cape+kantary’s ‘cuisine’ issue

The cape+kantary cuisine issue is all about food! Being a big foodie, the articles hit all of my favourite food groups! From street food in Bangkok to dumpling eating in Shanghai, this cuisine issue is full of insider’s tips on where to eat in Thailand and around the world. Here are a few of my favourite articles, but pick up your own copy to see more.

The article Dining with a Difference is all about unique dining experiences that creative restaurateurs around the world are offering the more adventurous diners.  Eating strapped in to a rollercoaster-like “restaurant” 50 metres off the ground in Belgium, inside a cave in Southern Italy, or romantic movie-like private dinners right on the beach at Cape Panwa Hotel. My “experiences to have before I die” just got much, much longer. 

Being a ‘food addict’ the article about food bloggers was truly inspirational. With lots of photos, honest recommendations, and an insider’s perspective to their home city, food bloggers like your favourite foodie friend that seem to always know the smallest local joint with the biggest taste. It’s one of those aspirational jobs that everyone dreams of having, but very few people achieve it, nevertheless do a good job of it.

Last but not least, my favourite article was the quest for the best beef noodles in Thailand. The article gave a short but sweet list of the many different types of beef noodles across the country, and gave recommendations on where to get them according to cities. ‘Guay Thiew Rab Arun’ was their choice for Phuket (another noodle shop on my must visit list). I’ve never had ‘Guay Tiew Rab Arun’, but my personal favourite in Phuket (at the moment) is Mee Ton Poe. See a review here on Phuket magazine: http://www.phuket.com/phuket-magazine/mee-ton-poe.htm.

From sea-to-mouth squid fishing in Hua Hin and the best hawker stands in Bangkok, to the art of coffee roasting and Shanghai’s famous dumplings, this issue was jammed packed with entertaining, useful local insights and international travel information. Why spend money on a guidebook when you can pick up a free copy of cape+kantary? 

              

Phuket’s Baba Wedding Festival

Baba, or Straits Chinese people, are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the island seeking a new and better life by working in tin mines back in the 19th Century. The annual mass Phuket Baba Wedding Festival is a celebration of the old memories of the tin mining industry, and is a great photography opportunity for tourists!

Thalang Road in Phuket Town was temporarily closed for traffic and there was a Chinese Dragon show that was taking place in the middle of the road!

After the Chinese Dragon dancing show, a procession of beautifully dressed people in elegant traditional costumes of the Perannakan and white suits is followed by the brides and grooms in their finest.

Around them were children dressed in a similar fashion throwing flower petals over the wedding couples as they paraded past.

The atmosphere was all embracing. It was predominately locals but even as a tourist I was welcomed and asked to participate! I met some of the local bloggers Jamie and Tim when they were taking photographs, but I soon lost them because there were just so many people. You can see their accounts of the festivals over the years here: http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com/2010/08/baba-peranakan-wedding-in-phuket.html and here: http://timinphuket-exploringthailand.blogspot.com/2011/06/baba-weddings-in-phuket-special-event.html

If you’re planning a holiday to Phuket next June, this is a must-see!