10 things I love about Phuket

MANILA, Philippines - Believe it or not, it was an episode of Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern that piqued my interest on Phuket. Sure, the host had a buffet of fried grasshoppers, stir-fried stingray, red weaver ants and whatnot. But it was a plateful of bad boys — chili- and tom yum-flavored cashews — that got me so mouth-wateringly interested. It seemed to be a place that offers nutty, spicy pleasures — whether culinary, visually or anything touristic. 

An island southwest of Thailand, Phuket is as large as Singapore and derives mostly its income from tourism. When Tiger Air Philippines invited The STAR to visit Phuket, images of nightlife and tourists sunning themselves on the beaches formed in my mind. On cue, my tongue almost began dreaming of chili and tom yum.

Our group recently left Manila for Phuket aboard Tiger Airways Airbus A320, and we were billeted for three days at Duangjitt Resort, a short walk from the famous Patong Beach and its strip of infinite delights. 

Let me do a David Letterman and present to you the top 10 things I love about the island.

1. Bond… James Bond Island. Koh Tapu, which means “Nail Island” in Thai, got its name from the 1974 James Bond movie. It is one of some hundred islands inside Phang Nga Bay. An hour by long-tail boat from Surakul Pier in Phang Nga, we had a smash and a splash taking photos of Mother Nature’s work of art along the way. One can go kayaking, explore the rocky surroundings, or hunt for souvenirs in the stalls nestled on the island. I would say it’s one of Phuket’s must-sees.

2. Flag is up at Koh Panyee. Flag Island is a Muslim village built on stilts about 200 years ago upon the feet of a giant limestone cliff. It really is a complete village with a school, police station, a tiny health center and a mosque. People here are used so to being photographed that they barely acknowledge your presence as they press on with their daily lives. Lunchtime was a bit busy because of a phalanx of tourists. We settled at a seafood restaurant called Panyee Mutearra. Authentic Thai dishes were served. Occupying the center of the table is the spicy Tom Yum Goong. (“Aha… so we meet!”)

3. Beach, blanket, Patong. is synonymous with party and play. This is the ideal place to enjoy, relax, and did I say enjoy? Bikini-clad tourists stroll along the line of restaurants, shops and neon-lit bars on this beach-front street. After a day of island hopping we grabbed a drink, walked along the beach, tried the street foods and explored the area. Hash-tag that as feeling-happy. 

4. The eye candy of Siam Niramit. It is a must-see show with state-of-the-art special effects. It deals with Thai arts and culture and is one of the two biggest stage productions in Phuket. For guests who wish to enjoy a meal before the show, there are restaurants offering delicious Thai and international cuisines, buffet-style just the way we like it. Within sight of the dining area are outdoor performances like Muay Thai matches, an elephant parade, light & water show, and cultural dances down the Village of Four Regions below. I would say that the food and the show are spicily awesome.

5. Thai massage high. Massage shops are within a few steps of each other and the prices start at 300 baht per hour. After a whole day of exploring, it’s good to top everything off with a massage. Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massages. The therapist used her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move me into a series of yoga-like stretches. After an hour of trampling on my back and more body stretches, I felt relieved and refreshed. I could almost climb into a Muay Thai ring.

6. White-water rafting. It was a Monday morning and raining so hard en route to Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary. We were ready to get wet, but our scheduled ATV and elephant ride got canceled on account of rain — but not the white-water rafting. I admit, it was the bottommost priority on my activity list, but I was glad I tried it. Yes, I survived the rapids of Song Praek River and live to tell the tale.

7. Life is a Simon Cabaret show. This where the lavish sets and brilliant costumes are amazing. Kathoeys or ladyboys perform and lip-synch popular songs from around the world. The show is three times daily, starting at 6 p.m. Taking pictures was not allowed during the show, but the girls, er, I mean the ladyboys lined up for photo opt right after.

8. Walk down Bangla Street. If you’re into nightlife, this is the place for you. Soi Bangla or Bangla Street awakens when the sun starts to set. The whole street is closed to traffic with the line of bars competing with each other for customers. Pretty girls, cold beer and loud music lure night owls or party people into this place. But if you don’t want to intoxicated, you can still feel the festive atmosphere. Might as well try the local delicacies and street food.

9. To boldy go Elephant-trekking. There are a lot of elephant-ride tours in Phuket, easily one of the island’s most popular activities. Since we missed the ride at Ton Pariwat and we were not going home without experiencing it, we asked our tour guide the nearest place where we can go for a ride. We hired a tuk-tuk, and of we went to Camp Chang Kalim. The camp had seven adult elephants and a baby. A 30-minute ride would cost you 900 baht (adults) and 600 baht (children 4 to 10 years old). Free for children under four years old.

10. Shop till you drop and then rise up to shop again. Trust me, it’s so fun in Phuket — especially if you are equipped with a smile and fine bartering skills since you’d get away with a good bargains. You can find anything from jeans, T-shirts, antiques, and jewelry to snacks and more snacks from line of stalls along Patong Beach. This goes on from morning till nighttime. Oh, I finally got my taste of cashew nuts flavored with wasabi and tom yum.

Eat your heart out, Andrew Zimmern!

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Tiger Airways Philippines flies to Phuket every Tuesdays and Saturdays with return flights every Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tigerair also sets the pace in seamless travel experience with the inception of the Tiger Tours that opens a wide choice of travel destinations complete with hotel accommodations, hotel transfer and many more. For more info, visit www.tigerair.com/ph. PHOTOS BY REY RIVERA