Phuket Indy Market

Highlights of Phuket Indy Market

The many goods displayed at Phuket Indy Market include jeans, flip-flops, shoes and ladies’ bags made from water hyacinth. But some items are quite unique such as customised handmade key rings. Happily, prices are very low and the most fun item of all is a single rice grain with your name stenciled onto it, to be used as part of a pendant, key ring or bracelet. This costs about 120 baht.

If you fancy having a special souvenir made just for you and/or your loved one(s) check out the artist booths. They do portraits and caricatures by order in a short time (price starting from only about 100 baht per picture). Nearby, you’ll find professional manicurist stands. Prices depend on the choices of material but start as low as 90 baht.

What not to miss

It’s best to come here with an appetite as there are a lot of delicious and cheap snacks available. If possible take your time and try as many as you can; Thai spicy salad (don’t worry, tell the server ‘mai pet’ to keep it not too spicy), fried fish-paste balls, chicken BBQ (that goes very well with sticky rice), beef and seafood BBQ, crispy gyoza (a kind of Chinese dumpling) and fish maw soup. The latter is a must.

Also, don’t miss Thai-style chicken kebabs; the stall owner will slice the chicken meat off a rotating vertical spit; it’s served with pita bread and costs around 50 baht. For the sweets section, the list goes on and on from soft sponge cake to colourful candies and Thai-style crepes. Check out the traditional street sweet by the name of kanom buang (or Thai crispy pancake) that resembles a taco, but is made from rice flour rather than corn flour. They first top it with coconut cream followed by some sweet toppings. It not only looks lovely but it tastes good too.

Beverages range from sugarcane and orange juice to old-style tea and coffee. If you are looking for a more sophisticated drink, try the cocktail booth featuring both alcohol and non-alcoholic cocktails for about 100 baht a drink.

Good to Know about Phuket Indy Market

Starting in late 2010, Phuket Indy Market has quickly become a popular get-together place for Phuket young people. So what draws them there? The food and goods? The live music and street shows? In truth, it’s probably a bit of everything.

Many youngsters are encouraged to join in and express themselves through these creative activities and the organizers have been using this stage to promote Thai traditional festivals, international events and the building up of public awareness for issues including World Aids Day and Safe Sex Awareness.