Street Art circuit 🎨 Old Phuket

If I tell you Phuket you think white sandy beaches, palm trees and a turquoise blue sea, But did you know that it's more than that?

That's why, Dear Hivian, I suggest that today we go on a tour in the old Phuket town to the discovery of hidden treasures that can be found there and more especially Street Art.

In 2016, a collaboration between local artists and property developer spawned the F.A.T. Phuket initiative, "F.A.T." which means "Food Art Town", this initiative which took place in the heart of the old town interest more and more tourists (including the Thai, who, I must admit, are a bit the only tourists who can come at this time) and it's probably for this reason that 5 years later, the interest in making Street Art is starting to grow all over the island (like in Kata where I recently took you).

The best way to start this tour is to start on Dibuk road near the Phothong temple (วัดมงคลนิมิตร) and more exactly at the level of the crossing with Yaowarat road where you can see a very nice green building.

Here is a representation of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej, extremely loved by the Thai people. Born the 5th of December 1927, he reigned over Thailand for 66 years (from the 5th of May 1950 to the 13th of October 2016). This piece was painted After him death in 2016 and it shows different aspects of the Kings life.

On the opposite sidewalk is a second representation of King Rama IX. With as on the first painting a camera in hand, he was a great lover of photography.

You continue on this sidewalk in the direction of Phothong temple (วัดมงคลนิมิตร) you will quickly arrive on the road Soi Rommani (ซอย รมณีย์) which will be on your right, "Soi" which can be translated as "Street/Road" in Thai. Walk down this short street that joins the Sunday night market street (cf. see my post on this market) and you will arrive in front of our 2 new Street Art.

The first one is the Red Turtle Cake (symbol of long life and good fortune) of the artist Alex Face, be careful to take a short focal length to have it in picture because there is almost no backward.

And right next to it is a colorful geometric bird by artist Rakkit Kuanhavej.

Now take Thalang road (ถนน ถลาง), this is the main road (the one of the Sunday night market) towards the park where the Hai Leng Ong dragon statue is located. Turn right at the first intersection towards the Yellow Clock Tower where you will turn right again to take the PhangNga road.

After only a few steps you should arrive at our next destination located right next to a Ceramic studio workshop.

Then you should see an unusual storefront that seems to be an artist. It looks like his next painting is about Youtube money 😂

Let's continue on this street which contains many treasures! Unfortunately for me, cars were parked right in front of our next destination, preventing us from appreciating it as it need to be. I had more luck with the opposite wall and the gigantic bird, an amazing creation of the artist Mue Bon.

The following Street Art are a little bit special because they are located in a small alley of a beautiful small chinese temple as I like them (temple that we will visit more in detail in a next post).

It's time to get back on the road, once at the end of the street (you have no choice between left or right because front of you it's a japanese restaurant 😂), take a left and then at the roundabout the first right into Ranong street. From this point there is a little walk to do before the next stop, once arrived at the big crossing with Patiphat street take right.

Soon you should see a very special noodle restaurant on your right, you can eat there if you want, it's not too expensive but don't expect an excellent meal, it's rather average.

We arrive soon at the end of our tour, we have only one more to do on the way back to our starting point. To go there, after the restaurant turn the first right, this is the street that leads back to the main street (the one with the Sunday evening market). At a point on your right you will see a small alley with a painting on the wall.

If you read this congratulations! You've seen everything, so you can tell me in comments which of these street art you preferred 😉

If you like street art too and you have some near you, don't hesitate to share it with the streetart community