Phuket tends to get a bad rap. As one of the most visited destinations in Thailand, it gets discounted as being too commercialized, too developed. Yet at the end of our trip to Southern Thailand, our flight connections required that we spend a little time in Phuket. Despite my expectations, I found that Phuket Town is surprisingly charming and intriguing. Streets were lined in old-fashioned shop-fronts that appeared to have been decorated using all the paints in the watercolor box. Inviting spicy scents lingered from sidewalk canteens; discreet alleys concealed elegant mansions, anonymous shop-houses hid plush boutiques and elegant cafes. We were only there for a few hours, but I definitely think I'll have to return soon to explore more.
