- This is the most I've ever had to work for my lunch,
but it's gotta be worth it.
Hey, I'm Gunnarolla,
world traveler, food lover.
After a year and a half of pandemic lockdowns,
I'm back out there exploring the world.
First stop, Thailand,
thanks to a new reopening initiative
that allows fully vaccinated travelers
to explore the country safely and responsibly.
This is, Phuket Sandbox!
So far in the series,
we've covered how to get to Thailand,
the adventure and high adrenaline activities you can have,
and how to spend the entire day at a luxury resort.
But if you're the type of traveler
that likes to get out there
and experience the tradition and culture
of a different country,
this video is for you.
Here are seven cultural experiences you can have right now,
in Phuket, Thailand.
There is no better way to get to know a culture
than through its food, so take a cooking class.
Yes, another one.
What is this?
Wait a minute, where'd that come from?
Blue Elephant is the gold standard for Thai cuisine.
Good morning, we've got a special experience today.
We're gonna be cooking.
Chef is gonna take us to the market across the street.
Chef Molly took us on a tour of a traditional Thai market,
where you can get the freshest ingredients,
from fruits and vegetables to that distinctive Thai basil.
This smells amazing.
You've got curries, you've got chilies, you've got noodles,
all the essentials of Thai cuisine in one place.
What's your favorite thing to eat here in the market?
- My sticky rice and chicken.
- That sounds-- - I'm looking for it.
- Then she took us through the steps
of how to make some staple Thai dishes like Tom Yum Soup.
Oh, my mask is still on.
(Chef Molly laughs)
- There's a kick, but it's--
- It's got a little kick, a little heat.
Let's just say I won't be opening my own restaurant
anytime soon.
Not okay.
(laughter)
I still have a lot of fun, definitely worth doing.
And the feast that we had following the class
was phenomenal.
If cocktails are more your thing,
take a trip to Chalong Bay.
Thailand is a major producer of rum,
and here you can tour a distillery
and participate in a cocktail workshop.
- Like this. (slapping sounds)
- Bad mint.
And after that, grab lunch at the restaurant on site
brought to you in partnership with Suay,
one of our favorites on the island.
There is no shortage of spas in Thailand,
but if you're looking for something a little more high-end
that provides the ultimate pampering experience,
book an appointment at Oasis Spa.
They've got a few locations in Thailand
and their facilities in Phuket are beautiful,
even on a gloomy day.
All right, all showered up.
It's time for a two-hour treatment.
You've got this luxurious suite all to yourself,
a very skilled therapist,
it's heaven.
Okay.
That was great.
If you wanna learn more about traditional ways of life,
visit the Bang Rong Community,
just 20 kilometers outside of the city.
They've organized tours and activities
where you can learn more about their culture
and get hands-on.
All right, finished.
It's my blingy diamond encrusted bag.
Don't look at it up close.
Taking offers starting at 300 baht.
300 baht for this.
We actually got rained out that day,
as is the case when you visit during rainy season.
But I was determined to get lunch at this really epic spot.
You had to cross over the water
on this really rickety boardwalk.
This is the most I've ever had to work for my lunch,
but it's gonna be worth it.
And then I found out that they were closed,
and we weren't actually having lunch there.
But luckily there's no shortage of places
to have lunch in Phuket.
If you wanna take a trip back in time,
make a visit to Phuket Old Town.
The first thing you'll notice here
are the really distinctive brightly colored buildings.
They've fused together
elements of Portuguese and Chinese architecture,
hence the name Sino-Portuguese.
These beautiful buildings have been preserved,
and many of them have been converted into boutique shops
for souvenirs and textiles.
There are cafes and restaurants.
You'll even find some hotels, and places of worship,
for a diversity of different religions.
Old Town is where you really feel the diversity of Phuket.
Now some of my favorite places to eat are in Old Town.
You've got traditional spots with those authentic flavors
that probably haven't changed in years.
And you've got newer hip independent places
that are very aesthetic.
Some of them have been recognized by Michelin.
A great place to visit during the day,
but it really comes alive at night.
You've got artists doing some cool things,
and people eager to support their favorite local businesses.
Now if Old Town is where you go to chill,
Patong is where you go to party.
You kick things off at Sea Salt.
This is definitely a more upscale place
with the most beautiful views.
Now, as with everything else on the island,
Patong is not at a level 10 just yet.
But if you can't find the party,
be the party and rent a party bus.
Slowly but surely life, is coming back to Patong,
and tourism plays a big part in that.
Finally, one of my favorite things to do in Thailand
is check out the night market scene.
There are a few in Phuket,
but you wanna make sure you research
which ones are open and when.
Chillva was surprisingly busy and filled with locals.
So that's how you know it's legit.
And that's the one I would recommend going to.
It's really tastefully decorated with a secret garden,
very magical, almost kind of romantic.
So definitely a place to go if you're on a date.
You've got retail vendors on one side
and tons of food on the other.
Every single kind of street food.
Dinner, dessert, drinks.
I'm all about trying new things.
And one in particular caught my eye.
All right, I got this floss.
It looks a little bit like doll hair.
It's basically like cotton candy.
I'm in to it.
It's sweet.
They also gave me this to go with it.
So I'm wondering if they're supposed to be eaten together.
Yeah, I think you're supposed to eat these together.
(laughs) it looks like I dropped a tortilla on the ground
and it got covered with hair.
But here we go.
I don't know if that's how you're supposed to eat it,
but, it's good.
No disrespect intended.
I still really enjoyed it,
and I'll know for next time.
So those are my picks
for seven experiences that you can have
that really throw you into the Thai way of life.
In the comments below, let me know your favorite,
and stay tuned because we've got one more episode
and it's the perfect way to end the trip.
I'll see you next time.
A la prochaine!
Next time on Gunnarolla.
All right, this is supposed to float.
Let's find out if that's true.
(water splashing)
All right, we're doing a Thai massage today.
- [Viktor] Have you have enough?
- That's pilates.
I wanna vacation here.
I wanna celebrate every birthday here.
I wanna get married here.
I wanna get divorced here.