Phuket

Thailand's largest island, Phuket, boasts glass-like clear waters, soft sands unparalleled by other beaches around the globe and sunsets whose beauty cannot be captured by even the most skilled artists. Phuket has been an annual vacation spot for my family ever since I was four, and I had always looked forward to playing pool-games with my sister (most of which, unfortunately, were won by her), biking around the local area outside the resort and exploring the city of Phuket.

Food:
Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of both blander, milder flavors with spicy, intense components. The harmonious balance of these both components make up a perfect Thai dish. Thai cuisine is among my top ten favorite cuisines, and here are a few of my favorite dishes:

Pad thai
My sister's favorite thai dish, pad thai, is a stir-fried rice noodle dish that contains a motley of other ingredients such as eggs, dried shrimp and garlic. Although available in most Thai restaurants around the world, the fresh ingredients used in the local eateries in Phuket is what makes authentic pad thai so mouthwatering. Although my mom tries to recreate this dish for my sister at home, the taste just isn't exactly the same (although really close, just in case you're reading this mom).

Tom yum goong
Another thai specialty, tom yam goong is a spicy clear soup that even I find spicy (bear in mind, I have basically been taught from a young age to tolerate spicy foods). The main ingredient in tom yang goong is prawns, although it is flavored with various herb ingredients.

Ko mu yang
Thai-styled grilled pork neck is undoubtedly my favorite thai dish. I was introduced to this dish from an early age, and the first thing I order at any thai restaurant that I visit is "ko mu yang". The succulent pork neck tastes great when dipped into the sweet chili sauce. Having some steamed jasmine rice on the side really helps in balancing the toughness of the meat.

Sights:
Phang Nga Bay
My family took a half day trip to Phang Nga Bay, and it was a memorable experience that still resonates in my mind to this day. The mystical grottos, the limestone cliffs that cascaded out into the clear blue sea and the stunning alcoves were amazing sights to witness.

Fantasea Show
Fantasea is a cultural theme park that is comprised of three sections- entertainment in the Palace of the Elephants, dining in the Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant and shopping in the Festival village. It's a great place to experience and immerse yourself into Thai culture. One part that I remember clearly is getting to try on the traditional Thai costume, as well as staring in awe at the elephants clad in glitzy costumes.

Jungceylon Shopping Mall
My family and I always took a day trip to the Jungceylon Shopping Mall, where we would try out different restaurants, go shopping and watch a movie at the cinema. Granted, this is not the BEST place to experience Thai culture, but I really did enjoy looking at the local stores and restaurants that were housed in this mall.

Culture:
From my many visits to Phuket, I have learned a lot about the unique culture of Thailand. Thailand has, for thousands of years, been ruled by monarchs. Respect for the king and the royal family is key. I distinctly remember having to stand up in the movie theatre while an official announcement of the royal family played. Looking around me, I saw that all Thai locals put their hands across their hearts while staring at the screen. The admiration and respect that they had for the royal family was truly amazing to witness.

Thailand is known as the "land of smiles"- a very fitting name, considering how friendly and welcoming all of the locals are. Out of all the places I've visited, I find the locals around the Phuket to be the kindest, most genuine people. In this day and age where people seem to be too caught up in hectic daily life, it's great to take a break from that and interact with people you normally wouldn't interact with.

"Sabai sabai" is a phrase that a lot of Thais say. After a few times of hearing this phrase, I asked one of the waitresses at a restaurant what it meant. She said that it means "take it easy". The relaxed way of life in Thailand really makes for a great vacation spot, and I found that after just a week of being there, I felt more rejuvenated and calm.

The Songkran festival is celebrated every year from April 13th to 15th. Since this was usually when my school's easter break took place, I got to experience Songkran a couple of times. Songkran marks the Thai New Year, and is characterized by a lot of water throwing. I've always wondered- why water? It turns out, water symbolizes cleansing and purification, and represents a clean new start. I remember riding a tuktuk and being splashed with water. Although I was quite surprised at first, seeing a whole street full of kids, teenagers and adults joyfully splashing water at each other is a really unique sight that I looked forward to seeing every year.

Language:
Hello: sa wat dee
Excuse me: kor toht
Good morning: Sa wat dee ka
Goodbye: laa gon na
Thank you: kop kun