 | It’s unlikely that Phuket’s busy pre-Covid days will return any time soon, but that’s not stopping domestic travelers – especially expats – from heading south to enjoy the island’s outstanding charms, including some very fine restaurants. You’ll have them (almost to yourself) and the attention to detail will be outstanding. So here is a list of five great places you should visit on your next trip to Phuket. Jaras Located at the InterContinental Phuket Resort, this sophisticated beachside restaurant serves classic Thai fare with a contemporary twist. The kitchen is headed up by Chef Chatchawan ‘Banky’ Varahajeerakul who cut his teeth working at Michelin-starred venues such as Sawaan and La Du in Bangkok. Chef Bank has created an elegant menu that highlights both the seasonality and plentiful bounty of locally sourced produce. “I really support local farmers. Our vegetables come from a farm near here called Toltec Organic, the seafood comes direct from Sarasin Seafood, and our chickens are produced at a local orphanage and organic farm called Baan Sarn Fan. Even the goats we use are raised here in Phuket at Bang Tao”, shared Chef Bank. The restaurant also showcases a line of wild “native-grown” tea from Chiang Mai called Monsoon, and I highly recommend the Lychee Green Tea. Must-try dishes include the bright and colorful ‘Mieng Kana An-chan’ made with kale, butterfly pea flowers and the ‘Donut’ of Deep-fried Crab & Minced Chicken with Chili Jam. My favorite was the evocative ‘Yum Som O Goong Yang,’ a bright pomelo salad served in a perfectly grilled Andaman prawn. The Blue Crab Southern Yellow Curry with Rice Noodles is exceptional and the signature Massaman Curry with Slow-cooked Goat is a rich, creamy and herbaceous delight that you won’t soon forget. |
The Thai Silk Way anniversaryMore than a 100 countries participated in the recent fashion show, the 10th Anniversary of The Thai Silk Way, including many ambassadors and spouses from Kazakhstan, Poland, Switzerland and the EU. This sparkling event was held at the Royal Navy Convention Hall, which enjoys a beautiful location on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River, with breathtaking views of the Grand Palace opposite.
 Youth sailing program proves a hit■ There’s a new, refreshing vibe emanating from the Phuket Yacht Club (PYC) these days and you don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy it. Phuket’s premiere yacht club is attracting people from all over the island both sailors and non-sailors from the very young to those growing bolder. The atmosphere is friendly, inclusive and the good wholesome food coming from the galley just keeps getting better.
PYC Commodore Scott Duncanson has taken heed of legendary sailor Michael Spies’ advice: “Your yacht club is only as strong as your junior sailing program.” The PYC has created a very successful youth sailing program based on one of the world’s fastest growing youth classes, the O’pen Skiff . The club will soon be taking this unique Open Skiff sail training philosophy to local schools in the hopes of getting more Thai nationals involved in sailing. These learn to sail courses aimed at children aged 7-17 operate every weekend and school holidays with swimming being the only pre-requisite skill required. A session typically lasts three hours with 30-45 minutes theory and rigging on shore, 90 minutes on the water, wrapped up by a de-brief and time learning how to clean, care for and store a boat. What the club has discovered is that the more parents see their children enjoy their time on the water; the more they want to become involved themselves and this has been a driver of many new memberships. As such, the club launched a three-day dinghy sailing clinic for adults in July. This included a short passage sail to Koh Lon and an overnight stay at the Cruiser Island Resort.  By Little Wandering Wren Photos in this essay were taken during a trip organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to Lampang and Chiang Mai to learn about the current situation on elephant care in Thailand, and to hear about more sustainable solutions for elephant-based tourism in the future. Joining this trip was a diverse group of influencers and journalists for an incredible three days’ learning from vets, elephant welfare specialists and those working in elephant tourism and rehabilitation fields. The Jumbo dilemmaOver the centuries, elephants have always played a major role in Thai society, from the ancient wars, culture and economy to royal iconography and more recently the country’s tourism industry. That they are Thailand’s national symbol is well deserved.
In the early1900s, there were an estimated 100,000 domesticated or captive elephants in Thailand. Some were used in logging operations as recently as 1989, when Thailand banned nearly all commercial logging because of the rapid destruction of its forests. Sixty years ago, forests are estimated to have covered 273,628 km2. By 2011, they had dwindled to only 171,586 km, which resulted in a rapid decline in the number of elephants.  At the recent Hope Fair, I thought it would be easy to by-pass the wonderful aroma of fresh bread, secure in the thought that I would be wasting my money buying a loaf or two as it would surely go stale before I had had a chance to even enjoy a few slices.
I was wrong! Actually, you can put it in the freezer and take out a slice or two whenever you want to a sandwich or toast. After a few words with Wild Grains, a local baker, I have learned that for a sandwich from the freezer, it’s two slices in the toaster once, or if I want toast, in the toaster twice. This has led to two problems. First, my freezer is almost full and second, I do not know what to buy next.
About 500 listings per day. Some days more… some a bit less… and growing every day. On one of our property websites (ProperDee.com), 250,000+ property listings this year. On our newest one with Thairath, (classifieds.thairath.co.th), increasing daily and growing fast. And more in the works.
Thankfully, I have help. Fulltime Thai staff who are young and full of energy. And AI (artificial intelligence). Unheard of years ago; now my friend. Unlike many other websites, we personally review every listing. We have always reviewed every listing. My former partner at BahtSold.com often reviewed listings well into the night and always on weekends. It is a thankless job. We now finish by about 8 pm each day. Including weekends. What are the weirdest and funniest posts? That is for another article. I also have a confession. I can't read or write Thai. "Taxi Thai" is the best I can do after 20+ years in this Kingdom. Maybe it's my senior age; maybe I'm tone-deaf; but likely I am lazy.
 Too much reliance on one sector, says Deputy PMA recent speech by Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow shows me that tourism will never be allowed to recover to previous levels. The writing is definitely on the wall, windows and front door that there has been a major policy shift in government thinking by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s cabinet.
In a deeply worrying development for Thailand’s massive Travel & Tourism industry, which last year generated a huge Bt 2.2 trillion of income (US$ 55.2 billion), and accounted for 20 per cent of GNP and 10 per cent of all jobs in Thailand, Deputy PM Supattanapong said that the country relied too much on tourism and that this was unacceptable. This must be as worrying for property developers as well as investors. If the 39 million tourists that Thailand received last year in 2019 is never to be repeated, why do we need to continue building and investing in new hotels? According to Thailand’s Nation newspaper, K. Supattanapong admitted that the Covid-19 outbreak had exposed cracks and faults in the Thai economy. Centara Grand at CentralWorldCentara Grand at CentralWorld will be ushering in 2021 in style this December 31st with a series of events across five different venues.
Ventisi Restaurant (24th floor) Newly-launched venue Ventisi features a feast of Italian & Thai inspired dishes in an inclusive buffet experience. THB 2,999++ per person including unlimited beverage package 18.00 – 22.30hrs. Uno Mas – Spanish and Mediterranean Rooftop Restaurant (54th floor) Spanish Surf & Turf Celebration, a buffet featuring seafood on ice, unlimited gourmet tapas, a la carte signature dishes, and free flow G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Magnum as well as other premium beverages. THB 6,555++ per person 19.00 - 23.30 hrs. Red Sky Restaurant (55th floor) Chef Christian Ham is serving an incredible six-course Gala Dinner, with complimentary glass of G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut Champagne. THB 7,555++ per person Red Sky Bar (56th floor) Watch the sky light up with fireworks when the clock strikes midnight. The entrance fee to this exclusive rooftop party includes free flow of selected beverages. THB 2,999 net per person 21.00 – 02.00 hrs. CRU Champagne Bar (59th floor) Grand Countdown Party at this alfresco venue. Entrance fee includes unlimited pours of G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut Champagne, cocktails, drinks and snacks – with our DJ taking you past midnight until 2am. THB 6,999 net per person 22.00 – 02.00 hrs. Call 02-100-6255 or email: diningcgcw@chr.co.th |
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