Phuket Old Town Gastronomic Adventure

admin — Fri, 21 May 2021 04:04:00 +0000

Culinary Adventure: Phuket Old Town Gastronomy

21 May 2021

The best of Phuket is found "beyond the beach".

There’s more to Phuket besides sun, sand and sea. For those looking for a break from the beaches and have a passionate interest in food, you will be surprised that UNESCO has listed Phuket as a ‘City of Gastronomy’, one of the 17 selected cities worldwide.

Our favorite way to experience Phuket is by eating and drinking our way around this multicultural town preserved in time.

Phuket Town was the hub of the 19th Century tin trade in Southeast Asia, which brought Hokkien and Hakka Chinese traders, merchants from Malaysia and India, as well as Europeans to get in on the take. The town’s ethnic and religious diversity has created a fascinating culture of unique local beliefs, architecture, art, lifestyle and, of course, cuisine.

Chic cafes, vibrant facades & street treats

We’ll begin with a local coffee at one of the chic cafes in the beautifully restored Shino-Portuguese buildings before exploring Lock Tian food court, where we will sample Phuket fresh spring rolls while watching them being freshly made. This simple food court caters to a variety of local tastes with authentic dishes that are hard to find anywhere else.

How about a bowl of classic Hokkien noodles, followed by ancient shaved-ice dessert? Save room for a stroll through an area where local food vendors gather to sell their unique snacks. Every day there is something different on offer. Some say the Malay-style satay (grilled chicken skewers served with peanut sauce) found here is the best in Phuket.

Your Smiling Albino host will guide you to the experiences that best match your interests. We have the option to visit with a resident artist at work in their renovated minimalist warehouse, or to discover the original town founders’ – the Chinese-Siamese Baba – community museum before heading back to your resort – there are plenty of possibilities!

Ready to eat your way through Phuket? Get in touch with us to start planning your adventure.

Looking for more?

featured thailand posts

Bangkok, Where Every Meal Becomes an Experience

Beyond Phuket: Discovering Thailand's Emerging Coastal Alternatives

Turning 3 Stars into 5

The post Phuket Old Town Gastronomic Adventure first appeared on Smiling Albino.

What are surprises for? Albino Smiles, June 2014

admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:31:10 +0000

What are surprises for?

The unexpected is a part of life, and sometimes, when it is sudden and provokes an emotional response, we call it surprise. We’ve all experienced surprise and know that it can be neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant.

Sangiam painting of rice workers

Smiling Albino of course likes to focus on the best kinds of surprises, and operating from our base in Thailand for the past decade and a half, we have definitely had our fair share of surprises – most of them delightful.

One of my fondest memories of the early days of Smiling Albino’s is from when I was exploring Northern Thailand for the first time in order to craft something special for our guests. I was fortunate to meet the famous Thai artist, Sangiam Yarangsee, in the rural town of Doi Mae Salong. I was a total stranger to him at the time, but he surprised me with his profound hospitality. He took me into his home and introduced me to his family, the culture of the region, and his art. I have returned to Doi Mae Salong hundreds of times since and hosted scores of guests in the region.

The fond recollection of that experience, and others like it, are a consistent thread woven through my memory of the time I have spent in Southeast Asia, it is that type of surprise that I hope our guests have on every Smiling Albino trip. It is the kind of experience that we as a team aim to integrate into every program that we deliver.

Whether it be the friendliness of the Thais, the enthusiastic hospitality of the Cambodians or the sincerity of the Vietnamese in their interactions with us, I am sure that the surprises we deliver will continue to be positive. I’ve always believed that you don’t spend your valuable time and money for two weeks of holiday. You travel to be surprised and delighted with memories for the next 50 weeks that you’re back at work. That surprise, when well crafted, creates the memory. This is an art and a passion and we love that our guests are the beneficiaries of this little joy of ours. Call me today to find out how we can surprise and inspire you for the year to come!

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights:

Panoramic of Bagan Temples

Travel Myanmar with Adventurer-in-Chief Daniel Fraser

We have dedicated two years of surveying and exploration to create a Myanmar adventure that has the Smiling Albino magic our guests have come to count on.

November will be the launch our new “All that Glitters, Asia’s Golden Land”! An amazing 10 day excursion through Myanmar’s stupas, villages, mountains, rivers and pagodas, led Smiling Albino founder, Daniel Fraser!

We can’t wait to share a Myanmar adventure with you like the old days. See the full tour itinerary online. Contact us for more details

What’s Going On:

Eak from Smiling Albino

From our Blog: Confusion vs. Comfort and Ease

Have you been here before. . . you stumble off a long plane ride, jetlagged and hungry, grab your bags, and then ask the big question: how do I get to my hotel?

We share our recommendations written from decades of travel experience on how to get out of an airport and excited for the next steps in your trip.

Read more ideas on how to make travel smoother and worry-free on the Smiling Albino blog.

In the Media:

Thai Mart Keynote Speaker

Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2014

Dan is honored to be involved in the 3 day Thailand Travel Mart Plus this week in multiple events. On June 4th he will be delivering a keynote on luxury and simplicity and on June 6th he has been invited as panelist at the Thailand Sustainable Tourism Seminar.

See details on the event and Smiling Albino’s participation in sustainable tourism!

Dan soon to be in Toronto

Destination Thailand in Toronto

Dan Fraser will be the honorary emcee for Destination Thailand in Toronto, Canada this fall. Selected for his love of Thailand and his appearances on many Thai television programs and his very popular Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) television commercial “Warm Welcome is Always Around“. Daniel will host a day of Thai festivities, food sampling, activities and performances.

The Destination Thailand festival event will be held at Yonge-Dundas Square on September 14th, 2014. It is a great opportunity to meet or catch up with Dan, and get inspired by Thailand! Free Admission. September 14th 11:00–20:00.

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: “Like” and “follow” us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia.

Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts.

NEW on Google+ and Pinterest: Now even easier to connect and stay up to date with us!

Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post What are surprises for? Albino Smiles, June 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

experience | Smiling Albino