THEGUIDE
phuket
116
FAHTHAI
1 _
WHAT WE
RECOMMEND
To escape the hot sun,
head to the SFX Coliseum
at Central Festival Phuket.
Treat yourself to some
time in the VIP cinema,
which has plush seating
and complimentary soft
drinks and popcorn.
(sfcinemacity.com)
2 _
KNOW THE
NUMBER
9,141 – the number of
foreigners who received
permits to work in Phuket
from 2009-2013
3 _
CLEAN THE
BEACH BOOT
CAMP
Can you say, “Sir, yes
sir”? Satisfy your desire to
improve your fitness while
lending the environment
a helping hand at this free
boot camp, organised by
Phuket-based personal
trainer Krix Luther. It’s held
every Saturday at Naiharn
Beach, in the far south of
the island.
(krixluther.com)
COUNTRY
CODE
+66
EXCHANGE
RATE
THB30 = US$1
FREQUENCY
8 flights per day
from Bangkok; 1
flight per day to
Pattaya; 5 flights
per day to Samui
A RECORD
YEAR
2013 was
a record-breaking
year for foreign
tourism in Phuket
R I N G T H E B E L L S
Top 3
insider
travel tips
Rest Your Head
RISING SUN RESIDENCE
Small is beautiful, as exemplified
by this boutique hideaway
nestled high in the hills of
Chalong. Though it’s quite
a distance from the nearest
beach, the excellent service,
high-end facilities and the
option of a personal driver (a
good idea) make it a place to
come back to again and again.
(rising-sun-residence.com)
PAVILIONS
With a sister property in Bali,
The Pavilions is something of an
island specialist – an adults-only
retreat with an emphasis on
privacy and romance. Perched
right at the top of the resort is
360°, a bar where the sunset
views wrap around you like a
comfortable duvet.
(thepavilionsresorts.com)
Top Tables
MEE TON POE
For a genuine taste of Phuket,
make your way to Mee Ton Poe.
Though there are now several
locations across the island, the
best of them is the flagship
eatery in Phuket Town. Look for
it by the clock tower, where Mee
Ton Poe has been serving up
Hokkien noodles and pork satay
to locals and visitors since 1955.
CRUST
This charming new eatery is
winning fans with its superb
Italian dishes and wonderful
cakes. It’s the brainchild of
a young Thai couple who
underwent culinary training in
Paris and subsequently at one of
Phuket’s top resorts.
(Next to Central Festival Mall)
Bottoms Up
WONDERLAND
In keeping with the motto
at Wonderland, expect the
unexpected here. Occupying a
century-old shophouse in the
Old Town, this rather weird and,
yes, wonderful new cocktail
lounge is the whimsical creation
of five local entrepreneurs.
The fun side of things is not
limited to the giant rabbits.
(wonderlandphuket.com)
Phuket
TEXT: SIMON OSTHEIMER
