Try Phuket Local food: They say, “We are what we eat,” and again, “Life is a journey.” Those unique, exotic dishes which you sample along the way, help to make the trip worthwhile. Here are a few local delicacies that you won’t usually find in your hotel restaurant.

• Dim Sum. The Dim Sum is a steamed dumpling filled with a choice of every imaginable variety of sweet or savoury filling; usually served with Chinese herb chicken soup and condiments.
• Kanom Jin Phuket. This is a vermicelli-based dish served with a variety of curry sauces. Often eaten as breakfast, it comes with a range of fresh vegetables, boiled eggs, and curried fish mousse (Hor Mok).
  
• Mee Hok Kian. This is made with large yellow noodles similar to Japanese Soba. Mee Hok Kian can be served with pork-bone soup and/or dried noodles. A delightful variety known as Mee Hok Kian Pak includes fried noodles, soup, egg, fried onions, pork crackling and a choice of pork, fish or squid. Recommended Mee Hok Kian restaurants are Mee Ao Gay, located on Poonpol Road, and Mee Sapam at Sapam Village, Thepkasattri Road.
• Oh Tao. Also known as Hoi Tod Hokgian, this is a fried oyster dish prepared with eggs, flour, bean sprouts and taro root – a favourite Phuket snack. Look for it at the Oh Tao Wongwian Restaurant, located near the Clock Tower Circle, Phuket Road or at the Oh Tao Restaurant next to Bang Neaw Municipality School, Phuket Road.
• Oh Aew. An unbeatable Phuket dessert which is made from jellied banana-flour mixed with boiled red beans, ice, and sweet red syrup. Available everywhere.
  

View Antique Buildings: A hundred years ago, Phuket City had a prosperous economy based on tin mining, and even back then was an international centre with a large expatriate community of Chinese and Europeans. They built beautiful homes in the style called Sino-Portuguese – terraced townhouses with narrow frontages and accommodations which stretch back from the road. The interiors often include walled gardens and fountains and are beautifully furnished with antiques and Chinese inspired decorations. Rommanee Road is a fine example which has been fully restored. Visit Talang Road, Yaowarat Road and Dibuk Road. Nowadays, these streets in the Chinese quarter have transformed themselves into busy thoroughfares featuring antique shops, specialty restaurants and more.
The Provincial Hall, the Phuket Courthouse and the town branch of the Siam City Bank are further examples of architecture from the past. All are well worth a visit.

Join the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Phuket: Phuket has a big Chinese community, so Chinese New Year celebrations are a major event on the island’s calendar. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month, which this year falls on 14 February 2010. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and enlivened with cultural and historical displays.

Enjoy the public parade which includes colourful dragon and lion floats, fireworks, crackers and traditional music and dance. At the same time, you can sample a wide range of Chinese cuisine. It’s all part of the festivities.

During this time Chinese houses will be festooned with red banners and decorations to promote luck and happiness during the coming year. Don't forget your camera.