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The Thainaan restaurant can be found at the junction of the Phuket-Patong
road (4020) and the road south to Chalong (4022), just as you leave
Phuket Town itself. It is accurate to say that it is difficult to
miss, as the overall restaurant occupies over 35,000 square metres,
it is lavishly designed and illuminated at night with thousands
of twinkling strands of bulbs. The traditional teak structure is
built in a blend of Northern and Southern building styles: the wood
is from old houses in the north of the country and numbers over
200,000 pieces.
It is built with such scarce materials that according to General
Manager, Khun Surawit Jinrattana "it would be impossible to
replace". Khun Surawit recently moved south from Hua Hin and
is thoroughly enjoying the experience of working in one of Phuket's
most unusual venues.
The restaurant itself actually consists of six different-style restaurants,
one of which is the Srivichai Restaurant. This unique restaurant
offers a choice of two menus, traditional Thai ambience, filmed
information and Thai entertainment. An Evening of The Senses is
designed to entertain and educate visitors over a relaxing two-and-a-half
hours.
The room is influenced by the rule of King Chulalongkorn, Phra
Rama V (1868-1910), the King so frequently seen on the golden necklaces
worn by many. King Chulalongkorn was really the first King of Thailand
to fully embrace European culture, so consequently the room is adorned
with memorabilia both from Thailand and Europe in the late 19th
Century.
The evening's experience begins with a leisurely stroll through
the restaurant to be at your table for appetisers at 6pm. Seating
is "Kantoke-style": on the floor with the colourful Thai
triangular pillow (mawn khwann) as a backrest. The appetisers on
offer depend on which menu you have selected, but range from delicious
Deep-fried Prawns Wrapped in Bean Sheets, to Spring Rolls, or Stuffed
Tapioca with Thai Herbs.
The culinary experience is enhanced by the use of Benjarong (five
colour) ceramics once only used in the golden palaces and residences
of Thai royalty. The main courses encompass a variety of Southern
and Northern cuisine, including the favourite tom yam gung (hot,
spicy prawn soup) and Deep-fried Honeyed Chicken in Pandanus Leaves.
The menu and programme for the evening is beautifully presented
in a small, ribbon-bound booklet which includes sketches and information
about the instruments and dances of the evening.
The entertainment begins with a 25-minute video on Phuket culture.
This is not only visual, but also explains the unique background
of Southern Thailand. After a short interlude (and more food) the
traditional dance begins, accompanied by seven wooden instruments.
Of the six dances portrayed during the evening, the Ram Srivichai
is perhaps the most pertinent. Srivichai was actually once a very
prosperous Kingdom in Southern Thailand and the dance, created by
the Fine Arts Department at Silapkorn University, celebrates the
arts and culture which flourished in the once-rich Kingdom. Also
on display are sedate dances from the masked play Ramayana and a
demonstration of traditional Thai martial arts.
For Khun Surawit, working at Thainann is little different from
the hotel industry: "being so large, Thainaan is run along
the same lines, with Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Sales and
Marketing departments", he says, which "ensures the high-quality
service", as evidenced by the evening's food and entertainment.
The evening ends at around 8.30pm and numbers gradually dwindle
as guests head for transport. All in all, an evening at the Srivichai
Restaurant is to be recommended as a "must do" during
a visit to Phuket.
Thainaan Restaurant, 16 Wichitsongkram Road, Tumbon Wichit, Amphur
Muang, Phuket. Tel: (66 76) 226 164-7. Fax: (66 76) 225 61
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