Don’t overlook Phuket Old Town when you visit Phuket island. There is loads to see and do here. The old town centres around Thalang Road and is lined with colourful architecture. Here you will see stunning 19th-century shophouses, mansions, Sino-Portuguese buildings, museums and places of worships. The town got its wealth from the tin boom in this era.
There are several markets and many boutique shops and cafes. You can find beautiful materials, clothes, local products and souvenirs And, a must is one of the locally made delicious ice creams or lollies. Shopping and eating out is cheap here – cheaper than the rest of the island. Cafe 36 was a great lunch stop – a local Pad Thai for me. A brilliant spot for people watching too.
The one disadvantage if you are visiting the island – transport is very expensive. To exacerbate the situation, buses aren’t prolific and don’t run to any sort of timetable it seems. A taxi or tuk-tuk will cost you just under £20 GBP for an eight to ten mile trip. A lot of tourists hire mopeds, at your own peril in my book!
A few highlights from around town:
- The On On Hotel was made famous in 2000 as it appeared in the Di Caprio film, The Beach. Its name in Chinese (Un Un) means happiness for all visitors. The hotel was renovated a few years back & is now glam rather than how it looked in the film.
- The Old Phuket Coffee Shop is worth a stop. It is filled with old radios, bicycles, clocks and pictures.
- According to the ancient Chinese legend, the island of Phuket is a golden sea dragon, known as Hai Leng Ong. The dragons duty is to protect the island and its visitors. The statue is worth a stop and can be found in
Queen Sirikit Park.
I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful town.
I have enjoyed ‘travelling light’ this trip with just my iPhone.
