Jungceylon and Central Festival are Phuket’s indoor shopping malls and combined have over 200 shops. Most of these are known name brand outlets, but each of these also has a shopping arcade where some great souvenirs can be had at bargain prices.

The twice a week Indy Market on Dibuk Road is not to be missed. This market sells all sorts of things from Thai snacks to ladies’ handbags and makes for a fantastic evening out. If you miss it you can always go to the weekend market where you will find pretty much anything, as it is a bit like a mini Chatuchak Market. Coming here is definitely something you will remember, and you don’t even need to buy anything to enjoy it. The market is an attraction all on its own. It can be found on Talad Tai Rot near Central Festival and runs from 16:00 to 22:00 every Saturday and Sunday.

There are of course plenty of other shops scattered throughout the entire island, with many being located in Patong. No matter what you are looking for you are sure to be able to find it in Phuket.

The fair lasts for seven days and of course takes place at Wat Chalong, which can be found on Chaofa Road in Chalong. During the seven days there are numerous stalls selling anything fried you can think of, as well as stalls selling plenty of goods, clothing and souvenirs that can be had for great prices. The fair comes alive each night with live entertainment that includes dancing, music and Muay Thai among other things, and like all Thai festivals there will also be contests and raffle draws.

Wat Chalong is one of the most important temples on the island and is extremely beautiful, so it is worth visiting regardless of the festival. But I do ask all tourists to please respect the Thai culture and Buddhist religion by making sure that your shoulders and knees are covered once entering the temple grounds. Otherwise just have fun and mingle with the locals.

The Year of the Dragon is the most celebrated of all the zodiacs in the Chinese calendar as it is the mightiest of all the signs. This year marks the Water Dragon and Phuket’s Old Town will light up with fireworks, colourful decorations and people dressed in red. Although in many countries this holiday is celebrated over 15 days, here in Phuket only the first day is celebrated, which in on January 23rd.

For those really wanting to experience this great holiday the best way to do this is to go and join in on the festivities, which of course includes eating. There are certain foods that are believed to bring good luck if eaten on this day. These include fish, dumplings, melon and pumpkin seeds, noodles, sweets and taro cakes. Don’t forget to hit the market, as the Chinese New Year is famous for its bargain prices.

The fair kicks off on January 1^st at 3:30pm and features food kiosks, booths selling local arts & crafts and souvenirs, carnival attractions and fair games, and is something that people of all ages can enjoy. There is also night entertainment in the form of live music and traditional Thai dancing. The fair is a fantastic way for tourists to mingle with the locals and learn more about the lovely Thai culture, as well as taste Thai delicacies and sweets.

Although this is a popular festival used to bring in the New Year, it is also an important charity event. The fair holds a lottery each year and all ticket sales go to the Thai Red Cross in Phuket, which is great organisation aimed at helping locals in need. The event itself is free, however purchasing a ticket is highly recommended, as last year the first prize was a 3 million Baht home.

The Phuket Red Cross Fair will take place at Saphan Hill Park in Phuket town and will run from the 1^st to the 7^th of January. It will begin at 3:30pm each afternoon and carry on into the evening.

James Bond Island consists of two forested limestone islands as well as a 30 metre high limestone rock that is just to the west of the islands. The entire sight and its surroundings are spectacular and all visitors will be in awe as soon as the islands come into sight, making for fantastic holiday photos.

It is best to visit James Bond Island on a tour, as it will include all transfers, a guide and lunch. A minivan will leave Phuket and take you to Phang Nga Bay pier where visitors will then board a longtail boat and head out to the islands. Most tours first stop on Koh Panyee for lunch, which is also a beautiful island in the bay. Afterwards the boat will continue on to the stunning main attraction. Some tours will even include kayaks as opposed to the longtail boat, which in my opinion is an added bonus.

No holiday in Phuket should go without a day trip to this amazing attraction. Although it can get a bit over crowded at times it is still well worth it, and is sure to be the highlight of any vacation.

Underwater lovers will thoroughly enjoy a day trip to any of Phuket’s fabulous sites, and there are plenty of dive shops that are eager to book a trip out for you. The best dive sites are Shark Point, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. Racha Yai and Noi is the most popular trip at this time of year and offer some incredible marine life. Racha Noi consists of an 18-metre drop where you will be surrounded by a stunning rock formation and mantas can be seen quite regularly. Racha Yai is surrounded by stunning hard coral that is home to numerous fish including titan tiggerfish, cuttlefish and pufferfish. Those that are lucky may even catch a glimpse of a passing yellowtail barracuda.

Shark Point is also a popular Phuket dive as it is filled with leopard sharks that can be seen on a regular basis. Purple and pink soft coral surround the 3 rocks that make up this site where bannerfish, angelfish and pufferfish can be seen. As well, this site is home to yellow seahorse, moray eels and schools of glassfish.

Beginners all the way up to the most advanced divers can enjoy a day of diving around Phuket, which is sure to result in an incredible, picturesque day.

As a full time Vegetarian it is difficult to enjoy some of Thailand’s amazing cuisine. Some of the most pleasing meals consist of meat, fish, fish sauce and shrimp paste all of which as a vegetarian I cannot eat. But during the Vegetarian Festival I can indulge in all of the delicious food and taste dishes that I normally am unable to eat.

The festival is also a great way to mingle with the locals and learn more about the religious and cultural aspect of Southern Thailand. It is celebrated by the Chinese-Thai community and involves a number of ceremonies where men and women do odd things to themselves to purify their mind and body by giving praise to the Nine Emperor Gods. The parades that show these strange rituals; like piercing sticks through their cheeks, can be seen during the various parades that take place at each of Phuket’s Chinese Temples, which are all located throughout Phuket town.

The festival runs until October 5^th and is a must for all visitors to experience. For a complete schedule of the events go to www.phuketvegetarian.com.

Surfing is fast becoming a popular thing to do in the low season in Phuket and there are more and more shops offering boards for rent each year. These are located right on the beach so it is very easy to find a board that is just right for you. Prices on boards vary but can generally be rented for one hour, one day or one month. Beginners can even get private instructed lessons for around 800 baht an hour. This fantastic sport can be enjoyed by travellers of almost any age and is a fantastic way to enjoy the sea and the waves at this time of year.

The Racing Fest will take place at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town and will feature three races. There will also be fun activities for kids and adults to enjoy between the races. This will begin tomorrow at 08:30 and end on Sunday (the 18^th) at 17:00 with a live stage performance.

On Wednesday make your way to the Phuket Graceland Resort on Patong beach for 09:00 when the surf competition will kick off. This event is part of the ASEAN Surfing Championship and is sure to be a great one. The actual surfing takes place each morning followed by surf clinics throughout the day. The event will end on the 27^th with an awards ceremony followed by a free concert and fashion show.

Both of these events are sure to be thrilling so arrive early if you don’t want to miss out on the fun!

I love waterfalls, especially those located in the jungle amidst natural rugged scenery. They are extremely calming to me as well as being stunningly beautiful. So I took the opportunity to visit my two favourites in the area, Bang Pae and Tong Sai.

Both of these are located in the eastern part of Phuket in the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park and are surrounded by amazing tropical forest that houses an array of exotic animals and birds and makes for the perfect waterfall setting. Bang Pae is 10-metres high and very impressive and is a nice place for a picnic. I then hiked through the jungle to Tong Sai, as there is a path leading from one to the other. Those less adventurous can drive. Although not as awe-inspiring it is still quite spectacular. Unfortunately the numerous restaurants ruin the appeal a little bit. But for those who did not bring a picnic lunch they make for a nice place to enjoy a meal.

Entrance to the waterfalls is 200 baht per person, which is the National Park fee.