Cycling in Historic Phuket

Tim got more than he bargained for when he (foolishly some may say) agreed to take part in an organised mass bicycle ride in Phuket Town.

Claude (the GM) was invited but he swiftly turned the offer down.

The four-hour bicycle ride was not hard - there weren't any hills on the cycle route - maybe they should have been made to cycle up the biggest hill in Phuket Town - Rang Hill?

The riders met in Phuket Town and then rode to Sapan Hin. At Sapan Hin Park they planted trees to help to counter the effects of the CO2 pumped into our atmosphere - a good touch - and then the group headed back to the Phuket Town

They then cycled around Phuket Town to have a look at the historic Sino-Portuguese properties and the Chinese Temples - even visiting a museum in the Thavorn Hotel dedicated to Old Phuket.

The morning wound up at a traditional Thai restaurant in 

old Phuket Town called Lok Tien.

              

Happy Birthday Pavinee

Pavinee, our guest relations officer, features in more photographs in our return guest albums than any other member of staff - it's obvious to all that she loves her job.  Not only is she instantly recognisable to all our guests, but she can speak Thai, English, Japanese and Russian.

Pavinee's birthday was on the 19th of May and 

she is over 25 years old.

Happy Birthday Pavinee!

              

The Gardens of Cape Panwa

I’m really thankful for our team of gardeners who take good care of the grounds here at Cape Panwa.

On every trip to the beach I pass by the leelawade (frangipani/plumeria) trees planted from cuttings by the gardeners and until now I had notthought to thank them.  Then there are the birds of paradise flowers around every Villa Pool and golden lily bushes scattered throughout the grounds.

Of course there are also banana trees, coconut trees, papaya trees, jack-fruit trees and tamarind trees.

Last (but not least) every table in the café features beautiful orchids from the gardener’s nursery – I could go on but you really have to visit us to see the beauty of all these Thai flowers.

              

Thai Cooking classes

Do you want to prepare authentic Thai food for your family and friends when you return home?

If so, then join Cape Panwa’s weekly Thai Cooking Classes.

Shaun and Juliet chose to have two days of Thai cooking Instruction during their stay with us. They learned five dishes in total: On the first day they learned how to cook Tom Yam Goong (Thai spicy soup) and Gaeng Kiew Wan Gai (green curry with chicken). On the second day they cooked Tod Man Pla (Thai fish cakes), Yam Neua (beef salad) and Pad Thai Goong Sod (stir-fried noodles with shrimp).

One thing that we heartily recommend you to do if you’re interested in Thai cuisine – get a rice cooker!

              

The Phuket Aquarium

A mere stone’s throw away from Cape Panwa is the Phuket Aquarium 

and the Marine Biological Centre.

We have visited the Marine Biological Centre to look at the rescued turtles and went to the local school fund raiser in the car park but we’ve never actually taken you inside! Well, not yet.  Recently, it underwent extensive renovations and a number of displays were changed along with the installation of a see-through enforced glass tunnel that allows amazing underwater views of the sea life.

There are a multitude of different fishes in tanks and you’ll be able to get up close and personal with stingrays and massive groupers, stonefish,  striped featherbacks, fan-bellied leatherjackets and powder-blue surgeonfish. 

Don’t forget to visit at feeding time at 11:00 on Saturdays and Sundays!

The entrance fee is still minimal; entrance for an adult is 100 baht and a child is 50 baht – if the child is below 108cm they get in for free.