cultural discovery: PHUKET OLD TOWN

The bustling centre of Phuket is often overlooked in favour of the beaches, but there's a lot to see and do (and spend your money on!) in Phuket Town. Recently upgraded to "city" status, Phuket Town features an exciting mix of old and new, simple and sophisticated, peaceful and pulsating.

Phuket Town is where a part of the real Thailand can be found. 

You could walk around these streets taking photos every day, 

...during day and night time.

Unlike many Thai provincial capitals, Phuket Town fairly shines with personality and nowhere more so than its Old Town. 

In this historically rich part of town you will find shrines, temples (Buddhist and Chinese), ornate and beautifully preserved 'shophouses', quaint cafés, tiny printing shops, impromptu private and public museums and even a mini ex-red light district.

There are some new buildings too, but the old early 20th century shophouse architecture predominates. 

The heart of Old Phuket Town is Thalang Road, 

in particular the block between Thepkassatri road and Yaowarat road.

 Thalang Road is the core of Phuket's Old Town 

and the commercial centre of the past. 

A lot of renovation has been done in recent years, 

and the ugly electric and telephone cables have disappeared, 

so the beautiful Sino-Portuguese shophouses 

and grandiose Sino-colonial mansions, 

in this area are great photo motifs now.

BANGKOK: 2013 tourist awards!

Last month Sept 2013, MasterCard’s "Global Destination Cities Index" declared that: Bangkok 

-Thailand capital and portal to some of the country’s renowned beaches- 

would be the most visited city on earth in 2013.

The Southeast Asian megacity beats London, Paris and New York for the title, with 15.98 million visitors expected this year. 

London was a close second, with 15.96 million people expected. 

This is the first time an Asian city has grabbed the top spot on the index.

And now... Let's go to BKK and wait for the new year 2014 results! ;)

PINEAPPLE & SHRIMPS RICE: traditional thai recipe

 One of the most noted among traditional dishes: 

"FRIED RICE INSIDE PINEAPPLE" 

Come to Thailand to try!

Prep time: 25 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Serves: 2

Ingredients:
    •    250g thai rice (normal, jasmine, or mix dark white rice)
    •    1 tb sp oil
    •    10/12 small shrimp (after peeled chopped)
    •    1/2 fresh pineapple (cut into small chunks)
    •    5 scallions (large, chopped)
    •    1 clove garlic (minced)
    •    2 ts ps soy sauce
    •    1 tb sp curry
    •    1 tb sp fish sauce
    •    fresh cilantro (for garnish)
    •    half fresh lime (optional)

Preparation:
    1.    Take 7/8 minutes to clean well the fresh pineapple: cut the fruit in the vertical half, use only one half. Empty the pineapple shell with knife and spoon, leaving about 0,5cm of pulp on the peel. Clean well the shell internally 'cause it will be the rice serving container. Chop the pineapple pulp and take 1 cup of it.
    2.    Set a pot of water on to boil for the rice. Cook the rice. Drain and set aside.
    3.    Heat wok over high heat, swirl the oil in pan to coat. Add minced garlic and chopped shrimp, and stir-fry 3 minutes or until done. Transfer to a large bowl, cover and keep warm.
    4.    In the same heated oil stir in scallions, pineapple and rice, and stir-fry 1 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Add cooked shrimps.
    5.    Combine soy and fish sauce with curry in a glass; stir into rice mixture.
    6.    Serve inside the pineapple shell, topped with fresh cilantro. Optionally squeeze over a slice of lime juice.

ENJOY!!!

LOS: do you know why?

Thailand is commonly called LOS in the slang language...

do you know why?

 

LOS actually means: "Land of Smiles" 

Thailand has been called LOS by many people who live here and many who visit this charming land. The “Smiles” seem to come from a combination of the beautiful countryside, the laid-back, pleasant Thai people, the lower cost of living, a more relaxing pace, many opportunities for fun and entertainment at affordable prices, and the many other advantages of living in the exciting Orient.

The people of Thailand are gentle, fun-loving and easy to get to know. 

If you try to learn the language, you will endear yourself to them as they love to hear foreigners try to say their words.

You can smile at any Thai you pass by, while walking on the street, and that person will most likely smile back at you.

:)

(Pic from Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK)

shots of Thai: FAMOUS MOVIES

Dozens of foreign films have been shot in Thailand.
The availability of elephants, exotic jungle and beach settings, relatively low production costs and a good domestic film industry, have made Thailand an attractive location for many Hollywood films and other foreign productions.

The Beach (2000) 

directed by:  Danny Boyle

cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen

007: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

directed by: Guy Hamilton

cast: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee

 

Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason (2004)

directed by: Beeban Kidron

cast: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

 Mortal Kombat (1995) 

directed by:  Paul W. S. Anderson

cast: Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby

The Hangover Part II (2011)
directed by: Todd Phillips

cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha

John Rambo IV (2008)
directed by: Sylvester Stallone
cast: Sylvester Stallone

 The Impossible (2012)
directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona
 cast: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor