Tag Archives: phuket

Central Festival Phuket – The Shopping Party

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Thailand is without a doubt the shopping hub of the earth and lives true to its reputation in every city around the nation, and Phuket is no different. Although it is predominantly the beach and the party town of Thailand, the shopping experience is just as vibrant here; for it is in this city where you can find the Central Festival and it is a shopping party all day long.

The Central Festival is a massive shopping mall that can be found on the outskirts of Phuket. It is a one-stop destination that is loaded with everything and anything you would ever dream of and want. Having in-store products that range from high-end clothing to household goods and toys, this is most certainly the shopaholic’s gold mine. There are a couple of sectors where you can find stores that cater to a particular range of products. With such divisions, you can find what you are looking for with ease and convenience.

For all those who love books, media and everything and anything to do with either of the two, the B2S is your place to go. Here you can find plenty of Thai and English books and DVDs at absolutely reasonable prices. Do keep an eye out for promotions and you may be able to strike an excellent deal. For all the sports fans, the super sports store is located on the third floor and is completely geared with all types of sporting accessories, making an excellent one-stop destination for all sorts of sports-related brands and items. The prices are certainly much cheaper than in the west. To experience the hub of electronics, explore the power buy, which actually has a knowledgeable team to help you pick. Then there are the boutiques. Spread across the four floors of the mall, this is the most popular sector of the Central Festival. Here you can find all sorts of branded outlets and a couple of privately owned shops as well. All in all, they have a couple of excellent products with fantastic prizes.

After shopping to your heart’s content, come home to one of many fine Phuket Resorts: the Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. Offering modern amenities and warm island hospitality, this Phuket Resort is the ideal oasis in the sun.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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The Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Across Paradise

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Tipped to be one of Thailand’s most coveted marathon events to date the Laguna Phuket International Marathon is set to take place for the 8th consecutive year in 2013. Due to start on the 9th of June, 2013 this year’s marathon will catapult the 7th edition by leaps and bounds with an impressive 5000 runners and walkers gearing up to take on the challenge. The 2012 Laguna Phuket International Marathon attracted over 4000 athletes and was deemed a great success in terms of the race’s record which improves with each marathon season.

A red letter event that is sanctioned and approved by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races the race takes place in one of the most breathtaking environments in the world with the picture postcard perfect coastlines of Phuket providing the backdrop. Commencing and closing at Laguna Phuket the race’s course is approximately 42 kms and is open to anyone above the age of 18. Those aged 16 and over can take part in the half marathon which is only 21km in length while 13 year olds can take part in the 10.5km race. The 5km walk on the other hand is open to all age groups while runners can register online till June 1st, 2013 when registration concludes till the starting day.

The schedule for the marathon includes picking up the race kit as well as engaging in last minute registration processes at designated times on the 7th and 8th of June. Kicking off from the Y shaped junction near the entrance of Laguna Beach the marathon’s course heads out of the Laguna area and veers towards small villages located in the north. Passing rubber estates and pineapple plantations the course of the marathon lets runners absorb the rich natural heritage of Phuket and the beauty of its natural environment before looping around in the final 10km to return to Laguna.

Supportive care for runners is available all along the route including water stations every 2km offering fruits and water bottles while isotonic drinks are available from 12.5km and beyond. Bathrooms facilities, medical amenities as well as kilometre markers are also available for the convenience of participants.

Travellers in search of a breathtaking Patong beach resort can stay at Millennium resort Patong Phuket. Providing guests with the best in modern amenities this elegant Phuket resort offers a truly rewarding holiday experience on this enchanting island.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Royal Ploughing Day – A festive event in Thailand

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Thailand is a country that has a very rich culture. One of the many reasons that tourists come to this country is to experience this unique lifestyle of the Thai people. If you visit any place in the country you would definitely come across a vast number of temples and other important historical locations or culturally important sites that would awe you. The number of cultural events or festivals that a foreigner would get to experience in this beautiful country is countless. The Royal Ploughing Day is one such unique festival.

This is one of the most important royal festivals celebrated in the country during the month of May each year. The main purpose of holding this is to give an auspicious beginning to the new planting season. This had been celebrated from the ancient times in Thailand. The festival is interesting to watch and is very vibrant.

It takes place at Sanam Luang which is an open field and a public square. The “Lord of the Festival” will arrive at Sanam Luang and will be offered three choices of cloth which are cut in three different lengths. It is believed that if the “Lord of the Festival” chooses the shortest piece of cloth that there would be plenty of rain throughout the season. The longer the piece of cloth the less chance there would be rain. Following this, the Phraya Raek Na or the Lord of the Festival would plough a piece of land to begin the ploughing season.

The entire environment is filled with festivity. There is a red-and-gold consecrated plough drawn by bulls decorated with flowers, sacred women taking gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed, drummers dressed in green playing enchanting tunes and Brahmas chanting throughout the process to bless the ceremony. Rice seed, sesame seed, beans, hay, water, maize and liquor would be presented to the bulls and according to what they choose from these foods there are many beliefs on what would happen to the harvest. At the end of the festival the spectators get the opportunity to rush to the field and collect one of two sacred grains of rice for good luck. There is a special dress code for the event so make sure that you are in line with it before taking part.

Enjoy a unique time at this event and go back to your favourite Patong beach resort and relax and pamper yourself in the luxuries provided. Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is an elegant Phuket resort that you would come across while on the lookout for the perfect accommodation spot. The modern amenities and the friendly staff at this hotel would make sure that you have the perfect vacation that you planned for and the delicious range of international cuisine prepared by the experts would add more value to your stay.

Get lost in the Chinese New Year celebrations at Phuket

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Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is the most popularly celebrated festival of the Chinese celebrated all over the world. The celebrations commence on the first day of the Chinese calendar and goes on till the 15th on which the Lantern Festival falls making it the longest lasting Chinese festival in the events calendar.

During this time, Things to do in Phuket are many. However, it is important finding a place for lodging and a boutique Hotel in Phuket is probably the best choice that one may have since places to stay in tend to fill up quite quickly during this time. Thanyapura is a popular place chosen by many during this time which promises warmth and the generosity of the season all the way.

This is the season of fireworks and parades. Dragon and lion dances parade the streets while there is also quite a lot of dancing and singing going on. The streets simply come alive with activity during this time while firework exploding in multicolours over the skyline is a simply mesmerizing sight.

Food Talk – The Annual Phuket Seafood Festival

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August seems to be the month when Phuket goes mad about seafood. For two days in the middle of the month Phuket is the ‘go to’ place to sample the succulent seafood of Thailand. With the motto of ‘Good Taste Best Price’ the annual Phuket Seafood Festival aims to showcase the variety of seafood found around Phuket. Visitors can sample an array of discounted seafood dishes prepared in various styles by chefs from food shops and restaurants of the island. Adding to the buzz is Phuket Lobster Week that promotes lobster like no other. The festivals aims to introduce visitors to a wide range of seafood dishes and it is certainly the best time to sample the seafood that one has always wanted to try.

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Visitors can taste the signature dishes of restaurants and food shops all over town from the best places to street food stalls. Food is cheap and it is also a wonderful opportunity to try Thai specialties like fish grilled on coconut husks served with tamarind sauce to delicious regional cuisine and a range of international dishes to be washed down with beverages ranging from beer to Chinese tea, fresh juices and coffee. Seafood markets especially along the beach offer fresh catches daily for those who want to try out their own favourite recipes. Various preparations of all kinds of sea food are available at more than 60 venues from 3 in the afternoon to 10 pm. For cost conscious diners discounts of 50% are available between 7.30 and 8 pm. Entertainment is provided via competitions for bar tending involving some neat tricks with bottles and glasses, imaginative vegetable carvings, table decorations and cooking classes by well known chefs, attended by some of Phuket’s finest service staff in action. The seafood festival is a delicious way to be introduced to the delights of a country, a gastronomical one in this case.

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Enjoy a stretch of the widest sandy beach, quiet sunny days and panoramas of ocean, exotic tropical gardens and jungle at Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand. The range of well appointed, contemporary pool villas at this Phuket resort ensures privacy and relaxation for individuals, couples and families. Whether it is diving in clear blue water, taking an elephant trek through rain forests or tasting delicious Thai cuisine, guests at this Phuket beach resort are guaranteed a wonderful holiday experience.

Muay Thai Shows- action sport in Thailand

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Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is a true urban Phuket resort. The neighborhood of this resort includes shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment location making the resort one of the most preferred Patong resorts. The martial art, Muay Thai is one of the most popular spectator sports available in Thailand. The beginning of this sport dates back to the battles with the Burmese during the fifteenth century.

The opportunity to witness live crushing elbow strikes, lethal kicks, artful feints and furious punches are fascinating. The cheering crowds and the sounds of the musical instruments make it more interesting to watch. There are specially built stadiums to hold these games and these stadiums attract a large number of tourists for the night time displays.

The 2013 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival – The Music Bonanza

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For 7 whole years Phuket has hit the charts with its ever popular International Blues Festival. For seven years, February mostly has been ‘the’ month in Phuket. If you love music this is certainly where you should be in February; grooving to the endless rhythms that blares before you. The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival is a cup of tea whatever your taste may be. Whether you are the head banger or the foot tapper, you will find something to keep you grooving throughout the festival.

Every year the Blues Rock Festival gets bigger and better than it did before. So far it was in the year 2012 when the festival actually blew the charts. Every review you come across talks of the festival as if it was something out of this world. It was amazing and nothing short of that, the world applauded at the excellent showcase of talent and the excellent combination of music. Two- day music marathon featured some renowned and popular names in the entire music industry. These included Chris Thomas King, Jack Derwin, Moscowish , Akash, The Rocking Angels and many more. These names are international proving that the artists have been hailed from all over the globe to add to the widespread types of music. Just as fantastic it is in variety and quality, it attracts an enormous number of viewers again from all over the globe. The festival certainly is the largest crowd pulling event in Phuket. Media played a big part in taking this festival beyond Phuket. The Festival was broadcasted on radio and was aired online at www.phuketfmradio.com enabling those still back at home to enjoy the show as well.

February is an excellent month for holidaying in Phuket. Perhaps it is the music festival topped with several highlights of the month that makes it an amazing month in the city. The whole town vibrates with extra vigour; restaurants cook their finest dishes, hotels pour with special offers and the city is absolutely magical. Enjoy this time of the year by choosing a comfortable Phuket resort to stay in. The Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is a popular choice as it is located amidst a fantastic setting. This Patong beach resort will provide you a soothing ambience like no other place in town.

Food Festivals Phuket – Gastronomical Adventures!

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Phuket is known for its idyllic beaches with soft sands, azure ocean waters that are perfect for water sports, exotic culture steeped in history and thrilling nightlife that let you party the night away; an island paradise does not get any better than this! A visit to this enchanting island would not be complete however, without sampling the delectable delicacies that are on offer which let you experience rich and distinct flavours. Those wanting to combine sampling local cuisine with some culture can visit when one of the local food festivals are taking place.

The most popular of such events is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival that usually takes place in October. Spanning for a period of around nine days, this unique and colourful festival is based around the belief of the local Chinese community; they believe that abstaining from eating meats of any kinds for a certain period of the ninth lunar month will bring about good health.

The festival features a wide variety of fascinating acts and ceremonies of devotion which some way find quite gruesome! It is common to see fire-walking as well as body piercing of various kinds as devotees are known to puncture themselves with sharp instruments including skewers. Most of the ceremonies are held at the Chinese temples on the island, the main one being the Jui Tui Shrine.

Ceremonies and street parades aside, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a great place to sample special vegetarian dishes. Many of these dishes are available at markets and roadside stalls and include such ingredients as soybean.

Another food related event held on the island is the Phuket Good Taste Food Festival. Celebrated in order to encourage and promote the island’s food vendors, this event features a large number of stalls where you can try such succulent dishes as BBQ fresh water prawns to satay sticks. Previous editions of this festival have also included a range of entertainment with a variety of musical performances and dances providing plenty of family fun.

Those visiting the island and planning to stay in shape during these festivals as well can also try the organic food Phuket has to offer that can be sampled at such retreats in Thailand as Thanyapura. Providing holistic healing for mind, body and spirit, Thanyapura also has well equipped sports facilities for young and old alike.

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Bangla Road Nightlife- when the sun sets down

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Phuket has no limit or time out to its entertainment. Regardless it’s the crack of dawn or the very late hours, there is always a party on the streets of Phuket and at sun down the place to be is most definitely Bangla Road. If you are the night patroller on the look for the liveliest party then you definitely have a home run with Bangla Road for parties couldn’t possibly get any loud or raunchy as it down around here. Famous for its many beer bars and night clubs, Bangla goes out to entertain you with booze, music and girls. With most of the bars being outdoors, the volume is pumped up and the music is excitingly deafening. There is also an assortment of discos, shops and restaurants on the side streets so you can never run out of things to do, places to be while in Phuket.

For an ideal Phuket resort enjoy the comforts offered at Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. This modern yet simple Patong beach resort is within the immediate vicinity of Patong Beach and the island’s concentration of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Sino-Portuguese Architecture in Phuket – A Unique Historical Tour

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Those exploring the old part of Phuket City will come across distinctive structures that showcase historical Sino-Portuguese architecture. Influenced by European design styles the Sino-Portuguese buildings or shop houses were structures which served both as a home and a place of business. These buildings were constructed next to each other in a row and examples of such shop houses in Phuket include the Dibuk Grill and Bar, the China Inn Café & Restaurant and the House of the Beautiful Images. Those heading to the region and looking for a Phuket resort that offers the very best in contemporary comfort can stay at Anantara Phuket Thailand. Apart from stylish Phuket villas, the resort also offers a wide range of leisure facilities including a luxurious spa.