Wat Thepnimit in Phuket is a serene monastic residence that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Patong Beach. Its iconic white pagoda, though small, can be spotted from the beach if you know where to look. Perched on Doi Thepnimit, this modest yet beautifully decorated Thai temple is a hidden gem. With its stunning views and tranquil atmosphere, it’s well worth a visit, whether you’re arriving at or leaving Patong Beach.
The chedi (a Buddhist stupa) at Wat Thepnimit is a masterpiece of artistry, adorned with vibrant seven-headed Naga sculptures (mythical serpent-like creatures) and other intricate representations of Thai mythology. Each sculpture and carving showcases exceptional craftsmanship, making it a true pleasure to admire. While the pagoda area is not always open to visitors, you can still explore its surroundings. The chedi’s design reflects the Pra Tat Phra Nom style, originating from northeastern Thailand, adding a distinctive touch to this cultural gem.
Just a short view of Bang Sak Beach, my happy place in Khao Lak.
BANG SAK BEACH
Bang Sak Beach is one of the most secluded beaches of Khao Lak still visited by tourists. It borders Pak Weep Beach in the south and Ban Thap Tawan Beach in the north.
Bang Sak Beach is also called the beach of the locals. This is because there are no accommodations in the middle of the bay. Locals and fisherman meet here for a picnic or a cozy get-together on the beach or in the shade of the trees. Behind this stretch of beach there is a road with some small local restaurants. An interesting place if you are interested in local life and food.
In the southern part of Bang Sak there are only a few luxury resorts, these are surrounded by a few restaurants on the beach. Also in the northern part of the beach there are again a number of restaurants, small bars and massage facilities on the beach. There are only two resorts in this part of Bang Sak Beach. So here you can count on a quiet beach with total relaxation.
Bang Sak, like many other beaches in Khao Lak, is an ideal beach for a long beach walk with a stop at one of the small restaurants.
I am fortunate to live in Phuket and one of my years highlights as a photographer is the Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods! Here not only can I participate in such a stunning public spectacle by being blessed by those “carrying” the spirits of the Gods inside them, but I get a great position in the parade en route.
Nine Emperor Gods Festival takes place in Phuket old town on the first nine days of the ninth Chinese month.
Its dates vary in the Gregorian calendar, but usually it falls around October. although if I remember rightly this one fell at the end of September.
The festival is extremely striking and exotic, with hundreds of spirit mediums competing in their efforts to mutilate themselves for the gods.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colourful annual event held on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually in September or October. The festival celebrates the Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants will help them obtain good health and peace of mind.
The festival is famous for its ‘extreme’ celebrations. These include acts that invoke the gods, from firewalking to body piercing. Acts of self-mortification are undertaken by participants who act as mediums of the gods. These have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by.
While the origins of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are unclear, it is commonly thought that it was brought to the island by a wandering Chinese opera group that fell ill from a malaria epidemic. One of the performers was sent to China to invite the Nine Emperor Gods (known as the Kiu Ong Iah) to Phuket.
The Chinese followed the tradition of refraining from eating meat, drinking alcoholic drinks, engaging in sex, quarrelling, telling lies or killing. This was to ensure the purification of the mind and body. The opera group made a complete recovery and the epidemic ceased. Since then, the people of Phuket have continued to celebrate the festival.
The festival was meant to honour the gods and express the people’s happiness at surviving what was, in the 19th century, a fatal illness. Subsequently, the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event in Phuket. It draws thousands of visitors each year, many of whom come from China and Asian destinations.
For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings their household gods to the temple, along with offerings of food and drink. It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. You can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks and candles, before placing them around the various gods.
Street processions often involve participants walking in a trance, running across a bed of burning coals, and climbing an 8-metre ladder of sharp blades. Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival, you can partake in vegetarian dishes, which are sold at street stalls and markets around the island.
Many of these vegetarian dishes aren’t easily distinguishable from regular Thai dishes. Soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace pork, chicken or fish – they even look and taste exactly like meat. Look for yellow flags with red Chinese or Thai characters to find vegetarian food stalls.
The often-gruesome ceremonies during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are definitely not recommended for the faint-hearted. Men and women puncture their cheeks with sharp items, including knives and skewers. It’s believed that the Chinese gods will protect them from harm, resulting in little blood or scarring.
Even so, most injuries are usually sustained from the indiscriminate use of firecrackers. It’s a good idea to stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival.
The ceremonies take place in the vicinity of 6 Chinese temples in Phuket. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town. The first event is called the Raising of the Lantern Pole, which notifies the 9 Chinese gods of the start of the festival. Once the 10-metre-tall pole is erected, celebrants believe that the Hindu god, Shiva, descends to bring spiritual power to the event. These photos are from the Guan Nabon Shrine/Temple in Chalong near to where I live.
Wat Khao Rang, also known as Khao Rang Temple or Sumnak Song Khao Rang, is a Buddhist temple located in Phuket Town, Phuket, Thailand. It is situated on the slope of Khao Rang Hill, which is the second-highest hill in Phuket. The temple offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area, making it a great place for me to visit.
The construction of Wat Khao Rang dates back to the early 20th century, and it has since undergone several renovations and expansions. The temple features a mix of Thai and Chinese architectural styles, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Phuket region.
One of the main highlights of Wat Khao Rang is the giant golden sitting Buddha statue, known as Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri. This impressive statue measures about 45 meters (148 feet) in height and is the centerpiece of the temple. Visitors can climb a staircase to reach the statue and enjoy the breathtaking view from its platform.
Not only does it look amazing, but it was also the first big Buddha image Phuket ever had until the giant Buddha in the Nakkerd Hills was built between Chalong and Kata.
Apart from the Buddha statue, the temple grounds also include other structures such as pagodas, shrines, and smaller Buddha images. The serene atmosphere of the temple, surrounded by lush greenery, provides a peaceful setting for meditation and prayer.
In addition to its religious significance, Wat Khao Rang is a popular spot for locals to exercise and enjoy outdoor activities. Many people come here for morning or evening to make merit and enjoy the surrounding area. There were quite a few on my visit.
So, Garden centers in Thailand tend to be roadside affairs. Usually, a small holding with various plants and assortment of soils and trees for sale.
I have been driving about in my usual day seeing the astounding colours of these smaller roadside garden centers and decided to capture them in full bloom, here in Phuket.
In this slideshow you will see a more commercial Garden center, but still on the road, just both sides of the traffic lights. Majoring in plants, aggregate, sculptures, and all manner of pots! I only touched on a fraction of the plants on this visit. I may return later to see what else I can find. I hope you enjoy the show!
Music is free under creative commons licence from You Tube music library
So, Garden centers in Thailand tend to be roadside affairs. Usually, a small holding with various plants and assortment of soils and trees for sale. I have been driving about in my usual day seeing the astounding colours of these smaller roadside garden centers and decided to capture them in full bloom, here in Phuket. In this slideshow you will see a gardener who has majored in Bougainvillaea’s, carefully grafting some to create stunning bushes/trees of multi colour blooms. I hope you enjoy the show!
Music is free under creative commons licence from You Tube music library Title: In Eternity We’ll Meet by Aakash Gandhi
In conclusion of this trilogy of street Art in Kata-Phuket, this area down the sidewalk to the small canal to the Kata beach, suns a wall with more modern and free form murals and wall art.
This area was also earmarked for urban renewal, which as all things is slow.
You can still walk down this canal path and see these murals, there were so many more but I think this gives you a good flavour of what’s there.
So following on from Pt1 ,Kata Palm Square Street Art- Phuket Pt1, I’ll put the link in this video which will take you right to it if you’ve missed it.
The photo project on this area of Kata was quite extensive , so I had to break it down into 3 pts, this is no.2! be sure to hit the like and follow button so you can be notified when they come out in the next few days!
Part of Kata’s regeneration scheme after coming out of Covid, this is a great way of brightening up the area for locals and visitors alike.
Look out for pt3 coming soon!
Music free under creative commons licence from You tube music library
Titles;Bonfire by An Jone
I went to Palm Square, Kata Town in Phuket, you will love this place for two reasons, not only for the excellent food they serve but the amount of brilliant graffiti artwork in and around this huge complex called; Palm Square, and this got me excited for two reasons, I love good Thai food and I love great graffiti work so, I was definitely looking forward to seeing Palm Square in Kata Town and let me warn you there is going to be a overload of graffiti artwork in this post so, I hope you love brilliant graffiti artwork because here you will see some of the best graffiti artists work.
I have broken it down into 3 parts this is Part 1, 2 and three are to follow to be sure to hit the like and follow button so you can be notified when they come out in the next few days!
The Palm Square complex was at one point a abandoned building until a Thai group bought it out, and the builders and graffiti artist got very creative and today a large part of this complex has been completely restored and turned into a very famous restaurant which is called the Palm Square Restaurant. It is well known by the local, expats and many tourists and they Makes for a good place to stop and admire the work.
On the top floor you feel like your working on a tropical island underwater scenes give this feeling, with the graffiti artwork around you, some of the window openings, in the back of the room have been closed up with bricks because the views were not great, they were just looking over people’s roofs so they have been replaced with more aesthetically stunning Artwork. Making it look like your looking out at the ocean, how brilliant! and giving you that relaxed chilled out feeling of Island Life.
It really was like walking through a art gallery, I loved this graffiti, also showing the old and the existing culture of Thailand, just looking at these paintings gives you a view into the culture , Old and new.
Part 2 will focus on the street wall that runs across the road from Palm square. Stay tuned!
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Titles: Find Your Way by Nana Kwab
During my Christmas and New Year break i took advantage of being able to finally move around the Island of Phuket and off it back to the mainland. After my first hurried exit in December upto Phang Nga, I promised myself that I would stop on this beach before my next visit to the mainland.
Shaded by beautiful trees I sat and picnicked whilst watching the beautiful scenery in front of me. I am so pleased i stopped the 2nd time passing and hope you enjoy the views too!.
Sai Kaew means ‘glass sand’. Sai Kaew Beach is at the northernmost point of Phuket. It stretches from Mai Khao Beach around the northwestern corner of Phuket and all the way to Sarasin Bridge. There is no physical boundary between Mai Khao Beach and Sai Kaew. They are considered to meet around the area with the rustic restaurants where Thepkrasattri Road meets the west coast.
The 600-meter long Sarasin Bridge is the link from Phuket to the Thai mainland. From Sai Kaew Beach, you look across the narrow channel to a similar beach on the Thai mainland.
Sai Kaew Beach is a thin strip of sand that slopes smoothly into the inviting waters. Considering this channel is a boat passage, the water quality is remarkably good. You will see lots of small fish swimming in the clear water close to the sandy shoreline. The northern end of the beach within view of Sarasin Bridge has the benefit of being sheltered from the rainy season waves.
Behind the beach is the sleepy village, Thachatchai. The friendly locals like to fish from Sarasin Bridge and from the beach at the area below the bridge.
Music free under creative commons licence from You tube library Title and credits to: Floating Home by Brian Bolger
Its difficult to imagine a beach 6 kilometers long, but Bang Tao is just that! So here is Bang Tao II as the beach changes its beauty from one end to the other. Here is the North end of the Beach, much quieter, and fewer people. Somewhere to come and enjoy the sound of the Ocean!
Bangtao was one of the tin mines that made the fortune of Phuket long ago. They abandoned it later, and the land was considered worthless. Laguna Phuket managed to transform it into a very profitable award-winning Eco-project. In the first years, Laguna started as a luxurious complex, but it was a little isolated.
Music free under creative commons licence from you tube music library title; Stellar Wind by the Unicorn Heads
Sun, sea and sand is all Phuket is about? right? wrong, I bring you greetings from Phuket with one of those must see places that non one knows about!
Ma Doo Bua Cafe is an incredible cafe that has become famous due to the incredible pictures you can capture of their beautiful on-site lilypad pond. Situated quite far north from the regular tourist spots like Patong, Karon, and Rawaii beaches to the south, the wonderful images we captured made the trip well worth it.
The fantastic scenery is complemented by a rather extensive food and drink menu with plenty of options for various pallets. From the presentation and quality of the food to the breathtaking lily pad pond, the unique imagery will likely appeal to many travelers and locals alike.
Ma Doo Bua Phuket is a relatively new café and restaurant which has captured the hearts of selfie-loving social media enthusiasts with their irresistible background and relaxed atmosphere. If it isn’t obvious to you already, the entire operation owes its popularity primarily to the giant circular Amazonica lily pad leaves. These being the largest in the species can allegedly hold up to 50kg! you can lay on their rows of pillows and relax while taking in the breathtaking views. The small lake or pond has traditional Lanna-style wooden houses lining the lake and really help complete the picturesque scenery.
Music free under creative commons licence from YouTube library Music: 8th World Wonder By RKVC
Journeys From A Small Room 