Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pool villas, steps from the virgin national park beach. You'll have more space (and a full
kitchen) in the condos, but the villas are secluded pods with reclaimed wood accents, vin-
tage wrought-iron motifs and a wall-mounted flat screen.
Huge outdoor baths with a soaker tub and rain shower spill into a garden with a sizable
plunge pool. The restaurant is sensational and borders the sexy common pool area, blessed
with magnificent sunset views. Service could not be better.
Indigo Pearl
( 0 7632 7006;
www.indigo-pearl.com
;
r 8250-16,500B; )
One of the most unique of
Phuket's high-end resorts takes its design cues from the island's tin-mining history. Al-
though it sounds weird, the industrial theme melded with tropical luxe creates a spectacu-
larly soothing place to stay. Hardware, such as vices, scales and other mining tools, is
used in the decor down to the tiniest detail - even the toilet-paper rolls are big bolts.
The gardens are modern and lush and surround an oasis-like pool with a big waterfall.
HOTEL
$$$
Ban Ra Tree
(Hat Nai Yang; mains 90-350B; 11am-10.30pm)
The best choice on the Hat Nai Yang strip, the
plastic tables are elegantly dressed in turquoise and white linen and sunk in the sand be-
neath parasols. The seafood is dynamite: think green curry fried rice topped with coconut
milk. Ask for yours with crab, and it will be topped with a whole, meaty cracked crab for
just 220B!
They also do fresh fish in myriad ways - try it fried in yellow or red curry. They steam
and sauce Phuket lobster, slather prawns in tamarind sauce and make wonderful smooth-
ies. Service is superb.
THAI
$$
Getting There & Away
If you're coming from the airport, a taxi costs about 200B. There is no regular
sŏrng·tăa·ou,
but a túk-túk charter from Phuket Town costs about 800B.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Khao Phra Taew Royal Wildlife & Forest Reserve
Phuket's not all sand and sea. In the north of the island, this park protects 23 sq km of vir-
gin island rainforest (evergreen monsoon forest). There are some pleasant hikes over the
