Phuket Old Town and Hollywood

The first connection between these two places that comes to mind is a bar named after America's tinsel town in Phuket Old Town that Tim took me to visit in 1994 and... (Ed – this bit has been removed). Well actually, there are three much more noteworthy connections that have been recorded on film.

Oliver Stone filmed part of “Heaven and Earth” in Phuket, a film about a Vietnamese girl who was caught up in the turmoil of the Vietnam War and during the story is in a home in Saigon. This home is actually in Phuket Old Town – Chinpracha House, take a tour – lost in time is the only description – have a look.

Leonardo DiCaprio actually stayed at Cape Panwa Hotel whilst he filmed “The Beach”. The scene in the movie where he receives a note to paradise from a drug crazed individual  is shot in the On On Hotel in Phuket Old Town.

The French Embassy in Cambodia in the movie "The Killing Fields" is actually the Phuket Provincial Offices on the outskirts of Phuket Old Town.

View Phuket Town and Hollywood in a larger map

This knowledge will hopefully make visiting all these places more exciting and if you are a movie buff it is well worth the effort.

              

City Pillars or Lak Muang

City Pillars are scattered throughout Thailand having been built to represent an official city centre and are usually housed in a purpose built shrine. For example, the Chiangmai City Pillar is housed in a spirit house or shrine large enough to walk into.

Chao Mae Lak Muang Shrine a  City Pillar in Phuket

The City Pillar Shrine is dedicated to the Guardian Spirit of the City – the Phra Lak Muang. Such pillars were often originally built as a result of a battle with another country, more often than not this would be Burma. 

Battles during those times were usually fought based on the consultations of astrologers and soothsayers - resulting in a number of actions taking place. The oddest I read about was the cutting down of the largest Laburnum Tree nearest to where the battle would take place. The commander would then display this tree before the battle took place. It was psychologically important as to which army had the biggest specimen of the tree.

Following the battle, the tree became the city pillar of that day and would be protected by having a structure built around it.

              

Fish Scales

When I visited Cape Panwa Hotel last week it was raining quite hard so I decided to pop into an English Lesson for the staff being given by the Guest Relations Manager Tim.

 

The room was full of laughter when I entered because they were in the midst of playing an English game of “Guess Who?”. The point of the game was to encourage the staff to share with the class (in English), something that was special or different. (Apparently Tim’s lessons always include a game which involves a lot of laughter.)

I was rather flummoxed when one of the staff displayed a Thai garland – but this one was not made of flowers - it was made of fish scales!  I understand that this fascinating ‘Fish Scales Item’ was part of the ‘One Tambon (Village) One Product’ Government Scheme – a project that supports the commercialisation of unique local products at the national level.

Pranee certainly shared something different with the class, now we'll have to wait and see if it becomes a commercial success at the national level...