Most people arrive in Phuket for the sand, surf, sport or sin, but for me it was the spirituality of this pretty little city that left a lasting impression on me. Without an agenda or a partner, I had no idea how I would spend two whole days here. With only a booking for two (hoping till the last minute that a friend might join me) at a service apartment, I carried just enough local currency to take care of my food and transport, and I knew for sure that I did not want to do the usual touristy stuff of island hopping and insane amounts of shopping.
For starters, I took a local bus from the airport till the centre of town (where my hotel was supposed to be located), and then I started asking for directions (since I did not buy a local sim card and could not access maps) while making up my mind to walk the kilometre or so needed to get to my destination.
Hawker stall with local eats
It was then that Phuket opened her doors to me. I stopped at street stalls to admire and sample the local cheap (and very healthy) eats, ogled the interesting architecture (a mix of colonial and local), passed by stores displaying anything from freely available cannabis to ornate Chinese or Thai garments, or simply continued to be fascinated by the clean and colourful streets (yes, they are rinsed by jets of water at designated intervals).
Like a child who is lost, I kept popping into shops to confirm if I was going the right way, and everyone either showed me how to go (if they knew for sure), or they googled it, and even called my hotel, ensuring that I reach it safely.
Shop selling ceremonial Chinese attire
I picked up small and light items of clothing, jewellery and food, frequently paused at quirky buildings or simply to catch a juice or smoothie from the numerous shops spread out over town (even in December it is very hot, humid and sunny here), and sauntered into restaurants whenever I was hungry, to have the most awesome blend of flavours hit my palate and satisfy my tummy.
Christmas cheer was everywhere, but not overwhelming enough to drown out the cultural vibes of this place. Catering mainly to tourists from the Indian/Asian subcontinent and the West, one important thing to note is that Malaysian chargers DO NOT work here, so I also got my phone refuelled everywhere that I stopped to eat, and they were more than enough obliging!
Curios, souvenirs and ‘experiences’ may be the usual attractions for a visitor to a foreign land, but to feel at home is another. Because, like Paul Young sang, “we’re livin’ in the love of the common people…”
I thus became a part of the whole, and found a home in an alien nation, knowing that I too had ‘arrived’ in Phuket.
P.S. The beach visits shall follow in my next post.
The typical Thai miniature temple. A version of this is found at EVERY homestead. This one is at a street junction
