Tiger Tales

Phuket

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September 2011 | Words GREG LOWE

• INSIDER TIP

  Phuket Vegetarian Festival

  The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, held from 27 September to 5 October at six Chinese Buddhist temples, sees Ma Song devotees pay homage to the nine emperor gods by piercing themselves with everything from acupuncture needles to swordfi sh.

• SHOP TALK

  Duc de Praslin

  Some of the best locally made, Belgianstyle chocolate in Thailand is available for purchase at Duc de Praslin, which also serves wonderful chili hot chocolate by the pot.

• CHEAP EATS

  Natural Restaurant

  Not only does Natural Restaurant serve a near-exhaustive range of Thai and international dishes, everything is MSG free and there’s an extensive range of vegetarian options.

• TOP TABLES

  IndoChine Waterfront

  Dine in style at IndoChine Waterfront, a glass-walled restaurant offering views of Patong Bay and serving a delectable range of organic dishes from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

• AT YOUR LEISURE

  Phuket Mining Museum

  The newly opened Phuket Mining Museum, set in a refurbished Sino- Portuguese-style tin baron’s mansion, offers a window into the industry that fi rst put Phuket on the map.

• LATE & LIVELY

  TapasTree

  Feast on fabulous Spanish fi nger food and then get ready to dance at TapasTree, a lively nightspot with live bands and DJs playing everything from disco and ’80s club classics to electro.

• OVERNIGHT

  Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket

  Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket is reminiscent of history’s grand hotels with its elegant design and top-notch service. Splash out and stay in a pool villa, and you can walk from your bed to the beach.