Tim in Thailand

Phuket Raceweek 2015

We had a lot of fun...

Registration day - boats arrive and there was a party (the chicken kebabs were the best)

Day One - boats are ready and off they go (and there was another party - thanks Peroni)

Day Two - boats are ready and off they go (and there was another party - thanks Peroni)

Day Three - boats are ready and off they go - there was no wind - no party

Day Four - boats are ready and off they go (and there was another party - thanks Peroni)

Phuket Raceweek 2014

This is a Sino-Portuguese mansion (of which there are quite a few in Phuket Town) but what this restaurant has is it's location. Panwa House is but a few metres from the rolling sound of the waves - beautiful.

The Traditional Thai food was as good as the building was special - a real must is the chicken baked in Pandanus Leaves...

My friend Olivier swears by the Beef Massaman.

All that we had was good - we will visit again

- I did work there.

I found some photographs of Panwa House during the lighter hours - before we had dinner.

Website: http://www.capepanwa.com/dining.html

Phone Number: 076 391 123

Approximate price: $$$$$

Address: Cape Panwa Hotel, Ao Makham, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000

Hours: 18:00 - 23:00 (closed on Mondays)

Street Food - Fried Curly potatoes

These funny looking things are really potatoes put into a screw and unwound.

Delicious.

Until I found that they are sprinkled with MSG
- they were really delicious.

I had these at the market at Sapan Hin.

Coffee and Cake Shops in Phuket Town

6 Coffee and Cake Shops in Phuket Town

This is a topic which I always enjoy investigating - I wonder whether this was why the doctor told me to quit coffee for two months...

Anyway this is a list from Phuket.com.

1) Since 1982

I enjoy this coffee and cake shop because it is always interesting and the coffee is pretty good.

Review: 2012 / 2014

2) Bo(ok)hemian Art House (Nang Sua)
I do not recall ever visiting here

3) Mac-Chiato House (Cake Box)

I do remember visiting here because Jemma like the furniture... I felt not hip enough to be here - I enjoyed my espresso.
Review: 2014

4) Pirrera

This was an experience that I repeated because I enjoyed the ambience of the coffee shop - I did try the food byt i felt that it was best to stick to the coffee and cake - great for sitting outside (but it is near to the road).

Review: 2013

5) Siam Bakery
I enjoy visiting here more for the croissants than the coffee - so if you are looking for a place to dip your croissant then this is the best place (cakes are pretty good) - go early in the morning. Review: 2013

6) Cafe Y Te
This is certainly a great place to visit - interesting furniture, cakes to devour and strong coffee... but it has just been closed. Review: 2014

5 out of 6 isn't bad

Things to do in Phuket - visit Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong is a wonderful example of a Thai Buddhist Temple.

I recently came across this text with Triposo - an App that I was reviewing for my Travel App Blog and their review of Wat Chalong.

"The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is Wat Chalong or formally Wat Chaiyathararam , located in the Chalong Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. It is dedicated to two highly venerable monks, Luang Pho Chaem (หลวงพ่อแช่ม) and Luang Pho Chuang (หลวงพ่อช่วง), who led the citizens of Chalong Subdistrict fighting against the Chinese rebellion in 1876 and with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured."

It is the most popular and revered of the Buddhist Temples in Phuket and also the busiest so for a 'personal retreat' it is not always the best choice but it is very popular with TripAdvisor and it is close to Big Buddha. Jamie in Phuket has written a post as well.

There are a number of different temples to visit and I would visit each one - there is one with an entire ceiling in a mural of sorts but it would need me to take time to catalogue it all - another time.

Don't forget to visit Bake across the road - lovely coffee - pictures on my coffee blog.

Tim's Bake Coffee and Cake review. (now closed - 2016)

Previous Temple visits

1) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2015
2) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2014
3) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2013
2) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2012
3) Wat Chalong 2012
4) Wat Chalong 2009

(Click here for things to do in Phuket)

Wat Tham Sumano Sumano Cave (@Phatthalung)

Phattalung was where my wife grew up so we visited there whilst visiting her family home - and I was told that we needed to visit the Sumano Cave Temple.

It might appear to be an old place but they are fairly new - since 1988.

It is actually a Meditation Centre and not strictly a Wat.

There are two caves with the stalagmites and stalactites and the necessary bats and other animals - yes it was a little strage I have to admit BUT I did not see the ghost in the Buddha Cave however.