Phuket is rightly famous for its
beaches and bars, but there's much more to this tropical island than first
meets the eye.
Discover the real Phuket on this
one-day road trip that takes in the best inland sights, sounds and tastes of
Thailand's ‘Pearl of the Andaman.’
8 a.m.
- Rise and shine.
Rise early to take breakfast at the Café Andaman.
10 a.m.
- Take your breath away.
Visit Khao KhadViewpoint on the top of the hill near Cape Panwa Hotel. The site is popular,
but not full of tourists. Walk all the way to the top to enjoy a breathtaking
360-degree view.
11 a.m.
- History lesson.
The Thai Hua Museum is a former
Chinese-language school and is full of interesting information. It is a beautiful
Sino-Colonial building, and you’ll find a lovingly curated assemblage of
stories and artefacts relating to Phuket’s large Chinese community.
12.30
p.m. - Time for a bite at Raya
Time for lunch in
Phuket Town and choose one of Phuket’s most loved and authentic restaurants. This
grand, hundred-year-old building with mosaic tiled floors was once a family
home, as the many sepia photos on the walls attest to, but in more recent years
it has made a name for itself by serving famous local dishes such as the crab meat
curry with rice noodles, spicy Phuket prawns, and caramelised and braised pork
belly.
2 p.m.
- Artistic Education.
Despite its often
sleepy appearance, the Old Town is a hub of energy and creativity, nowhere more
so than Phang Nga Road (just around the corner from Raya) which is home to many
of Phuket’s best galleries, such as the Drawing room. Here the
owner and resident artist Isara ‘Ids’ Thaotong creates a blend of
cartoon-inspired ‘doodles’ starring a character called Peepho, as well as more
abstract acrylic work..
4 p.m.
- Having a rum time!
For young French
expatriates Marine Lucchini and Thibault Spithakis, life is about one thing –
the pursuit of the finest rum imaginable. The enterprising couple are the
owners of Chalong Bay Rum Distillery. Lucchini’s father was a globe-trotting distributor for the
famed St. James Rum Company, while Spithakis comes from a long line of
winemakers. From Monday to Saturday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., they personally lead
tours of the facility, finishing off with a refreshing mojito mixed by
Spithakis himself.
6 p.m.
- On the waterfront!
Just five minutes-drive
south from Chalong Bay Rum sits Kan Eang @ Pier, a local icon that has been
serving up excellent seafood for the last 30 years. With a 200-metre-long
outdoor terrace, you’re almost assured of an uninterrupted sea view, and if
you’ve timed your arrival right, you should be seated as the sun goes down
behind you, ready to watch as the long tail boats and charter yachts bring
day-trippers back from the neighbouring islands.
9 p.m.
- A final nightcap.
After dinner, make
your way back to Cape Panwa Hotel, or a nightcap at the Light House, a fun pub with a nautical theme and
live music, where happy hour runs from 9.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. If, however,
you’re in the mood for a more sophisticated evening, head to Otter’s Bar,
a piano lounge where you can sip on expertly made cocktails in fine
surroundings.
Written by Simon Ostheimer.
