The beaches of Phuket have long been a favourite of travellers around the world. This can be attested to by fact that the tourism trade supports the island’s economy to a large extent, but this is not surprising as this holiday island holds a treasure trove of activities to discover.
Culturally, the island is a hub of diversity with something for every taste, persuasion and creed. The vegetarian festival, held annually in October that, has its roots in ancient Taoist beliefs draws as many spectators as the yearly regatta, as does the vibrant entertainment and dining options of the world-famous Soi Bangla.
A bit of an outdoorsman myself, I’ve completely ignored the island up until now, preferring to head to the less built-up destinations much further South. However, with just a short extended weekend, I wanted to see what I could get up to, and I certainly found more than I had expected! From skimming the deep blue seas to reach islands strung off the coast like a pearl necklace to a rustic farming experience, I could plunge myself deep into nature and yet be back for an aperitif in the evening by the beach.
Setting off from the Wyndham Sea Pearl Phuket earlier than usual in the morning was a blessing. From the tall slopes of the hill on which the resort is located, the sight of the morning sun raking across the city was absolutely magical. Throughout the day, that same theme would resonate.
We travelled with Blu Anda, a tour operator specialising in chartered boat trips to the islands in the Andaman Sea. With literally hundreds of islands belonging to Thailand in this area, picking the perfect spot for a getaway can be difficult to decide on. Our island hopping adventure, however, brought us to Koh Hong and the privately owned “the big tree” island. The latter was where we got to meet members of the indigenous Chao Lay or Sea Gypsies – a group of people who have lived a seafaring life across South East Asia for many generations.
Bemoaning the fading relationship between people and the land with the advent of digital distractions like the ubiquitous cellphone and Ipad. Khun Apirag set up the Vanich farm, all 72,000 square meters of it, to coax the country out of today’s youth and other curious visitors today.
As a microcosm of a bygone traditional Thai way of life, the grounds include padi fields, herds of ducks, water buffalo and fields of produce like corn. The farm organises several educational and experiential packages that teach the visitor how to plough fields with buffalo, ride the buffalo, plant and harvest rice, and prepare lunch the old-fashioned way!
Vanich Farm packages come in 3 options, all priced at 1,200 Bhat per pax:
As of November 2016, Phuket is home to 2 lovely Wyndham resorts; the Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket and the recently completed Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay. Just missing the completion of the Wyndham Grand by just a month, I stayed at the former. It’s located uphill from Patong Beach and connected to the famed entertainment district by the hotel shuttle. From the vantage point that is the site of the hotel, the bay and the thriving town can be observed and photographed. Sunsets and sunrises from the viewing point just above the hotel were just breath-taking. There is simply nothing more inspiring than the sight of the sky in all hues of pink and orange as it back lights the dramatic rises of limestone and throws it into stark silhouettes.
As strong as the call of the sights and sounds of the sea were, the rooms at the Wyndham Pearl had an equally alluring call. The room types start at Deluxe Jacuzzi but I tried out the Deluxe Suite – with separate living and bedroom and outdoor jacuzzi. I had not been in a larger or luxuriously furnished basic room type and leaving it everyday was not without a tinge of wistfulness.
The best ways to get to Phuket from Singapore are with Scoot & Tigerair. Tigerair has daily flights from Singapore to Phuket direct, while Scoot has weekly flights. From there, there are taxis at the airport that can take you to Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket and the newer Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay.
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