Last Sunday Corey was out working on a dive boat so took myself on a little adventure. A short walk from where we live in Kathu (a township on Phuket Island) is a motorcycle taxi stand. It's the cheapest way to get around the island if you don't have your own wheels. The motorcycle taxi stands are easy to recognize. There is usually a wooden structure where guys in blue vests are lounging around and multiple motor bikes parked right in front. The sign lists destinations and pricing, in English.
I walked up, pointed to where I wanted to go on the sign and hopped on behind my driver. I'm becoming used to commuting by scooter, whether behind Corey or a local driver. In fact, last night I really went all out and rode "side saddle" behind Corey as I had a skirt on!
Phuket Town is about 20 minutes by scooter away from where we live and is the original town on the island. It is said that less than 10% of all tourists visiting Phuket make it to Phuket Town. There is a section called Old Town and that is where I was headed. Most of you know that old architecture is one of my favorite things.
A blurb from Lonely Planet about Phuket Town: "Long before tourist T-shirts or flip-flops, Phuket was an island of rubber trees, tin mines and cash-hungry merchants. Attracting entrepreneurs from as far away as the Arabian Peninsula, China, India and Portugal, Phuket Town was a colourful blend of cultural influences, cobbled together by tentative compromise and cooperation. Today the city is proof of the island’s historical soul. Wander down streets clogged with Sino-Portuguese architecture housing arty coffee shops, galleries, wonderful inexpensive restaurants and hip little guest houses; peek down alleyways to find Chinese Taoist shrines shrouded in incense smoke.But it’s not just some lost-in-time cultural archive. Bubbling up throughout the emerging Old Town is an infusion of current art, music and food that attract a very hip crowd, both foreign and Thai. Investors have finally caught on that culture, not just slinky beaches and girly bars, is a commodity. Old shophouses and homes, once left to rot, are being bought up and restored, resulting in flash-forward gentrification."
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/andaman-coast/phuket-town#ixzz2q9NFRxcX
I walked up, pointed to where I wanted to go on the sign and hopped on behind my driver. I'm becoming used to commuting by scooter, whether behind Corey or a local driver. In fact, last night I really went all out and rode "side saddle" behind Corey as I had a skirt on!
Phuket Town is about 20 minutes by scooter away from where we live and is the original town on the island. It is said that less than 10% of all tourists visiting Phuket make it to Phuket Town. There is a section called Old Town and that is where I was headed. Most of you know that old architecture is one of my favorite things.
A blurb from Lonely Planet about Phuket Town: "Long before tourist T-shirts or flip-flops, Phuket was an island of rubber trees, tin mines and cash-hungry merchants. Attracting entrepreneurs from as far away as the Arabian Peninsula, China, India and Portugal, Phuket Town was a colourful blend of cultural influences, cobbled together by tentative compromise and cooperation. Today the city is proof of the island’s historical soul. Wander down streets clogged with Sino-Portuguese architecture housing arty coffee shops, galleries, wonderful inexpensive restaurants and hip little guest houses; peek down alleyways to find Chinese Taoist shrines shrouded in incense smoke.But it’s not just some lost-in-time cultural archive. Bubbling up throughout the emerging Old Town is an infusion of current art, music and food that attract a very hip crowd, both foreign and Thai. Investors have finally caught on that culture, not just slinky beaches and girly bars, is a commodity. Old shophouses and homes, once left to rot, are being bought up and restored, resulting in flash-forward gentrification."
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/andaman-coast/phuket-town#ixzz2q9NFRxcX
I safely made it to my destination and started walking. I found a very sweet little coffee shop called Kaffe Phuket where I treated myself to a cappucino. It was the best coffee I've had so far on the island besides what we have been making at home. Along my walk I ran into some lovely flowers. The orchid was hanging along with many more, available for purchase and the lotus was in a little fish bowl in front of a shop. Couldn't resist capturing their delicious colors!
I meandered around the streets and found Old Town. See the pictures below. Lady Luck was on my side as it turns out that Sunday evening, starting at 4pm, is Old Town Market night! It was amazing! Food, drinks, and fun things to buy all set up in the center of Thalang Road which is blocked off for the evening. Corey came and joined me there after work. We will definitely be back! Maybe tonight... as it's already Sunday again.
I meandered around the streets and found Old Town. See the pictures below. Lady Luck was on my side as it turns out that Sunday evening, starting at 4pm, is Old Town Market night! It was amazing! Food, drinks, and fun things to buy all set up in the center of Thalang Road which is blocked off for the evening. Corey came and joined me there after work. We will definitely be back! Maybe tonight... as it's already Sunday again.
Today Corey and I are going to ride our motorbike down to the south western part of the island and explore that area. More ramblings to be recorded! Stay tuned!
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