The Phuket Fringe Festival has a simple-yet-grand mission, explains founder David Shrubsole. “I want this Fringe Festival to grab the rest of the world by the hair and say, ‘Look what we can do!’ I want it to bring the extremely high standard of various performing arts that we have here and showcase them to the world.” For this year’s inaugural festival, which takes over Patong’s Playhouse Theatre Restaurant from 4-13 October, Shrubsole has assembled an eclectic lineup of local and some not-so-local talents to dance and drum, to cut-and-mix, to clown and cajole — and most importantly to inspire. Following is an inside look at many of the performers featured at the festival.

Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit and members of the Thailand Diving Association on 16 September agreed on a date for the sinking of 10 vintage aircraft to create an artificial reef off the sands of Bangtao Beach. Installation of four decommissioned Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports and six Sikorsky S-58T helicopters — collectively known as the “Coral Reef Squadron” — was originally set for 5 May. The project team rescheduled when Cyclone Nargis came ashore, expecting to complete the job in November, after the rainy season. The grand opening ceremony for the new coral reef is now planned for 29 November, and culminates in a concert sponsored by Sony Music on Bangtao Beach. There is also a plan to open an exhibition to commemorate the illustrious history of the aircraft used in the Coral Reef Squadron.

Renewed tourism marketing has remained a primary concern for local leaders since the 29-31 August shutdown of Phuket International Airport by anti-government protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). In the wake of the airport closure and international news reports about political unrest in Thailand, national and local leaders have met with several groups to gather data and to formulate plans. The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on 19 September announced a new plan to rebuild confidence in Phuket as a favoured tourist destination, the first coordinated effort to address negative impact on Phuket’s image as a result of the protests. The number of inbound passengers has dropped since the protest, Wing Commander Vicha Nernlop, director of Phuket International Airport, explained at a press conference on 23 September. Khun Nernlop also announced several promotions designed to heighten Phuket’s visibility as a popular tourist destination. Officials had expected to celebrate the arrival of the six millionth passenger of 2008 at the airport around this time of the year, but with the drop in incoming passengers, festivities to honour that landmark are now expected in December.

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin detailed seven priorities for his new municipal administration during a 26 September press conference at the offices of the Patong Tessaban, emphasizing education, tourism, quality of life and infrastructure to support tourism. Re-elected to the post in July, Khun Pian joined deputy mayors Chairat Sukkabhal, Prasarn Yordtor and Somchai Burarrak to announce the policies Patong’s government will follow for the next four years. “After the team got the authority to take office (on 1 September), the committees of the Patong municipality approved a budget of about 11 million baht to design a new building for Baan Sainamyen School,” he said “The school was transferred from the Phuket Educational Service Area Office to Patong Municipality to be managed and supported as a bilingual school aiming to develop high-quality personnel in Phuket to support the island’s tourism industry.

Chalong Circle Rebuilt

Traffic jams at the former location of Chalong Circle have continued even after the five-way intersection was transformed last month with the installation of traffic lights. But highway officials say the situation is an improvement over the mammoth snarls that previously developed during peak periods around the circle. “After we decided to change the Chalong five-way to be an intersection, the project was completed quickly and has been available since 24 September,” explained Termpun Noksang, assistant director of the Phuket Highway District. “The intersection now has problems with drivers getting confused on directions because the road to Chalong Bay looks like a main road even though we modified it as side street. When the light is green, it causes a traffic jam. However, we’re trying to solve this problem by making the appearance clearer for drivers so it’s easy to see the road. We might add something like guideposts on that road, too. Also, the other reason that driver are getting confused is that the road does not appear familiar to them. It will be better soon, and the traffic jam will decrease. “Comparing before and after, both the old circle and new traffic lights face the same traffic jam situation,” Khun Terpun added. “But the new one is better. Even though it has traffic, it looks more nice and tidy than the old one, which looked busy.”

The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa commands a beach front site at Karon, yet its location within the midst of 75 acres of rich tropical gardens provides a sense of seclusion and serenity. Walking over the wooden bridge that leads to the Spa, I was struck by how quiet and peaceful it was. There was hardly a soul around. All I could hear were the sounds of running water from the waterfalls and the river itself. Even the Spa, designed in the style of a traditional Thai village, is set beside a silent emerald lake sheltered by palm trees and rolling hills. Facilities at the spa include the Well Being Salon, herbal steam rooms, Tao Garden Juice Bar and the Spa Source retail outlet. There are a range of treatments on offer, including Thai and international massages, herbal body wraps, French facials and body scrubs. Recommended treatments include the Yin Yang Massage that uses lavender to soothe a tired soul, or the Collagen Velvet Facial by Thalgo for an intensive hydration. Try the Thai Fruit Wrap body treatment with its use of exotic fruit extracts to draw out impurities, or the Glowing Body Plus scrub to rejuvenate dull skin with its blend of sea salt, mineral salts and essential oils.

Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder named after John Langdon Down, the doctor who first identified it. This genetic abnormality is caused by a defect of chromosome 21. During the 1950s, many people with this syndrome did not live past the age of 15. However, due to better understanding of this condition and medical advancement in treatment and care, today’s life expectancy of someone with Down’s syndrome is now between 60-65 years of age. Down’s Syndrome affects about one in every 1,000 babies, which means (in UK terms) that about 600 babies are born with Down’s syndrome each year in the UK. There is currently no cure for the condition. However, there are treatments which can help someone with the syndrome to lead a more active and independent life. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, affecting in many different ways. The most obvious symptoms relate to physical appearance.

Located 1km north of the turn off from Chaofa East Road to Phuket Zoo, the Fashion Cafe is set back a little on the right hand side with only the distinctive large orange “Cafe” sign to tell you where it is. Behind the cafe is Perfections Spa, which was the original business concern at the location. This was, and still is, the place for ladies to gather and be indulged. While the ladies were pampered Dennis Cogan, the owner, would serve them fabulous Lavazza coffee with nibbles. Cogan is a stickler for good coffee and even installed a reverse osmosis filter to make sure that the water he uses for the coffee is absolutely pure. There is no doubt that this is the best coffee anywhere on Phuket. This coffee and cake progressed into small snacks, and now the Fashion Cafe stands out as a premier eating house on the island, with an extensive menu with something for every palate, from Thai to Texan. Carefully sourced food and detailed preparation make every dish a delight.

It has been said that one does not drink wine so much as experience it but not everyone experiences wine, and fewer still really taste wine because taste resides within the mind of the taster, not in the wine. Taste really is just a name we give to our memories. Wine is just water, alcohol, tannin, acid, and other chemical constituents. When we examine wine seeking its taste, no matter how hard we look, we cannot find anything in the wine we can call taste independent of the taster. Cause and condition, duality, no self. It’s all very Buddhist, actually. Nor is taste the same thing as flavour. Flavours are names we invent to describe our response to chemical properties of certain molecules that we can discern. We call them salty, sweet, sour, bitter and savory. When the nerve endings in the papillary of the tongue and olfactory bulb of the nose contact flavour constituents in wine, they trigger an impulse in the brain we describe as taste. Like taste, the flavours we perceive have no inherent existence of their own independent of the taster.

It’s a fair bet isn’t it that people who live on Phuket are here because they like having the sea somewhere close at hand. It’s like a comfort blanket. Anytime the stress levels mount up, off we go to the beach and let the rolling waves soften our edges. The same goes for eating. How many of us comfort eat? We have the luxury of being able to go to a good restaurant for a reasonable price and eat delicious food. So to combine being on the sea and eating good food would seem to be a winner. Wouldn’t it? Bleu Blanc Grill has just done that. The handsome Captain Julien invites you to shed your shoes and your worries, climb aboard a well equipped boat and completely relax. The Sunset Cruise pushes off from its mooring at Chalong Harbour at 5pm every Wednesday. Depending on the sea conditions and weather, it heads off for an ideal spot to watch the sun go down.

The drive up to Rising Sun Residence hardly hints at the rewards that await at the top of a foothill of Nakkerd Mountain. Turning off of the access road, which leads off of Chaofa West Road a couple hundred metres north of Wat Chalong, the entire sweep of Chalong Bay comes into view from the entrance to the development. And that’s how Rising Sun Villas came to be, explains Methee Tanmanatragul, developer and managing director. A longtime general manager of Karon’s Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Khun Methee says he and his wife fell in love with the plot of land as soon as they saw the view. He built his home there, which stands at the entrance of the current development, topping out a few metres short of the 80-metre building limit imposed island-wide shortly after he finished construction. When he expanded by building a collection of one- and three-bedroom villas that cascade down the steep hill, the plan of the development took care to retain the magnificent views, which peer down over Wat Chalong and out to the bay beyond, with Koh Lon rising in the distance. The effect is like a box seat in an opera house, with all of Phuket on a stage at your feet — Wat Chalong a colourful set piece in the foreground. But the overall impression of Rising Sun Villas isn’t one of drama. Rather it’s a sense of hospitality, of home-like comfort and neighbourly friendliness.

Born into a business family, resort and property developer Eam-On Likit-ittiruks ventured into business on her own, founding a car rental business after graduating in law from university. Recently she parleyed that successful venture into a resort on the north end of Patong, and now into a condominium development next to Jungceylon.

Many people who visit Phuket annually have chosen to purchase apartments in Phuket and rent them out the rest of the year when they are not on holiday. Small Phuket apartments or condominiums are a good choice for those who won’t be spending much time in their Phuket apartment, or people who are not interested in the upkeep of a house, villa or bungalow. Condominiums are not as readily available as low-star Thai-style apartments, but there are some available in Phuket. Apartments in Phuket are plentiful, so there’s sure to be something to suit your taste in terms of design, size, location and price.