken very seriously since July 2004. Lux-urious treatment rooms, professional staff, a vast range of high quality, natural products and treatments for all forms of pain and stress relief will leave you refreshed, rejuve-nated and ready for a most interesting beauty experience.

Tel: 076 271 373 – 4www.senses.co.th



spa Review



Radeska is a globally-renowned compa-ny that transforms nature’s untainted

wealth into commercial water and beverage products of the very highest quality.

Founded 140 years ago by the visionary physician Karl Henn, he first tapped the wa-ters of renowned “bublja” and he guided his successors in further exploiting and estab-lishing Radenska’s fine mineral waters.

Radenska today responds rapidly to changes and trends by transforming nature’s untainted wealth into commercial products of the highest quality. This quality that is not coincidental, but rather the result of the joint efforts of those whose goal it is to meet the growing demands of discerning customers.

Radeska bottles and markets natural mineral and spring waters and non-alcoholic beverages and depends heavily on the care-ful management of the environment and its resources and springs

Why drink natural mineral waters?Natural mineral water has a special sta-

tus among connoisseurs. For some time, it has been not only a drink to quench thirst

but much more.The trend of drinking bottled water, es-

pecially natural mineral water, has therefore moved onto the tables of the most fashion-able restaurants and bars. In prestigious res-taurants, special menus for natural mineral water and other waters are no longer rare, but to be found alongside the wine menu. In some places, “water bars” are popular, where only finest water is served.

Natural mineral water offers special pleasures in consuming food and drinks, depending on the mineral content and car-bonation. It can be served as an appetizer, inducing the appetite with its carbon diox-ide bubbles or as a light drink that goes well with meals and snacks.

Radenska PRoducts• Radenska classic •

“Naturally sparkling mineral water”By drinking Radenska Classic you will

provide your body with the correct amount of minerals, especially calcium and magne-sium, which are found in the optimum ratio, 2:1, for absorption in the body. The content

of carbon dioxide gas, present at the source, makes it possible for the naturally present minerals to remain dissolved and thus avail-able to the body.

Radenska Classic is recommended for quenching thirst as well as for supplement-ing lost liquids and minerals after physical strain and during sport and recreational ac-tivities.

• Radenska naturelle •

Radenska Naturelle natural mineral wa-ter contains important trace minerals that are dissolved in such a way that they can be easily absorbed into the body.

Due to its unique characteristics, it stands out from the Radenska natural min-eral waters family on the basis of its appear-ance. It is pink in color, a recognized feature for quality natural mineral waters world-wide.

Radenska (thaiLand) co., Ltd.1/34, Katanoi Rd., Karon, Muang, Phuket

Tel : +66 76 510195 Fax: +66 76 510196 [email protected] www.radenska.asia

Radenska for a healthy body and soul

By Emmanuelle Ghobert



Meet the plant of Immortality and its Phuket guru

Emmanuelle Ghobert is a most unusual and gifted Belgian woman who has brought her flair for cosmetology and

indeed life to Phuket. Let us introduce you to her stunning gifts that may change your life forever!

Emmanuelle Ghobert started her voyage of creative discovery by specializing in the hospital-ity sector and in particular the wonderful world

of French gastronomy working for seven years producing wonderful French cuisine. But after her initiation into the world of creativity, she branched out from food to beauty as it were. She became entranced by the world of beauty and appearance and general good health and decided to study for a Masters Degree in Cosmetology. She

remarks that cosmetology keeps on evolving and developing through time and advances in modern science and technology are continuing to have a huge impact on the world of beauty and the treat-ments designed to enhance and capture it. Cultural influences are also important in cosmetology and with globally instantaneous communications, we now inhabit a world in which learning from every country and culture can be assimilated and applied here in Phuket to produce the most wonderful re-sults in pursuit of beatification.

ALoe



5 Star Massage and Beauty SalonAddress: 225 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road (opposite Holiday Inn Resort)

Mobile: 089 535 4637 (Isabelle), 083-395-7877 E-mail: [email protected] www.5starmassage.net

The Art of Relaxation Open every day from 10am until midnight

B ty S ly S l

one innovation of enormous impor-tance in the world of beauty is the discovery and use of the so called

“plant of Immortality” or Aloe Vera. This most amazing plant can be traced back to the time of the Pharos and has been used since Egyptian times 3,050 years before the birth of Christ. In fact it is depicted in hi-eroglyphics carved into the stone walls of Pharos’s tombs, so important was it to these ancient people. Preparations made from the plant itself are often used in the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries which make claims for its soothing, moisturizing and healing properties. Aloe Vera gel is also used as an ingredient in commercially avail-able lotions, yogurt, beverages and even some desserts.

Thailand is blessed in that it has the perfect climate for growing Aloe Vera and happily enough this wonder plant can be used for the treatment of many of the con-

ditions that Phuket’s climate may induce. The sun and rains can be destructive to the natural beauty of one’s skin, but this wonder plant can be sued to counteract the effects.

In addition Aloe Vera is used topically to treat wounds and many skin conditions and it can even be taken orally as a laxa-tive. Today, in addition to traditional uses people take Aloe orally to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy and osteoarthritis. People also use Aloe topically for osteo-arthritis, burns, sunburns and psoriasis.

Aloe Vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sun-blocks, and the Food and Drug Adminis-tration (FDA)

VeRAhas approved it as a natural food flavoring.

Indeed Aloe Vera is a wonder pant a true gift of Immortality in the pursuit of beauty and we have an abundance of it here in Phuket.

Aloe Vera product can be found on www.siam-cosmetic.com

52 / Property


Property Review

The Phanason Residential Resort at Leam Hin is an exceptional architectural development offering

residents a range of attractive designs, equipped with modern lifestyle features such as outstanding functional spaces, an excellent environment, privacy and tranquility.

The surrounding area in which the resort is situated is also full of lush natural beauty and scenery leading to an overall feeling of relaxation for body and soul.

Phanason Resort also provides you with a wide range of superb modern facilities, including underground electrical systems, fiber optic telephones, high level security, surveillance cameras, water supply systems

with a water tank for every house, plus a comfortable club house and the latest fitness facilities and swimming pool.the project includes 6 styles of houses as follows:

• Andaman House, 3-storey single house, 340 square meters of utility space, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms kitchen, dining room, living room, maid’s room and 2 car garage.

• Arctic House, 3-storey single house, 240 square meters of utility space, 3 bed-rooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, maid’s room and 2 car garage.

• Caribbean House, 2-storey single house, 220 square meters of utility space, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining

Phanason Residential Resort

room, living room, maid’s room and room and 2 car garage.

• Pacific House, 3-storey single house, 370 square meters of functional space, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, maid’s room, swimming pool and 2 car garage.

• Mediterranean House, 3-storey single house, 225 square meters of utility space, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, maid’s room and 2 car garage.

• Atlantic House, 3-storey single house, 350 square meters of utility space, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, maid’s room, swimming pool and 2 car garage.

Phanason Resort, Leam Hin, 8 Moo 7, Thephkasattri Road, Koh Kaew sub-district, Muang Phuket district, Phuket 830000Tel. & Fax: 076-373290-1 www.phanason.com

Club HouseCaribbean House

Atlantic HousePacific House Andaman House

Arctic House

Advanced System Security

ww

w.a

larm

s-p

hu

ke

t-se

rvic

es.

com

M obi le : 085 798 9469 c o n t a c t @ a l a r m s - p h u k e t - s e r v i c e s . c o m

Protect your family,

Secure your property before it is too late !

Alarms system Video monitoring

IP Cameras CCTV

Property / 53


PropertyBuyerguide

type: Condominiumarea: KathuPrice: 4.4 Million THB

contact: t. 084 543-5, 076 319 194e. [email protected]

KATHU GOLF CONDO

www.kathu-golf-condo-phuket.com

type: Apartmentarea: Rawai / Nai harnPrice: 3-3.9 Million THB Membership Price: 3-500,000 THBcontact: t. 084 843 3677e. [email protected]

type: Modern Nature Town Homearea: Phunphon Rd., Phuket TownPrice: 2.49 Million THB

contact: Hotline 084 753 1222

type: Condominiumarea: Chao Fa RoadPrice: 1.7 Million THB

contact: t. 076 22 33 44 076 22 44 55 e. [email protected]

type: Caribbean Housearea: Laem-HinPrice: 5.9 Million THB

contact: t. 076 373 290-1

type: Condominiumarea: Kata BeachPrice: 3,022,500 THB

contact: t. 076 330 888087 019 3555

PALM BREEzE RESORT

PHUKET@TOWN 2

THE LIGHT SUANLUANG

PHANASON RESORT LAEM-HIN

THE BEACH CONDOTEL

www.palmholidayclub.com

www.sittarom.co.th/phuket

www.thelightcondo.com

www.phanason.com

www.thebeachcondotel.com


Hotline08 1606 1594

SWEETLAND TRAVEL & TOURS CO.,LTD. “Phuket’s Largest Most Trusted Excursion & Sightseeing Company”Special Price Package Tours (Thailand & Indochina) • Tours For Special Interest Groups • Local Daily Tours • Worldwide Air Ticket • In-out bound Tours Operator • Ground Handing Agent • Tailor Made Program • Hotel Reservation

Tel : (+66) 76 340 712, (+66) 76 342 522 • Fax : (+66) 76 341480 (+66) 76 346923E-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • www.sweetland.net • www.phuketsweetland.com

kathy’s exhibition on Friday 16th of March 2012, at Boathouse Resort on the beach

novotel Phuket vintage Park host soft opening for media and agents in Phuket

Boochai and Kannika Jivavisitnon (owner)

Lori Ashton, Marie-Laure Fleury, Kathy Manthei Coulson, Bernt Moehrle.

Pat and Barry Daniel, Ms Helen Fallon-Wood, Sue Ultmann and Alex Locchi

Mandy Kealy, Wandi Pattrawee, Kathy Manthei Coulson.

Sopa Sorn-in - Director of Sale & Marketing (middle) with team

lifestyle / 55


Faris al sultan training at tslC

Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club’s (TSLC) Triathlon Academy Director and former Ironman champion, Jeurgen zack welcomed Faris Al Sultan, Triathlon Ironman World Champion Kona 2005 and 70.3 Sri Lanka 2012, at TSLC. Faris was training at TSLC for an upcoming competition. For this occasion he also presented his racing shirt from Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team to TSLC’s Booster Bar as a souvenir.


Graphic DesiGnphotoGrapher

creativeCall 081 711 6632 Email: [email protected]

photographer, identity creative design (Lo-gos and Branding), Publications (Magazines, newspapers, catalog Menu and annal Re-port), advertisements and Product Packaging.

1st anniversary Phuket news

Wallee Pachantabuth from Kaneng@Piea and VSET (middle) & guests

Ratri Italian Bar & grill soft opening on april 4, 2012

From left: Denis Thouvard - General Manager at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket; Win-fried Hancke, Kanokros Sakdanares - Group Director of Marketing Communications of Cen-tara Hotels & Resorts and Carloalberto Molina - Restaurant Manager of Ratri Restaurant.

Mr. Barrie Duck & Mr. Simon Samaan

twinpalms launch new outlet Pasta –the authentic Italian pasta bar on april 2, 2012

Mr. Michael Marchbank, Mr. Michael Cowan, Mrs. Nina Cowan and Mr. Sittichai Jitnatham

Mr. Olivier Gibaud and Mr. Michael Cowan

lifestyle / 57


the sala Phuket’s greatest team

Management and staff members from SALA Phuket Resort and Spa enjoyed a fan-tastic fun filled race day @ Pru Jae Son Lake on Thursday 29th March 12, they found out that teamwork can result in great success and can be great fun at the same time.


Ratri Bar and grill re-launched with new manager

The Centara Group is re-launching the iconic Ratri Jazz restaurant on the hillside overlooking Kata Beach as the Ratri Bar and Grill and has appointed Carloalberto Molina as the Restaurant Manager. Carlo is an Italian national who graduated from the Business Management School in Switzerland.

outrigger Ceo honors two Phuket employees

Hawaii based Outrigger Enter-prise Group CEO and President David Carey visited Phuket recently and pre-sented awards to two Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas hosts for out-standing service.

Pongsak ‘Aey’ Thongwarothai the Rooms Division Manager and Mon-rudee ‘Jim’ Srijun the Training Manager received the 2011 Values Awards.

ninth PIMex Boat show a success

A successful ninth edition of the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) came to a close with high sales levels and hot leads reported from exhibitors. The four day Show held at RPM is the largest consumer Boat Show in the region.

Indigo Pearl unveils new Private Pool villas

The Indigo Pearl Resort and Spa played host to the regional glitterati and media at an exclusive launch par-ty hosted by the owning Na-Rarong family to celebrate the unveiling of its new spectacular Private Pool Villas, designed by the renowned architect Bill Bensley.

lifestyle / 59


EvEnts Promotions

SPECIAL RATE OF 3800 BAHT NET PER NIGHT INCLUDING BREAKFAST @ ANGSANA, LAGUNA

2500 BAHT INCLUDING DINNER , FREE FLOW BEVERAGES AND ENTERTAINMENT

COME JOIN EVERYONE AT THE SOI DOG SOIREE

12TH MAY 2012 XANA BEACH CLUB, LAGUNA6.30PM TILL LATE

DRESS CODE: BLACK N WHITE

CONTACT CRISTY FOR TICKETS AT 084 054 4367 [email protected]

For reservations at angsana Phone 076 324 101 or email [email protected]

nA tHALAnG Ancestral siamese

Cuisine DinnerThursday, May 17

and every third Thursday thereafter

courses: Juice, Canapes, Apéritif, 6-course Tasting Dinner, Digestif.

apéritif: From 7.00 pm. dinner: At 7.30 pm. sharp digestif: About 10.00 pm.

dinner: B1,900++ per person Wine Pairing:

B1,000++ per person, for 6 half-glasses

Seats are limited

saLa PhuketPhone: 076 388 888

Experience White BoxEveryday Special

Unlimited Tapas + half bottle of Wine

Price 990 baht

White Box RestauRantRSVP : 076 346271, 076 680410

www.whiteboxphuket.com

the sunday sundownerEvery Sunday

From 6 pm (happy hour 5 pm – 7 pm)

Burger buffet & Salad Bar

Price 350++

east 88 Beach LounGeEmail [email protected]

www.serenityphuket.com

new orleans nightFriday 11th May 2012

From 6 pm – Late

Large Cajun-Creole style buffet

Price: 495 bahtChildren 3-12 years: 250 Baht

tWo cheFs kata centeRReservation Tel. 076 330065

Email :[email protected]

the soi Dog soiree12th May 2012

From 6.30 pm – Late

Dinner + free flow beverages & Entertain-ment

Dress Code : Black N White

Price 2,500 Baht

xana Beach cLuB , LaGunaContact : Cristy 084 0544367

Email : [email protected]

mindfulness of Body - month Long retreat

2nd – 30th June 2012 The 29 day retreat includes accommodation at

Thanyapura Retreat, inclusive of daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at Khun Khao Restaurant, 1.5 hour yoga sessions twice daily at Thanyapura

Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) and Thanyapu-ra Retreat. Free access to TSLC’s swimming pool

and fitness centre, round trip air transfers. This package is THB 232,000 per person / THB

323,600 per couple (rates are inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% applicable government tax). Tailor made retreats are available upon requests.

thanyaPuRa RetReatFor reservations, Tel: +66 (0)76 336 000

Email: [email protected] www.thanyapura.com

60 / lifestyle


thai silkLong one of Thailand’s most

famous products, silk weaving is still one of the major crafts in many rural areas. The variety of materials available in Phuket is wide and varies both in design, from the traditional to modern to plain colors, and quality; 2-ply is thin and light, 3-ply or more becomes heavier and more expensive.

Tailors, jewelry and souve-nir shops in all areas carry silk. Many shops will tailor modern dresses or shorts from silk at a fraction of the price you would pay back home.

CeramicsThe two major centers for

ceramic production are the well-known Chiang Mai, and Ratburi west of Bangkok. They produce an amazing range of wares from very traditional Thai and even Chinese table-ware and decorative items to modern home decor items, the biggest of which you’ll need a truck to move. Some of these more modern items are creative and interesting. There is a fair range spread around the island, but you’ll have to drive and hunt to find it all.

WoodcarvingMost of this comes from the

craft centers of Chiang Mai and again Thai skills show through in a great variety of items that

can be both novel and creative or entirely traditional. Buddha images are one of the standards, but you can find figurines of all kinds and many other offbeat items for home decoration. Thailand makes some great teak furniture, though only a little is available in Phuket.

Instant antiquesThis sounds like a con-

tradiction, but this is now a thriving new industry in Thai-land that arose in response to the overwhelming demand for beautiful old things and the short supply. Originally, cun-ning entrepreneurs crafted and carefully ‘aged’ wood, bronze

and stone artworks to sell off as genuine antiques. But they produced such beautiful things that demand grew, and the in-dustry came out into the open. Today whole villages of skilled workers produce beautiful ob-jects of art that appear ancient, but which are sold cheaply as ‘reproductions’. This makes ‘antiques’ available to everyone and takes the pressure off the genuinely old things. Best of all, virtually no-one can tell the dif-ference between the real thing and the reproduction that you place in your home.

Custom tailoringThis is definitely bargain

country in Phuket. Tailors can import their wares easily to Phuket and their overhead costs are low. Skills range from excel-

lent to barely adequate, so look carefully and you can go home with both quality and real sav-ings. It is important to start with a tailor early in your visit because at least two visits will

be required, and those who are a little more finicky should plan on three visits to get things just right. Allow two or three days between each visit.

The Guide Phuket recommends: Mister singh’s Fashion

Gallery, Patong Beach, www.fashiongallery.com.

Central Festival Phuket - Phuket town

With over 120,000 square meters bursting with prime shopping opportunities and world-class products it is easy to see why this consummate one-stop shopping and enter-tainment complex is so popular amongst Phuket residents and visitors. With a large selection of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, plus a supermarket and cinemas you can enjoy the larg-est, most complete shopping and entertainment complex in southern Thailand.

Jungceylon - Patong Beach

Located centrally in Patong Beach is the newest addition to the growing trend of shopping malls in Phuket. ‘Jungceylon‘ was the old name for Phuket when it was still a prosperous port town and trading in the re-gion was at its peak. This shop-ping mall retains a lot of the old history of Phuket in its architec-ture and style and is a joy to visit

for this alone. The choice of goods is world-class,

comprising well over 300 shops with ample car parking space, restaurants, bars, cinema and bowling alley along with everything else you could possibly need for a busy day shopping.

Weekend Market - Phuket town

The Jatujak (or JJ) weekend market in Bangkok is world famous but few people realize that there is an equally good alterna-tive here in Phuket, albeit on a smaller scale.

Situated opposite the Naka Temple (which is also worth a visit) outside of Phuket Town, just 5 minutes from Cen-tral Festival on the Chao Fa West Road lies Phuket’s equivalent to Bangkok’s JJ Market. Here you will find all manner of things for sale from seemingly useless sec-ond-hand household junk and cute little trinkets to garden ornaments, clothing and ideal presents for all your friends and fam-ily. There is also an abundance of food and drink stalls to keep the energy levels up whilst you wander around.

The market starts in the afternoon and goes on until the evening time when it can get really very lively.

transportation / 63


BanGkok to phuket

Flight Dep. arr. Days

pG271 0805 0930 Daily

pG924 1145 1310 Daily

pG273 1345 1510 Daily

pG277 1730 1855 Daily

pG279 2015 2140 Daily

pG220 2200 2325 Daily

samui to phuket


pG251 0815 0915 Daily

pG259 1100 1200 Daily

pG255 1500 1600 Daily

pG261 1810 1910 1..4..7

pG257 1810 1910 .23.56.

phuket to samui


pG252 0945 1040 Daily

pG260 1235 1330 .23.56.

pG262 1235 1330 1..4..7

pG256 1645 1740 Daily

pG258 1940 2035 Daily

phuket to pattaya


pG252 0945 1225 Daily

pG282 1510 1650 Daily

pattaya to phuket


pG281 1300 1440 Dailyphuket to BanGkok


pG270 0700 0825 Daily

pG272 1020 1145 Daily

pG907 1400 1525 Daily

pG274 1610 1735 Daily

pG278 1945 2110 Daily

pG280 2225 2350 Daily

Call Center

1771

phuket town: 076 225 033-5phuket airport: 076 205 401-2suvarnabhumi international airport: 02 134 3888-89 (ticket)check-in Domestic: 02 132 0342-54check-in international: 02 132 0331-39

international calls Dial: +66 - 76, insiDe thailanD calls Dial 076- For phuket

muang District police station 216 856 phuket airport 327 230-37

tourist police 219 878 or 1155 tourism authorities (tat) 211 036, 212213

kamala police station 279 058 Bangkok phuket hospital 254 421-30

kathu police station 342 719/21 mission hospital 237 220-9

thalang police station 311 123 patong hospital 340 444

phuket provincial immigration office 212 108 or 221 905 phuket tourist association 610 365-6

phuket Deep sea port 391 155 phukiet international hospital 212 853

phuket post and telegraph office 211 020 or 216 951 vachira phuket hospital 211 114

lost creDit carDs

visa 02 299 1990-29

ameX 02 273 0022-44

master card 02 299 1990-2

Diners club 02 238 3000

JcB 001 800 000 900 09

telephone numBers oF the consular representatives FunctioninG in phuket

austria 076 372 600 ireland 076 281 273

austria 076 248 334-6 italy 086 689 6819

czech republic 076 076 249 400 ext 1501, 3330 usa 076 342 270

Denmark 076 378 365 korea 076 234 452

Finland 076 330 530-4 norway 076 237 156

France 076 273 511 sweden 076 380 000

Germany 076 610 407 united kingdom 076 318 188

important telephone numBers

64 / transportation


How much of Phuket have you actually seen? Wouldn’t you like to explore

some more? Well, here we list some of your options for getting around the island’s highways and byways.

to and from the airportAirport transfers are relatively simple.

The airport is at the far north of the island, some 30 kilometers from Phuket Town and even further from most of the popular beaches like Patong and Karon. It is best to use one of the two official transport com-panies with booths right inside the arrival lounge, you can’t miss them. Private Airport Limousines or minibuses are available to get to the major beaches at the south or west of the island. Metered taxis are also avail-able and are cheaper than the airport lim-ousines, as are ‘private’ taxis but we suggest you avoid these since problems have been known to occur.

The Airport Bus is a cheaper alternative as long as you are not in a rush. Ask at the airport for their current departure sched-ules and pricing.

Car rental is available and companies, such as Budget and National have offices located in the airport.

airlines in & out of Phuket A multitude of airlines now run sched-

uled flights to and from Phuket and during high season chartered flights are also avail-able. Budget airlines such as Air Asia, Nok Air and One-2-Go Air all run convenient and economical flights to other provinces throughout Thailand.

song-taewsThere are few buses on Phuket and the

main form of transport from beach to town

is the ‘song taew’; a truck converted to carry passengers in the back on two long benches. They are usually colorful with a sign on front showing where they are go-ing. These vehicles leave from a set stop by the fresh produce market in Phuket Town, reaching every major beach area on the is-land. They run approximately every hour but there are no fixed schedules, and they run when there are sufficient passengers. When leaving the beach areas to head back to town they usually cruise slowly around the streets picking up passengers. Song-taews are slow but cheap with the fare from Phuket town to Patong now set at just 25 THB per person!

‘tuk-tuks’ If you want your own private taxi, look for a tuk tuk, a tiny mini-truck con-verted in the manner

of the bigger song-taews mentioned above to carry about four (or more!) passengers. The tuk-tuk gets its name from the noise its little engine makes. There are fleets of these in all major tourist areas and they will take you anywhere for a price. The going rate for the relatively short ride between Patong and Phuket town can be as much as 450 THB, one way! You can attempt to bargain but don’t expect much movement on their prices and be aware that at night the price of tuk-tuks shoots up.

You can also rent one of these tuk-tuks for the day. Expect to pay around 2,000 THB or more. This can be a good way to get about the island if you prefer not to drive yourself.

Motorcycle taxisThese will be a new experience for

many people and are a convenient, yet nerve wracking, way to get around. All fares must be negotiated before the ride.

These taxi motor cycle drivers are easily identified by their special colored jackets showing the location of their home base.

Many have the word ‘taxi’ written in English on this jacket. Do not take a taxi from anyone who is not wearing one of these jackets.

Renting a MotorcycleMotorcycles, big and small, can be

rented all over the island and are a popular choice for many tourists. zipping around with the breeze in your hair is tempting for anyone but do be careful, the hospitals here see a never-ending stream of foreigners arriving with skin missing from arms and legs, or sometimes worse. The accident rate on Phuket is one of the highest in Thailand, with 90% of road accidents involving mo-torcycles!

Note that Thai law requires the driver to carry a valid license at all times and all riders to wear helmets – even though most Thais (including the police!) ignore the regulations. Also motor cycle lights must be turned on at all times, including during the daytime! The police occasionally enforce all these laws, so beware.

The real danger in Phuket is this: NONE of the motorcycles rented here have insurance. If you rent one and cause dam-age you will be held fully responsible, with some greedy owners charging significantly more than the real cost of the damage. Be extremely cautious!

Renting your own CarSince Phuket is quite a large island,

renting your own car can be one of the most pleasant ways to get around and it gives you freedom to go where and when you want.

Renting is easy; private rental cars are readily found in every beach area and major rental companies operate in most resorts. When renting private vehicles from the side of the road be aware that few of these vehicles have insurance and this can prove disastrous in the event of an accident.

Renting a car allows you get off the island and see the beautiful, neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. The roads are good and the scenery spectacular, making for a great day out.

transportation / 65


PHUKET - BANGKOKFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG226 0725 0850 DailyTG202 1010 1140 Daily

TG204 1055 1225 DailyTG206 1210 1335 DailyTG208 1330 1455 DailyTG230 1425 1550 1..4.6.TG486 1605 1730 ...456.TG214 1625 1750 DailyTG216 1645 1810 DailyTG218 1915 2040 DailyTG222 2040 2205 DailyTG224 2140 2305 1.3.5.7

BANGKOK - PHUKETFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG201 0745 0910 DailyTG203 0830 0955 DailyTG205 1000 1120 DailyTG211 1215 1335 12.4.6.TG215 1430 1550 DailyTG217 1650 1810 DailyTG221 1820 1940 DailyTG223 1920 2040 DailyTG485 2145 2305 ..345..TG225 2240 2359 Daily

CHIANG MAI - PHUKETFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG129 1340 1535 Daily

COPENHAGEN - PHUKET Flight Dep. Arr. DaysTG953 2045 1320 ..3.5.7

PHUKET - HONG KONGFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG638 1445 1915 Daily

PHUKET - PERTHFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG485 0035 0750 ...456.

HONG KONG - PHUKETFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG609 0905 1140 Daily

PERTH - PHUKETFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG486 0910 1425 ...456.

PHUKET - SEOUL (INCHEON)Flight Dep. Arr. DaysTG654 2225 0625 .2.4.6.

SEOUL (INCHEON) - PHUKETFlight Dep. Arr. DaysTG655 0815 1305 ..3.5.7

timetableEFFECTIVE : Now - 24 March 2012

phuket reservation call 0-7636-0444 monday - sunday, 0800 - 1700 www.thaiairways.com

Regional BusesThe long distance bus station is in

Phuket Town is directly across from the Royal City Hotel. From here both air-con tour buses and cheap, ‘orange crush’ buses leave for destinations north, south and east. There are regular services to Bangkok, Krabi, Surat Thani, Nakorn Srithammarat, Trang, Haad Yai and other minor provincial capitals.

Most of the tour buses to Bangkok leave around 5pm arriving in Bangkok about 6am the following morning. Tickets can be pur-chased either at the bus station or through travel agents.

transport by BoatRegular ferry boat services from Phuket

run only to the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Yao Noi and Krabi. There are unscheduled boats to Koh Bon, Racha Yai and Koh Yao Yai. You can get to Koh Lanta by changing boats at Koh Phi Phi.

Most people get to the other smaller is-lands by renting their own speed boats or even by chartering yachts.

Whatever your chosen mode of trans-

port may be, enjoy exploring the island, there is plenty to see and do, more than you might have realized. Happy hunting!

Catch Beach ClubSurin Beach Road, Cherng Talay, Phuket 83110

t: +66 (0) 76 316567 f: +66 (0) 76 316599e: [email protected] w: catchbeachclub.com

Catch Beach Club Phuket’s Most Fashionable

Beach Club

Daily Brunch & Dinner Buffets

Come and enjoy a Luxury Brunch (12:00-15:00) or Dinner Buffet (19:00-22:00 hrs) at Catch Beach Club on Surin Beach – Taste superb appetizers, salads, sushi & sashimi, pasta & pizzas, kebabs & wraps, grill & roasts and more...

vol.3 no.5 may issue

Documents