by slipper1 on 22 March, 2009
So in the last post I promised you I would update you on my meal in what is the top restaurant in Kathu — the Royale Nam Tok. The name translated into English means the Royal Waterfall, very apt since it was pouring at the time which dampened the patio and swimming pool next to our table but not my spirits! The restaurant is run by two Belgian guys, who obviously have and still do have a great attention to detail, which is obvious from the moment you walk into the restaurant. The restaurant is situated on a small soi, towards the end of soi Nam Tok Kathu. For directions, you take the road from the Caltex petrol station in Kathu towards Loch Palm Golf Club. Just before the golf club, you turn left at the junction, which is marked with a sign for Sensive Resort and continue some distance straight up the road, probably a couple of kilometres, where eventually you will see a sign directing you to the restaurant down a very small soi just on the right-hand side as you turn in.
Cocktails and Appetisers - Part 1
As you enter the restaurant, and notice the decor, you begin to get the feeling that you’re in for quite a treat. As it was a birthday treat we ordered a couple of cocktails to start and took in the decor. The tables are nicely decorated and even have live decorative fish swimming in little jars on the table. On taking your seat you presented with some baby tomatoes served with a specially prepared mustard dip and a small rilette of pork served with home-made bread, butter and olive oil flavoured with herbs. I don’t much like tomatoes but the dip complimented them strangely but very well – they were all eaten.
Next up, a cocktail glass of tomato mousse served with ham and chive decorations, goose liver creme brulee together with a marinated salmon and pine nut concoction.
Mouth Wateringly Delicious
Beautifully presented, delicately flavoured and a delight. Ha ha none of this was ordered – you remember the good old cover charges you hated in Italian restaurants, and then pretty much every restaurant at home, which covered a couple breadsticks and little else? Well there is [click to continue…]
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by slipper1 on 19 March, 2009
After two days of toil on Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday has arrived for me to mark another year off the calendar with a birthday celebration at Loch Palm golf course where I am joining a four-man scramble competition organised by PEGS. PEGS is a society run by expats, for the enjoyment of golf on the island of Phuket. Competitions are run twice a month and if you are a keen golfer and resident on Phuket for at least six months a year you are welcome to join. For information, just go to http://www.expatgolf.com and click on the application tab.
A Beautiful Hole at Red Mountain Golf Club
Unfortunately my golf game did not want to give me a birthday present as I was playing rather poorly. Nonetheless, it was good to get out on the golf course after having spent the last two days working on computer at home. Loch Palm used to be a fantastic golf course which has been negatively impacted by the never ending development in and around it. It’s a great shame. Nevertheless, I still like the course and play there whenever I can afford it.
Just a few years ago I would play every day, but since the course was taken over by the MBK group, it has become less attractive [click to continue…]
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by slipper1 on 16 March, 2009
Unfortunately I am not yet retired, and after a rather wearisome day and on Monday afternoon I found myself with the family down in Rawai, showing a friend around. After everything was done, we decided to take a trip back down to Rawai beach, this time taking the kids.
Rawai Beach looking South from Baan Rawai
At the end of Rawai beach there is a pleasant restaurant, that is setback just a little way from the beach and which is called Baan Rawai. The rain has come early this year and the clouds were rolling in once again promising another downpour and so we had to eat inside. I have to say that is less than half as nice as eating outside. So we spent a few minutes on the beach taking in the air before seeking shelter in the covered areas provided for guests when it’s raining.
My wife is rather partial to shellfish and I like oysters served up Thai style, which were promptly ordered. We also had some fried fish with lemon grass, mainly for the children and I fancied some pork cooked Hong Kong style and my perennial favourite Hor Mok Talay or seafood curry to the rest of you.
Oysters Thai Style
The views were once again pleasant looking over towards the islands just offshore and although Rawai is not the best beach in Phuket, when the tide is out the beach looks rather muddy, the sound of the sea provided a pleasant distraction from eating.
And I have to say that many of the dishes served at this restaurant [click to continue…]
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by slipper1 on 15 March, 2009
It’s been a busy day today. The kids have been flat out and it was intended that we visit the Phuket aquarium, but unfortunately that didn’t quite work out as planned. As time was short we decided to pay a visit to the play area on Patong beach so that the kids could work off some steam, and for a bit of relaxation.
Kids Play Area in Patong
Patong beach has been cleaned up over the last few years, in respect of the back part of the beach, which is near the main road running alongside the beach. The local authority has provided some play areas for children, and also some nice looking paths and some ornamentation.
I am left wondering why the powers managing the renovation didn’t think to provide some toilets. For a resort trying to maintain a top position as a favourite tourist destination this seems to me a rather glaring oversight. Attention to a few details such as toilets, control of parking, tuk tuk management and really the whole tourist transportation issue would reap very beneficial rewards given a little thought, willingness and determination to overcome entrenched practices especially those benefitting the local mafia to the detriment of the resort. Anyway I digress.
The beach itself still has rather too many sunbeds and umbrellas for my liking. You can find many quieter beaches, where the beds are cheaper and better spaced and the sea and your ears less innundated by jetskis, parasailers and the like. However, one has to recognize that Patong is the full on tourist centre where going to the shops, nightlife and tourist based attractions take centre stage. [click to continue…]
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by slipper1 on 14 March, 2009
Woke up on Friday with Earache. I don’t think it is on account of the kids this time. I used to have the same problem occasionally in the UK where a couple of nights with some eardrops and a visit to the nurse at the local doctor for a rinse had me sorted – gratis. Hoorah for the National Health.
Of course there is no National Health system here in Phuket so you are advised to have good medical insurance to cover these eventualities or worse. That is a no brainer really.
Thais do have some form of National Health system where they pay 30 baht to go to the local hospital. That is not the International Hospital though of course so not quite the same thing. This scheme was one of the good things brought in by Mr Thaksin – I am not a great supporter of his but he did do a lot of things that were good amongst the things that were apparently not so good.
Anyway a trip to Bangkok Phuket Hospital came out costing me 1500 baht for [click to continue…]
