Phuket is not just about the sea, but it also has many tourist attractions that reflect the uniqueness of the old town. On this trip, I would like to experience the old town of Phuket in a small way.

First, let's stop by to pay respects to the Buddha for good luck in life.

Let's start at Wat Phra Thong, also known to tourists as Wat Phra Phut.

According to the temple's legend, a child led a buffalo to graze in the middle of the field. The child then tied the buffalo's rope to the Phra Ketumala, thinking it was a piece of wood. When the child returned home, the child was found dead, and the buffalo had also died. The child's father dreamed of the cause of his son's and the buffalo's death. The next day, he went to see the scene of the incident as he had dreamed. He then realized that the place where the child had tied the buffalo was the Buddha statue.

The Phra Phut statue is located in the Ubosot. From the picture, you can see two Phra Phut statues. In reality, the Phra Phut statue is a half-body golden Buddha statue that only emerges from the ground by about 1 cubit (the statue on the left side of the picture). Currently, the temple has built a statue to cover the real Phra Phut. In addition, a replica of the Phra Phut statue has been built nearby for Buddhists to apply gold leaf for auspiciousness.

Another must-see spot in Wat Phra Phut is the Wat Phra Thong Museum. Inside, it houses a collection of valuable historical artifacts and objects. Many things I had never seen before, such as tin miners' raincoats and tile pillows. But what impressed me the most was the tiny shoes (small pairs of shoes) of Chinese women who would bind their feet according to the social norms of that time. Photography is not allowed inside the museum.

I then headed to Phuket Town to experience the vibrant culture that once flourished from diverse ethnicities, including Thai, Chinese, Muslim, European, and Indian, at Thalang Road. Thalang Road is one of the oldest streets in Phuket, lined with beautiful, old Sino-Portuguese style buildings.

Sino-Portuguese architecture has been a part of Phuket Island for over a hundred years, dating back to the 1850s, a time of prosperity for mining in southern Thailand. Phuket was a major hub during that era, and many houses belonged to mine owners, city rulers, and prominent families, all situated along the same street. Sino-Portuguese architecture seamlessly blends Western and Eastern art, creating a unique identity for the city of Phuket.

In addition to the old architecture, the area around these old streets also has another interesting thing, which is graffiti. The artists have transformed these old streets into Street Art. Each painting has a touch of Phuket culture in it.

Let's start at Phang Nga Road.

The two images will be in the same area. The left image will be of a grandmother in a traditional costume sitting on a chair. Next to her is a food carrier and a basket full of things she bought from the morning market.

The picture on the right shows an uncle making O-taw, a local dish that can only be found in Phuket. These two pictures show the way of life and reflect the culture that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of Phuket.

The two images opposite the picture of the uncle and aunt are as follows:

The image on the left shows a lion, symbolizing the stride into the new year. Join the celebration and meet with relatives and siblings.

The picture on the right tells the story of worshipping angels with fruits and sweets. In the past, while the table was being set for the angel worship, a puppet show troupe, consisting of musicians and puppeteers, would stop by to perform in front of the house, offering blessings for the homeowner's prosperity. This picture is located at the entrance of the Saeng Tham Foundation.

Next to the image of a lion is a food stall with Sino-Portuguese architecture. What caught my eye was the giant lobster in front of the shop.

Next to the rice shop, there is a large white building of Kasikorn Thai Bank, which is built in harmony with the Sino-Portuguese architecture. On the ground floor, there is a seating area with a red mailbox, which is quite stylish.

The picture shows a chick playing with a turtle while surfing. In one hand, it holds a yellow spray bottle, spraying a long line of color. The artist wants to convey the image of Phuket people's holiday food and the past leisure time when they cooked delicious food by the sea together.

The left image appears to be a tiger at first glance, but it is actually a composite of various food items arranged to resemble a tiger. This symbolizes the Vegetarian Festival, a renowned festival in Phuket. The image is painted on the front wall of the Sintavee Hotel.

The picture on the right is of a parrot, a native bird of Phuket. This picture is located at the entrance of the parking lot of the Sintavee Hotel.

Next to the image of a cockatoo is an image of a roaring tiger, signifying the close bond of friends through savory and sweet snacks and their favorite cups of tea and coffee.

These two images are located on Thalang Road, at the beginning of Rommanee Alley. The image on the left is a bird made from children's snacks, reflecting the fun and color of childhood memories. It's a very colorful image!

The picture on the right shows Nong Mardi in a "Phor Tor" outfit, which is worn during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a festival where people make offerings to their ancestors. The red turtle-shaped cake is a symbol of longevity and is an important part of the festival.

On Yaowarat Road, between Thalang Road and Deebook Road, there is a small alley on the left-hand side called Soi Soon Uthit. At the mouth of the alley is the shop of Apoong Maesuni, a local snack that can only be found in Phuket. Apoong is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar, which are mixed together. It is then poured into a small pan to form a thin sheet. Wait until the dough is cooked and then roll it loosely. The cooked Apoong sheet will be sweet and crispy, while the middle will be soft. I must say that the queue is very long. This shop sells 7 sheets for 20 baht.

Visiting Phuket without seeing the sea is like not visiting Phuket at all. On this trip, I stayed at the Angsana Laguna Phuket Hotel, which is located on Bang Tao Beach. Bang Tao Beach is one of the longest beaches in Phuket and is a quiet beach located at the foot of a hill. There are many 5-star luxury hotels here.

Angsana is a sister brand of Banyan Tree. This hotel is located in Laguna on Bang Tao Beach. It is a hotel that has been renovated from the Sheraton Hotel.

The open-air lobby is truly grand, with a focus on the color purple. During check-in, the staff provided a map and explained the various facilities. Tonight, I'm staying in the XANA Beachfront room, which is the only room type directly facing the sea. However, be warned that the distance from the lobby to the room is quite significant.

Next to the Lobby, the hotel has prepared several areas for guests to relax in.

The Loy Krathong Restaurant is located near the Lobby.

From the Loy Krathong restaurant, there will be stairs to walk down to various parts of the hotel.

The hotel's communal swimming pool is very large. The pool is decorated in harmony with nature and has a small sandy beach with sun loungers for relaxing. The pool is open from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm.

The ground floor rooms surrounding the swimming pool offer direct access to the pool from your room.

This lagoon connects to a lagoon with a beach. It is just as wide.

Although only a few rooms here have a beach view, I think all the rooms that don't have a beach view will have a pool view or a lake view.

The hotel is surrounded by a lake. Guests can take a boat ride provided by the hotel, but there are scheduled boat times.

The room is spacious and well-equipped with amenities, including air conditioning and a ceiling fan.

The king-size bed is very comfortable to sleep on.

The living room has a sofa set for guests to relax on, and there is a balcony where guests can sit and watch the sunset.

The bathroom is also quite spacious, with a split-level design that creates a bathtub. This is the first time I've seen this type of bathroom design in a hotel.

The hotel also provides an iron and ironing board in the closet.

View from my room's balcony. The downside of buildings located by the sea is that some equipment, both inside and outside the room, made of iron or aluminum will be corroded by the saltiness of the seawater.

In the evening, many guests would come to relax on the beach behind the hotel to watch the sunset. It's a pity that the sky wasn't very cooperative on the day I went, so I didn't get to see the moment the sun touched the horizon.

The gym is located near my room.

And nearby is the XANA Beach Club, where in the evening the atmosphere is perfect for sipping a cool drink while watching the sunset. It's incredibly romantic!

Behind XANA Beach Club, there is also Baan Talay Restaurant. This restaurant is open during the night.

Evening atmosphere.

Back in the room again, the housekeeper came to turn down the bed and left this starfish. I'm not sure if I can take it home, but I didn't dare to take it for fear of being fined. Hehe.

This morning, I went for a walk to exercise and breathe in the fresh air by the sea. This angle shows the Market Place restaurant, which is the breakfast restaurant, located in the left corner of the picture.

The restaurant is quite spacious. The interior has different levels, with the buffet line on the upper level and the dining tables on the lower level. If you don't want to sit in the air-conditioned room, you can also use the outdoor seating area. You can enjoy your breakfast while enjoying the fresh air.

Outside the restaurant, there is a noodle service. This area is a buffet line with an egg station and ready-made food. The food is not as diverse as it should be, especially considering the number of guests that overflow the restaurant. I recommend coming early in the morning, as there are many guests in the late morning. There are so many people that there are not enough tables to sit at, and you have to wait in line.

I came for a morning walk before the food line was ready, so I only managed to take a few sneaky photos. I planned to take more photos during breakfast, but I didn't get the chance in the morning because it was so crowded. I didn't want to disturb the other guests.

The swimming pool in the morning before dawn.

Although my room is the furthest away, it is closest to the beach. Plus, the fitness center and breakfast room are very close to my room. I would say I got a lot of things except for one thing.

From my stay at Angsana Laguna Phuket, I would say that the rooms are overall okay. The atmosphere is good and the swimming pool is large. The only complaint I have is about the breakfast, which didn't seem very diverse.