Bang Tao Beach Shopping (see Map)
Bang Tao and Surin beaches are right next to each other on Phuket's
northwest coast. Shopping in this area is markedly different than
that of other west coast locations in that cheap and fake brand
names - such as are openly available in Patong, Karon and Kata -
are not the order of the day. The onus is on quality goods with
a sharp leaning towards antiques, curios and exclusive clothing
and accessories.
Canal Village
Most of the good shopping in this area is inland, away from the
beaches and many guests at the six-hotel Laguna complex pay a visit
to Canal Village, situated in, but not exclusive to, Laguna. This
52-unit shopping arcade is set in a grove of casuarinas by one of
the resort's lagoons. It is laid out like a walking street and has
a car park next to its entrance. The 'village' is made up of boutiques,
souvenir shops, a bakery, jewelry stores, a clinic, a minimart,
and several tailors. Here you can also find quality leather goods
such as briefcases, shoes and suitcases. There is also a 'Silk Factory
Outlet' selling bags, scarves, ties as well as shirts and you can
have clothes made here, too. A sports shop selling brand-name shoes
and accessories stands next to a shop entirely devoted to sunglasses.
There is also an art and gift gallery, two Jim Thompson (silk specialists)
outlets as well as a shop called 'Siam Crafts' that sells souvenirs
and memorabilia. You can have your photos downloaded at the Kodak
shop and Canal Village features a small children's playground. At
the water's edge there is a tastefully appointed restaurant.
Heading out of Laguna
On the road outside Laguna the shops predominantly feature Southeast
Asian antiques and curios and the range is enormous; from carved
wooden elephants too large to carry to Buddha statues to textiles
to religious artefacts. There are many of these outlets and the
choice is truly yours. It's not all antiques and curios though;
other goods are for sale, such as at 'The Hand Made', a shop specialising
in stainless steel cutlery, plates and kitchen utensils. There is
also a wine dealer as well as a minimart with many massage parlours
surrounding it. Another wine dealer stands in 'Plaza Del Mar' -
a shopping arcade dominated by property dealers around the corner
from the minimart at the 'Y' junction. On the right-hand side of
the road going towards Cherng Talay (heading south) is 'Silkwood',
an outlet selling vases and prints, Buddha statuettes and lampshades.
Out and about
If you continue south to Cherng Talay you will come to a 'T' junction
next to the police station. There are 24-hour minimarts on each
side of this junction but if you go left and continue for 350 metres
you will discover a lime-green wooden shop on the left-hand side
of the road. This is 'Lemongrass' an outlet devoted to natural oils,
soaps, cosmetics, body creams, shampoo and just about every natural
hygiene product you could imagine.
Surin Beach Shopping (see Map)
Surin is not much of a shopping destination but there are some
interesting places to stop in at if you're in the area. The boutiques
at the Chedi Phuket and Twinpalms Resort are worth a visit (Twin Palms sells its own delightful bedding and
toiletries). Just a few doors down from Twin Palms is Lemongrass,
which offers essential oils, lotions and other locally-made natural
health and beauty products. Nearby is Oriental Fine Art,
a lovely boutique selling antiques from China, Burma, Laos and Cambodia.
The Plaza
Take a right turn at the Cherng Talay police station and you will
find yourself on the road to Surin Beach. This road twists and turns
for seven kilometres and just before you reach Surin you will find
The Plaza, an upmarket shopping mall situated on the left-hand side
of the road. On the ground floor is Fine 9 Design - featuring Thai
bric-a-brac, huge decorative shells, vases, cushions, ceramic bowls,
bedding, pictures and a lot more interior decoration accessories.
Next to Fine 9 Design are Lamont and Galleria Aleenta - two outlets
selling similar goods. These shops like to name themselves 'Lifestyle
Ateliers' and they certainly don't lack for style.
Two chic boutiques called 'Ginger' and 'Lola' are also on the ground
floor and they both feature exotic clothing, bags, cushions and
fashion accessories.
Upstairs is 'Soul of Asia', with its heady mix of Southeast Asian
antiques and artefacts, reproduced masterpieces and modern art along
with quirky objets d'art. There is also a Bose audio and video outlet
here. On the same floor is 'Sivella' selling fine jewellery and
antiques as well as 'Channintr', a boutique specialising in beautiful
chairs and tables made out of dried hyacinth. Next to Channintr
is the Candere Gallery with its more modern-looking bric-a-brac
and handicrafts, all of it top quality. Silk - an opulently designed
Thai restaurant, occupies the top floor.
Kamala Beach Shopping (see Map)
Kamala isn't the place to go for shopping, but it does provide
an enjoyable twice-weekly village market. Held each Wednesday
and Saturday afternoon along the highway at the southern end of
the bay, it's colourful and fun. Mingle with friendly local residents,
and sample locally produced fruit, vegetables and delicious snacks.
During the high season (November-April), vendors set up along the
walkway by the beach. Mainly beach clothes, hats and low cost souvenirs.
For the bare necessities of life, there are a number of minimarts
in the village, a chemist and some small souvenir and leisure ware
shops. |
