Phuket - Vijitt Resort

Being a popular International tourist destination, Phuket has its share of great resorts. Some of them are truly breath-taking. Like this all villa resort on the south-eastern side of the island called The Vijitt.

In keeping with most high end resorts nowadays, the entrance is decidedly understated. The main reception is in a separate pavillion facing a circular garden. On one side is the spa entrance, and next to it is the entry point to the villas.

The villa design is based on quite a common concept of vernacular pitched roof design with lots of sliding glass partitions. The roofs are finished with wooden slates, and each villa has it's own plunge pool. The resort is on a hilly site which slopes toward the sea. This provides an interesting undulation in the landscape, giving it a nice village-like atmosphere.

The view looking down towards the restaurant which is in an old Colonial residence.

The multi-tiered swimming pool.

Wish I could stay here, but the rates are about USD 500 a night. A bit beyond my budget.

Phuket - HomePro and Plaza Dracaena

While Phuket Town seem to be caught in a time warp - albeit in a nice way, as you drive out of town you begin to see some new developments. The good thing is Phuket is still not over-built, unlike many other tourist destinations which are ravaged by unchecked developments. There is a certain relaxed low-key vibe about the island which is really attractive.

As I was driving from Phuket Town to my next destination, I came across this interesting shopping centre called HomePro Village. It looks brand new - probably open for only a few months. There wasn't much of a crowd when I was there, mostly expats and yuppies. The shopping centre is actually anchored by HomePro - a huge home improvement shop. You can get everything inside - TVs, furniture, lighting, tiles, linens, curtains, etc. It is really nice, and I could have spent a whole day there. Unfortunately I was in a bit of a hurry. At the front of HomePro are some food outlets, art galleries, and a premium supermarket on one side.

The road out of Phuket Town.

HomePro Village.

Opposite HomePro Village is another brand new development called Plaza Dracaena. It is so new that most of the shop lots are still unoccupied. The design is very modern and minimalist - something which I really like. In the middle is a landscaped courtyard and parking space. There is a shop at the front which sells designer outdoor furniture - KenKoon. The furniture designs are really cool !

The KenKoon shop.

Phuket Town - Colonial Architecture

There are some really nice Colonial buildings in Phuket, some of which are very well preserved. Take this Phuket Thai Hua School Museum. It was a private Chinese school built in the 1930s, in a European-Sino-Thai style. A very handsome building, the details are really intriguing with it's blend of Western and Eastern elements. I was especially captivated by the detail on the pediments which uses a bat motif. Today the school has been converted into a museum for the Chinese immigrants in Phuket.

As is typical of old Colonial mansions, there is a courtyard in the centre which allows natural light and ventilation into the building.

This other handsome Colonial building now houses the Phuket office of Thai Airways. Both the exterior and interiors have been beautifully restored.

Another old mansion which is currently being restored. I think it will be converted into a restaurant and entertainment complex.

This building is another nice example of functional Colonial architecture. The play of shades of green on the facade is really delightful.

This clock tower is a famous landmark in Phuket. You will not miss it as you enter Phuket Town.

The care with which many of the old buildings have been restored bodes well for the heritage of Phuket Town. I hope to go back and see Phuket Town again in it's full glory after all the major restoration works have been done.

Eating in Phuket - Lunch at China Inn Cafe

I've read so much about China Inn Cafe & Restaurant before I went to Phuket that it was right on the top of my "must-go" list. I went there for lunch on my first day, not long after I touched down. The cafe is located on Thalang Road, one of the most popular old streets in Phuket Town. Naturally it is in an old shophouse.

The old building has been very nicely restored. I read that the restaurant is run by a husband and wife team, but didn't get to meet them. At the front just after you enter is a gallery selling Asian artifacts. There are some nice collections here. In the middle there is a light-well like in typical old shophouses, and next to it is the cafe. The dining area is at the back, just before the kitchen which is in a separate out-building. The al fresco dining area faces a small garden. It is really nice and cozy.

The menu offers traditional Thai dishes and some eclectic Western dishes. Since I was in Thailand, I decided to go for Thai. I ordered a Prawn and Green Mango Salad, Green Curry and Tom Yum Soup - you could say these are the triumvirate of Thai cuisine.

The Tom Yum Soup came first. It was very good - a nice balance of sour, hot and saltiness. The seafood was extremely fresh.

Next came the Prawn and Green Mango Salad. Again, very nicely done. The prawns were sweet and crunchy - cooked just right. The dressing was a near perfect combination of sweet, salty and sour - it was also very light and did not overwhelm the taste of the fresh ingredients.

The Green Curry - one of my favourite Thai dishes, did not disappoint. It was a bit mild, probably tuned more to a tourist palate, but still very flavourful. you could taste the freshness of the ingredients, like they were probably just picked in the morning.

The food at China Inn Cafe is very good. Pricing is on the high side, but you do have to pay for quality. I would highly recommend that you give it a try.

Phuket - Street Food

Phuket street food is not as varied as in Bangkok. I only came across some road side stalls near Ranong Road. Unlike in Bangkok where grilling seems to be the preferred method of preparation, here in Phuket they prefer deep frying. Almost everything is deep fried and covered in a thick batter. Under the hot sun, it was a bit too much for me to try them out.

I did try some of these grilled bananas slathered in a thick caramel sauce. Very sweet and quite delicious, though sinfully full of calories.

I also couldn't resist trying these sausages. As this was a Muslim stall, the sausage was made of beef. It had a nice smoky taste, but a bit too salty. It would have been better grilled rather then deep fried.

A typical coffee shop. Not unlike those in Kuching. This one sells noodles with seafood. There is a large Chinese Hokkien population in Phuket, so Hokkien noodle is common here.

This shop sells conveniently packed lunch take outs. They all look quite delicious.

Just like in other parts of Thailand, food is plentiful in Phuket. If you have a few bucks in your pocket, you wouldn't starve here.