Phuket Vegetarian Festival – Piercing Ritual (main) Songkran Water Festival (insets)

Phuket hosts many special events and festivals. There are religious festivals, sports events, cultural events, fairs, carnivals and more. Of all these events, undoubtedly the most extraordinary is the vegetarian festival.
 

September / October

Vegetarian Festival

This event is one of the most extraordinary religious festivals in the world. There are not many countries that could stage this event. It requires a people that embrace the festival with enthusiasm. A people that have the reckless abandon to throw firecrackers at each other and that have the good humour to accept such madness with grace.

It is held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar which means it falls in September or October. That puts it at the height of the rainy season so sadly you cannot expect to combine a trip to the festival with a beach holiday.

There are conflicting stories about exactly how this bizarre festival started. It certainly dates from the early nineteenth century and originated from Chinese migrants involved with the tin mining industry. The most popular story is that a traveling troupe of Chinese entertainers fell sick in Phuket. To cure themselves they went on a strict vegetarian diet and practiced abstinence from sex and alcohol. To the amazement of the locals they all recovered. From then on the locals repeated the festival every year and it has since developed into a huge event that draws visitors from around the world.
The 9-day festival is centered around the Chinese temples in Phuket. Each temple hosts daily events such as walking on hot coals or climbing blade ladders. There are food stalls around each temple selling an incredible range of vegetarian food.

There are daily street processions from the various Chinese temples around the island to the main Chinese temples in Phuket Town. The focal points of the processions are shamans who go into self-induced trances. After the first few days of the festival, these shamans start piercing themselves, usually through the cheeks, with swords, spears and other objects. The marches are a cacophony of noise with drums and firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.

On the last night, the final procession reaches a midnight crescendo with enough firecrackers and smoke to simulate a war zone. If you are only going to make one visit to the festival then this is the one to see. The clock circle outside Metropole Hotel is a popular viewing point. The crowds start gathering from the early evening entertaining themselves with fireworks and firecrackers. The final procession starts coming through around 11pm. This time they come through fast – not surprising since they are under a barrage of firecrackers exploding around their heads and feet and fireworks whistling overhead. The onslaught is so intense that acrid smoke fills the air. It is a truly spectacular sight to see the procession charging through the smoke and firecrackers. Ear-plugs are a good idea.

During the 9 days of the festival, the participants must follow 10 rules. These include wearing white clothes, not eating meat, self-discipline, no alcohol and no sex.

For the date of this years festival and a full schedule of events check the official website – Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

November

Patong Carnival

The start of the high season is marked in Patong with a carnival. From November 1st to 3rd, there are many events including processions, walking streets, food stalls and entertainments.
Thalang Walking Street

In Phuket Town, they celebrate the start of the high season in the first weekend of November by turning Thalang Road into a walking street. This is one of the old roads where the buildings are in the Sino-Portuguese architecture style of old Phuket Town. Stroll along the street enjoying the character of these old buildings. There are lots of stalls, food vendors and entertainments.
Loy Kratong

A national celebration on full moon night in November. After dark, Thais flock to any stretch of water; river, lake or sea, to float their bad luck away on small floats carrying candles. ‘Loy’ means ‘to float’ and ‘kratong’ is the name of the small floats made from banana leaves, tree bark and decorations. It is a beautiful little festival as you watch the flickering lights float away into the distance.

December

Phuket Seafood Festival

December begins with a seafood festival. Phuket is renowned for its great seafood and this is a chance for the local culinary experts to show off their skills. There are food stalls all along Patong beach.

King’s Cup Regatta

There are a few yachting events in Phuket’s waters but this is by far the biggest event of the year and attracts top-class competitors from all over the world.

Laguna Triathlon

Another top-class sporting event, the Laguna Triathlon attracts top class triathletes from all over the world. The 1.8km swim starts at Bang Tao Beach around the sea and into the lagoons behind the beach. The 55km cycle runs up the coast road and through the rubber plantations in the north of the island. And as if that is not enough they finish with a 12km run around the roads of Laguna.

January / February

Chinese New Year

The date of the Chinese New Year varies from late January to mid February. Phuket’s large Chinese population makes it a celebration to remember. Two days of processions, firecrackers and dancing dragons make a colourful spectacle. There are shopping discounts and lots of great food. Go to the old town area of Phuket Town to fully appreciate the celebrations.

Wat Chalong Fair

Wat Chalong Fair coincides with the Chinese New Year. This is a huge fair including shopping stalls, food vendors, games and entertainments. It takes place in the grounds of Wat Chalong which is the most important temple on the island. It is on Chao Fa West Road approx three kilometers from Chalong Circle.

Phuket Old Town Festival

Thalang Road is turned into a walking street for the weekend. There are lots of street stalls and entertainments. Some of the old houses open to visitors.

Phuket Gay Pride Festival

They claim it is the biggest gay festival in Asia. There is a three-day street party around Patong’s gay district at Soi Paradise. There are also parades and a volleyball tournament. It is a colourful and flamboyant event.

April

Songkran Festival

Celebrate the Thai New Year with a good water fight. In northern Thailand, this celebration goes on for a week but in the south, it is a single day – April 13th. Everybody gets loaded up with water guns or buckets of water, and goes out for a good soak. It is a happy, mass water fight. Do not carry electronic goods or passport. Be very careful on your motorbike.

Turtle Releasing Festival

Coinciding with Songkran is the turtle releasing festival. This is an attempt to replenish the diminishing turtle population that lays its eggs at Nai Yang and Mai Khao beaches.

August

Phuket Fireworks Display

A huge fireworks display in Saphin Hin, Phuket Town. You can see this from a distance but the closer the better.

Phuket restaurant information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

Considering how much it rains from May to October you would think Phuket would have a few more indoor activities. There are surprisingly few indoor activities so here we list in one place a few suggestions for things to do when it is raining.

Shopping

Well you are going to want to do some shopping so you might as well do it when it is raining. Check out our shopping guide. Phuket Shopping Guide

Cinema

There are four multiplex cinemas in Phuket.

SFX Cinema, Central Festival – This seven-screen multiplex is currently the most westerner friendly cinema in Phuket. It is on the third floor of Central Festival shopping mall. It has all the major western movies with English soundtrack and Thai subtitles. It also has English subtitles for most Thai movies. Normal seats cost from 80 to 120 baht. There are sofa seats in the back row which cost 300 baht for two people. There is also a VIP screen which costs 500 baht per person for a sofa seat with snacks and soft drinks included.

Paradise Multiplex, Ocean Plaza – This multiplex is in Phuket Town on Tilok Uthit 1 Road. It does not screen so many movies with English soundtracks and does not often include English subtitles for Thai movies. Normal seats cost 80 baht.

Jung Ceylon, Patong – The shopping complex in Patong is now open again after covid. This multiplex is strongly aimed at the tourist market so there are plenty of English soundtrack movies.

Major Cinema, Chalong – Situated new Robinson’s shopping complex in Chalong.

Restaurants

There is something very restful about watching a storm rage from the comfort of a nice bar or restaurant, especially if you have a great view. There is no rush to go anywhere so relax over your food and drink while the rain buckets down and lightening occasionally illuminates the sky. There are lots of great eating-places around the tourist resorts or check out our restaurant guide. Phuket Restaurant Guide

Massage

No trip to Thailand is complete without a Thai massage. Some people are concerned about the connection with the sex industry but do not worry – there are lots of genuine massage parlours offering traditional Thai massage. They range from simple massage salons to up-market spas offering a complete pampering service. Salons offer massage from 200 baht an hour, beachside massages cost around 300 baht an hour while you can spend several thousand baht for a full days pampering at one of the top spas.

Traditional Thai massage is a vigorous kneading and stretching routine designed to release tension and activate pressure points to leave you feeling loose and rejuvenated. Some of the actions are distinctly painful but the final result is worth the effort. If you want something more relaxing, try an oil massage. The masseur uses warming massage oils to loosen the muscles and lubricate the kneading action for a totally relaxing experience. Or why not try a foot massage. While working over your foot ankle and calf the practitioners claim to activate pressure points that relieve stress and restore energy flow throughout the body. Phuket Spa Guide

Ten Pin Bowling

Ten-pin bowling has a following through much of Asia and there are several bowling alleys in Phuket. Devotees of the game seem to be able to play for hours. For the rest it can provide an hour or two of amusement while the rain falls.

Rock and Bowl, Soi Kepsub 2, Sai Nam Yen Road, Patong.

Ocean Plaza Bowling, Bangla Road, Patong.

Pearl Bowling, Montree Road, Phuket Town.

Ocean Bowl, Ocean Shopping Mall, Tilok Uthit 1 Road, Phuket Town.

Museums

Thalang National Museum
Drive north up Thepkrasattri Road (Airport Road) and turn right at Heroines Monument circle on to road 4027. The museum is almost immediately on your right. It is a simple but pleasant museum covering the history of Phuket from prehistoric times to today. You can learn about Phuket’s geology, earliest inhabitants, battles with Burma, the tin mining industry and rubber plantations. The museum is another institution that practices two-tier pricing but with an entrance fee of 30 baht for foreigners and 10 baht for Thais, it is hardly worth worrying about.

Aquarium
At the end of Cape Panwa is Phuket Aquarium. It is a small aquarium and will take a maximum of an hour to explore. There is a nice range of aquatic life and the final two tanks have some impressive big fish.

The aquarium is open from 08:30 to 16:00. It is a publicly owned facility and practices two-tier pricing. Entrance for foreigners is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children. Entrance for Thais is 50 baht for adults and 20 baht for children.

Phuket rainy day information courtesy of www.knowphuket.com

The Floating Restaurants at Koh Maprow (Coconut Island)

Phuket Restaurants – Where to eat out in Phuket, some great eateries not to be missed. As a visitor there can be no excuse for going hungry on Phuket as it can seem like every other building on the island is a restaurant. Whilst many are traditional Thai eateries, especially in the tourist areas almost every kind of eating establishment can be found from burger joints to up market French and Italian restaurants, from Korean BBQ’s to Mexican and of course a great variety of local Thai delights. Stroll along the beach front or down a side street and you will find something to suit every taste. Most of Phuket’s beachfronts have a plethora of seafood restaurants aimed at both locals and tourists and are usually loaded up with the fresh catch of the day be it fresh fish (Snapper is a local favorite and well recommended), lobsters, mussels, prawns, crabs and much more. Most have menus in English and Thai and now many have Russian and Chinese too.

We can only offer a taste of what awaits as we can’t get close to describing even a small percentage of what’s here but below are a few that we have enjoyed, they may not be the best or cheapest but, just simply that we liked them, meals were paid for in full and we have not been paid to recommend them.

Phuket restaurants like other businesses here come and go and there are always new places opening up, We would encourage you to explore and try new experiences, it’s very likely that you may well discover a gem.

Baan Hat Rawai Restaurant, Rawai Beach

The Baan Hat Rawai seafood restaurant is a favorite with both locals and visitors alike. Situated at the end of Rawai beach it is located virtually right next to the seafront and has lovely views out to sea. You can enjoy a beautiful meal whilst looking at the sunlight glinting off the sea, the small tropical islands in the distance and the fishermen in their longtail boats puttering by, the scene is absolutely tropical idyll at it’s best.

Whilst the restaurant does serve most of the Thai classics fresh Seafood is it’s specialty and the reason most of the customers go there. A great selection of fish, Prawns and squid are favorites. They can be cooked Thai style with herbs, garlic and spices or as-you-like-it. Menus are available in English and prices whilst not as cheap as they used to be are reasonable for the quality of food and location.

Le Celtique, French Restaurant, Rawai

One of my favourite Phuket restaurants, Le Celtique is not the easiest of restaurants to find but when you get there you will find that it was well worth it. Run by a French chef and his Thai wife the food is a delight and Lek the hostess does an truly excellent job of making you feel genuinely welcome and it is also abundantly obvious that the staff have been professionally trained.

On my first visit I did wonder how a place so off the beaten track and with little advertising could be so busy but I soon realised that with the food and atmosphere so good, reasonable prices and very good service word had gotten around and you really can’t wait to go back. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with high quality furniture and a number of quality hardwood Buddhist and Thai style statues and 2 huge tropical fish tanks that really give the place some flair. The menu is traditional French faire and very good quality, there are also a number of very nice Thai dishes. As you would expect in a French restaurant there is a decent selection of wine from France and also Chile, South Africa and Australia.

As a bonus Le Celtique has what must be one of the nicest and cleanest toilets I have come across on the island, a visit here will certainly not be regretted. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Le-Celtique-Restsurant/168546363336368

Shakers Restaurant, Rawai / Nai harn

Another personal favorite Phuket restaurant is Shakers in Rawai/Nai harn. After a successful decade in Patong Shakers relocated to Rawai/Naiharn at the end of 2014 bringing a much needed addition to the local restaurant scene.

The menu is huge and the portions are anything but stingy. Western favorites like Pizza, Burgers and Steaks, Swiss style fondue’s, Thai food and great value daily specials ensure that there is something for every palette . There’s a selection of international beers plus the local favorites, a decent variety of wines as well as an extensive selection of cocktails and spirits. The Belgian owner and staff are friendly and helpful and there’s a great ambience with inside and outside dining and Sofa’s for an after dinner relaxing drink.

Live sports are shown for those interested though it’s not in your face for those not. All in all a good night out and excellent value for money.  http://www.shakersphuket.com/

Kan Eang 1 & 2 Seafood Restaurants

Kan Eang 1 and 2 are 2 large and well situated seafood restaurants located on the seafront in Chalong. Kan Eang 1 is the easiest to find sited at the end of the Chalong Pier road on the right, it was renovated at some cost some years ago and offers a very scenic view across the bay. This is the more touristy of the 2 and prices reflect this, it has a large range of seafood dishes which they are happy to cook to your order.

Kang Eang 2 is owned by the same family and located about 300 meters down the coast which is signposted from the Chaofa East road off of Chalong circle. Personally I prefer Kan Eang 2 as it’s more authentic, less touristy and more reasonably priced. It offers the same great vistas and you can watch the boats coming and going as you eat.

Both restaurants have good parking which on Phuket can be a bonus and both have English menus and English speaking staff.

Palai Seafood Restaurant

Palai Seafood as the name suggests is another seafront sited seafood restaurant though a little off the beaten track and mostly frequented by locals. It is located right at the end of the Phuket Zoo road between Phuket town and Chalong off of the Chaofa East road. The seafood is fresh, often you can select the prawns, Lobsters, Crabs and Fish whilst they are still alive swimming in tanks. Standard Thai faire is also available for those not partial to seafood. Again it’s a nice location to look out at the islands and boats and across to Panwa whilst you dine and if there is a nice breeze blowing to cool things down a little so much the better. The prices are very reasonable and menus in English are available.

Koh Maprow (Coconut Island) Floating Restaurants

The fresh seafood at the Koh Maprow (Coconut island) restaurants is OK, as are the service and prices but the main reason for visiting these 4 restaurants is their unusual position. They float just off the coast between Phuket’s eastern shore and Koh Maprow. It is a good location as the sea is shielded here and thus the waters are always becalmed. The views are splendid, out to sea and of the Coconuts trees of Maprow island little more than a stone’s throw away.

The 4 floating restaurants are all similar to look at having grass roofs and basic tables and benches to sit at, it can be quite an experience. Fresh live seafood is kept in nets dropped into the sea until ready to be selected for dinner, the usual fish, crabs, squid and prawns being on the menu which is also available in English.

Mostly frequented by locals as it’s not so easy to find though the current development of Koh Maprow is sure to introduce more tourists to this area. It can be reached by taking the turn off from Thepkrasattri road just outside of Phuket town and following the lane down to the sea front. There is a good sized car park at the Laem Hin pier.

Pae Ma Nam Restaurant, Kathu

This one gets a mention for the unusual experience of eating your food while floating on a raft in the middle of a lake. Located in Kathu it is a good option if you are on a shopping trip to Central Festival, Big C or Tesco Lotus. The restaurant is off Wichitsongkram Road. If you drive from Central or Big C along Wichitsongkram Road towards Patong then after one kilometer there is an ‘S’ bend and right at the end of the bend is a red sign for the left hand turn to the restaurant. There is also a green sign to Sabai Spa. If you reach the 7-Eleven, you have gone too far.

The restaurant has a peaceful lakeside location. As well as a seating area by the lake there are also four covered rafts floating on the lake. The rafts are attached to ropes that hang above the lake so you can pull the raft across. You sit on the floor of the raft around a low table. Once you have got your food and drink loaded up pull yourselves into the middle of the lake. You can also order some fish food (ah-hahn plah) to feed the fish that will crowd around the raft.

They serve a good selection of seafood and classic Thai dishes. The food is reasonable but nothing special. The main selling point of the restaurant is the location. Most of the customers are Thai with a few ex-pats. They have an English language menu although most of the serving staff do not have very good English skills.

Goong Ga Ta & Moo Ga Ta Restaurants in Phuket Town

This type of restaurant is known as ‘Korean Bar-B-Que’ style and has really taken off in Thailand in general and especially Phuket and are enormously popular with locals.

You basically get to choose the raw food from a buffet table and then cook your choice at your own table. Each table has a kind of cooking pan that is cooked from below by a kind of BBQ, the charcoal burns heating up your pan where your vegetables cook around the outside and your meat on the raised middle.

It’s quite a nice social way to eat with friends and usually extremely good value as prices are normally very cheap for an ‘all you can eat’ meal. A typical buffet might include prawns, squid, ham/pork, chicken, sausage, vegetables and side dishes. Also present and included in the price are herbs, spices, chilies, garlic e.t.c. to be added to your taste.

No menu’s here as it is buffet style but feel free to tuck in to a bargain if you are adventurous.

Phuket restaurant information inspired and with the help of www.knowphuket.com

Bargain Hunting & Haggling in Phuket

Whist indulging in a Phuket shopping spree one of the main appeals are the plethora of bargains to be had. Prices for many goods are significantly cheaper in Thailand than in western countries. The best bargains are for Thai produced goods. Prices for imported goods such as electrical items are similar to western prices. Some of the best bargains include clothing, textiles, handicrafts, ceramics, gold, silver, pearls, jewellery, furniture, antiques and art.

Phuket has a wide range of shopping outlets and a tremendous variety of goods for sale. The best shopping is away from the tourist resorts where you will find much better deals. Phuket Town and the surrounding area have the best range of shops with good quality goods for sale at bargain prices. You should shop around to get an idea of the prices for the goods you want.

Spas in Phuket – Go on, treat yourself!

Unlike in the west, Spa treatments and massage therapies in Thailand are relatively inexpensive and generally of a very good standard making them an easily affordable indulgence as part of your south-east Asian holiday. All of Thailand’s main tourist centers have Spa and Detox retreats and Phuket is no exception. In fact Phuket Spa & Massage establishments have sprung up all over the island and are extremely popular both with locals and tourists alike. They range from dedicated resorts with on-site treatment facilities to smaller, more specialized shops without accommodation, there is something to fit most budgets.

Four Great Golf Courses on Phuket Island

Blue Canyon Country Club

Located at Mai Khao on 730 acres of prime land, it is recognized as being amongst the most exclusive golfing establishments in the region. Cradled in a secluded, verdant valley, against a magnificent backdrop of majestic mountain views.

www.bluecanyonclub.com

Beautiful Thai Orchids

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park: A very pleasant daytrip and Phuket’s last significant virgin rain forest is a designated national park located in the northern part of the island. Spend a morning taking a leisurely walk up by the Tonsai waterfall, or, if you want to spend the day walking in the quiet majesty of a tropical forest, there’s an eight kilometre trek right through the park from Bang Pai to Ton Sai. Guides are available at the park. A small museum and information centre is located near the bottom of the waterfall. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre can also be visited within the park, it was set up rehabilitate abandoned pet gibbons to the wild.

Thai Village & Orchid Garden: A Thai cultural show featuring different types of dancing from all parts of Thailand, a Thai boxing performance, handicrafts, elephants and a demonstration of old tin-mining techniques among the orchids. Located in Sam Kong, about 3 kms. from downtown Phuket. The morning show starts at 11:00 a.m. the evening show at 5:30 p.m. Tel. (076) 214860, 237400

Many beautiful and pristine beaches around the island

Phuket Beaches

Patong Beach: Of all the Phuket beaches Patong is the  most developed and is the centre for tourism on the island. Hotels, bars, nightclubs, discotheques, shops, and restaurants front the crescent bay. Windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, sunbathing, and swimming dominate the major activities in the day whilst there is no shortage of things to do at night.

Karon Beach: Karon is the next main stop south of Patong, along with Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach they are more family orientated, all are long and peaceful beaches and eminently suitable for swimming and sunbathing. Not as bustling as Patong but still plenty to do in the evenings.

Nai Harn Beach: Although not so long one of the nicest Phuket beaches is Nai Harn, it has white, clean sand and is situated at the southern tip of the island. The scenery is stunning with the headlands and islands in the distance and the coconut palms shade the restaurants that back onto the beach. Swimming is not recommended during May-October due to the monsoon season and there can be a strong undertow but is great for the rest of the year. A small bay next to Nai Harn Beach past the Phuket Yacht Club is Ao Sen, which is peaceful and picturesque with white, clean sand.