i t i m a e h t I went to Phuket, Thailand at a time when it didn’t make sense. This was in early June when monsoon season is up in this region. Now what do you do in Phuket when the weather is uncooperative?
A lot, surprisingly.
words Ma. Victoria Florendo
A little known treasure of a place, but now fast gaining popularity, is tucked away in quiet Phang-Nga province, 85 km north of Phuket. It’s for adventure seekers who want to experience the beauty of the island in all its rural glory—whitewater rafting, wildlife visits, elephant trekking along the exotic jungle and stream, campfire, tents, the works. Phuket Sealand is a real family adventure destination, and all services are done in utmost, almost clockwork, precision (no pesky aids who aimlessly linger and then harass you for tips). The rafting experience is conducted by an expert team who actually knows Emergency First Aid. Not that you’d need it—these guys know when to hit the rapids and when to steer clear. Even the elephants seemed to have been briefed. You have to go there, if only to see these giant creatures actually stop and pose for cameras. If you’re not one to get excited over shooting rapids and posing elephants, a trip to Phuket Town will enthrall you with its beautiful antique mansions and quaint shops. This is old Phuket at its best: with old Sino-Portuguese and Europeanstyle architecture amid a bustling town dotted with the customary shopping malls and nooks. This is also where, being the Pinoys that we are, we had our first of many shopping jaunts. While Bangkok will forever remain a favorite, Phuket also shows promise. But save clothes shopping for Bangkok. In Phuket, you must shop for pearls, batiks, nielloware, and food like cashew nuts (the biggest and crunchiest I’ve ever had), dried seafood, and the sweetest pineapples. Add a tailored suit to your shopping list. With the labor inexpensive and fabrics ready on demand, tailoring is also a common industry—just look at the many shops whose owners claim to be all named Armani, from Johnny Armani (I kid you not) to the more local-sounding Rawa (Armani). Other architectural styles to gawk at are those of the Buddhist wats, Chinese temples, and mosques. About 8 kms outside town, you will find Wat Chalong Temple, considered the most beautiful in the island with its grandiose style and elaborate fixtures. But the extravagant surrounding is an ironic background to the serenity of the place. You will find yourself speaking in hushed tones, almost too embarrassed to speak. But, of course, Phuket is not Phuket if not for its beautiful beaches, resorts, and world-renowned spas. My beach for that week was Kata Beach, the smallest of Phuket’s three main tourist beaches. While this beach also experienced the tsunami’s wrath, it was not as badly hit as the other nearby beaches. Locals attest that the tsunami even “cleaned the shores,” putting the beaches and their shorelines back to their primordial
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state. While I had to wait days before I was given the green signal—quite literally too, as the presence of red flags on the beach means you can’t swim—to dive in, the wait was absolutely worth it. Lying on the sands, soaking up the sun’s rays, and getting a clear view of Kata Bay and nearby Pu Island, I experienced what the locals thought they had lost, but clearly didn’t: their tropical paradise. Adding to the charm of this paradise are the gorgeous resorts, some you have to have the resources (and a good tour guide) to find. If you do go to Phuket, it’s imperative that you book a room in any of these resorts: Banyan Tree Phuket for its luxurious private villas; Evason Phuket Resort for its Zenlike tranquility; Andaman Beach Resort with its own stretch of white sand beach; and Twin Palms Phuket with its stylish contemporary interiors and famed hip restaurant, Oriental Spoon. Also a must-visit is the beautiful Kata Beach Resort where you’re bound to meet a kababayan, Glenn Ferrer, the Assistant Director of Marketing. In true, unbeatable Filipino hospitality, he regaled us with stories—from his Pinoy roots to how he found his home in Phuket—over a round of cocktails and Thai lemonade. Ahhh…and yes, the food. I thought I loved Thai food until I experienced the cuisine in all its authenticity. It was lemongrass and seafood heaven. I had the classic Tom Yang Kung, Phat Thai, a variety of new, exotic dishes (the names of which now escape me) and all the prawns, lobster, and crabs that my pesco-vegetarian diet can take. (Thailand has a long coastline and most cities, like Bangkok and Phuket, are close to sea, hence the steady supply of fresh seafood.) Truth be told, I gained five pounds from my trip. Debby Enriquez of Zee Quarterly, the South Beach Diet Queen of Cebu, threw all
the extravagant surrounding is an ironic background to the serenity of the place.
You
will find yourself speaking in hushed tones, almost too embarrassed to speak.
notions of the popular diet out the window. And do note that we were not an easy group to feed. Debby can’t have pork. Bob Zozobrado can’t have shellfish and squid. Another companion, Jacs, had an aversion to crabs. I only eat seafood. We were a traveling chef ’s nightmare. How our tour coordinator, the ever-efficient Julie Raksakiet of Tropical Vacation, managed to feed—and please—us is beyond me. A word for all the foodies like me: I highly recommend going to the little, even sidestreet, restaurants for genuine colds-inducing Thai spice.
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If you do go to Phuket, it’s imperative that you book a room in any of these resorts: Banyan Tree Phuket for its luxurious private villas; Evason Phuket Resort for its Zen-like tranquility; Andaman Beach Resort with its own stretch of white sand beach; and Twin Palms Phuket with its stylish contemporary interiors.
Cap the gastronomic feast with a traditional Thai massage and you’re well on your way to nirvana. Baray Spa in the charming Sawasdee Village, just 500 meters from Kata Beach, is set in a traditional sala in the middle of a tropical garden. My full body massage included a special sesame oil therapy where the fragrant oil is dripped right onto your forehead. It felt strange at first; but it slowly forces your mind to let go and relax. I promptly did, and fell asleep too. By our third night, I was dying to check out Phuket’s party scene. The answer was quick: Patong Beach in Kathu District, the island’s foremost beach known for its white sands, and host of bars and restaurants—and also said to rival our Boracay. I quickly dove into Patong’s promise of fun and entertainment. I found it a little too “red light district” for my taste, but I still enjoyed its eccentric charm. Besides, there were rows upon rows of tiangges (flea markets) to explore. There’s a local saying that “if you can’t find it in Patong, it doesn’t exist in Phuket.” From the human turnout, I’d say everyone believed this to be true.
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