My favorite local celebration is the Phuket Old Town Festival, now in it’s 16th year. Held annually immediately following Chinese New Year, it’s three days of blocked-off streets, massive crowds, all manner of performances – cultural and musical – booths selling many different souvenirs and articles of clothing, and an endless variety of delicious food. … Continue reading Friday Photos #9: Old Town Festival
Friday Photos
Friday Photos #8: Koh Siray School
I began working at Koh Sirae School – on the island just to the east of Phuket Town – as a fill-in teacher after our two previous instructors there quit. In the blink of an eye, I went from a relatively light weekly schedule of teaching Business English in-house for my agency’s language school to … Continue reading Friday Photos #8: Koh Siray School
Friday Photos #7: A Queen In Patong
No. This isn’t a photo-essay about the infamous lady-boys (AKA, katoeys) who inhabit this western Phuket version of “Sin City.” It is a rare occasion indeed when I will venture to the hedonistic tour mecca that is Patong, but the largest of the famed Cunard Line’s ocean liners making a rare port-of-call at my island … Continue reading Friday Photos #7: A Queen In Patong
Friday Photos #6: Another Week, Another Hill
Every year at this time, teachers suddenly quit right before the end of the school year. As a veteran teacher, I’m usually called upon to rearrange my business and private lesson schedules so that I can cover at the schools. Last year, I spent three weeks at Samkong School in the northern part of Phuket … Continue reading Friday Photos #6: Another Week, Another Hill
Friday Photos #5: Walking Up (and Down) Rang Hill
Phuket Town is surrounded by hills and water. The two main hills to the north of downtown are Khao To Sae with the television towers (also nicknamed “Monkey Hill”) and Khao Rang (khao meaning “hill”) with its restaurants and viewpoint. This is the view of Rang Hill from my apartment’s balcony. I hadn’t been to … Continue reading Friday Photos #5: Walking Up (and Down) Rang Hill
Friday Photos #4: Monkey Seeing
This has been a strange week. I had two days off in a row which is a huge rarity, even more so as they were mid-week. During this “free time” I managed to get caught up on a couple of long-term projects and get started on one or two others. Unfortunately, I wasn’t motivated to … Continue reading Friday Photos #4: Monkey Seeing
Friday Photos #3: English Camp on Cape Panwa
It’s been a tiring week as I’ve spent Monday through Thursday working at an English camp on Phuket’s rural Cape Panwa. Thus, the theme for this installment of Friday Photos. Conducting these camps is strenuous by itself but I’ve also been teaching my regular evening lessons all week as well. What is an English camp? … Continue reading Friday Photos #3: English Camp on Cape Panwa
Friday Photos #2: The Doors of Old Phuket Town
I’m fascinated by the Sino-Portuguese architecture that dominates the Old Town area of Phuket. There are basically two types to these old homes – the ang mo lau, or “detached” houses of the extremely wealthy mining families – and the row houses – tiem chu – which had their origin in Malacca. The European-style row … Continue reading Friday Photos #2: The Doors of Old Phuket Town
Friday Photos #1: Shops on Thalang Road, Phuket
Welcome to the first installment of Friday Photos, a series in which I will highlight a selection of the week’s photos. I plan to build each segment around a particular theme and most will be in and around my neighborhood. That neighborhood happens to be the heart of Phuket, Thailand, just a stone’s throw from … Continue reading Friday Photos #1: Shops on Thalang Road, Phuket
Mark Joseph Jochim 