Joanna James
An integral part of the Thai shopping experience, open air markets are quite popular and still going strong in Phuket. Add to this the glitzy malls and you have a fabulous shopping adventure in store.
Located opposite Bangla Road, the Jungceylon Shopping Mall offers a revolutionary new outlook that aims to inspire and enhance the Phuket shopping experience. The mall is made up of 2 main sections the Robinson and a supermarket - Big C. Robinson is a glamorous high end department store for branded and other high fashion items. The rest of the mall consists of over 200 other retail shops that will prove to be quite a treat to explore. Goodies comprise of branded sunglasses, perfumes, cosmetics, shoes, accessories, DVD's, electrical goods, mobile phones and much more. Make it a family affair by staying for the entertainment on offer for Jungceylon is also home to a huge SF cinema with 5 rooms and a marvellous 16 lane bowling alley.
Apart from being home to a whole load of consumer goods, this market is quite the social spot. Chock full of smiling locals engaged in friendly chatter, the place exudes a holiday vibe and is ideal for some local flavour. Located not too far from your Phuket resort on Chao Fa West Road the market has for sale flowers, jeans, cosmetic jewellery, mobile phones, sports shoes, loads of second hand goods, handmade handbags, live animals and a very delicious collection of food stalls. Enjoy tastes of grilled sausages, corn on the cob with butter, fish cakes, all manner of tropical fruits and yes even fried insects all washed down with a chilled glass of beer.
This glitzy mall is found just outside of the Phuket Town centre which is 30 minutes from the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. The place is iconic as Phuket's shopping central and certainly, is a one stop shop for all manner of goods. There are over 120 stores selling a variety of products such as books, Levis jeans, laptops, pure silk products and much more. Enjoy your day at Central Festival that offers a range of international restaurants with Japanese Sushi, French gourmet delights and traditional Thai exotics being part of it. Holiday shopping, souvenir shopping and stocking up on gifts are some of the experiences promised here.
This lovely market is found in the Phuket Old Town. Locally known as Lardyai meaning 'big market' the place is located on Thalang Road which was recently renovated and sits within the treasured Sino-Portuguese historical quarter of Phuket. The market is open on Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm and is a bustling hub of activity. An interesting mix of Chinese migrants make up the community occupying this sector adding loads of colour and character to the market. The Walking Street market is ideal for picking up unique handicrafts and souvenir items as well as savouring some of the best local cuisines.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
