Hello everyone!
How are you all doing? I hope you're having a wonderful day, even better than yesterday. I'm feeling so happy today because — yes! — it's already Friday, and the weekend is just around the corner. A perfect time for some well-deserved me time.
I know many of you are also looking forward to the weekend, each with your own personal plans and activities. So, before I share today’s travel experience, let me first wish everyone a happy and relaxing weekend ahead!
TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IN PHUKET THAILAND
I always feel so happy when I share stories from my travels — it brings back such beautiful memories, and reminds me how lucky I’ve been to experience these special moments in life.
One of those memorable places was the NAKA Market in Phuket. It was close to where we were staying — just about a 5-minute ride by motorbike. If you ever visit Phuket, I highly recommend exploring this market. The atmosphere, the food, the local crafts — it’s all so vibrant and full of life!
** Travel Tip:**
To save money in Phuket, rent a motorbike instead of using Grab. Grab rides can be super expensive here — sometimes even more than your hotel stay! Renting a motorbike is not only cheaper but also gives you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace.
In my previous post, I mentioned that we were staying near Phuket Old Town, which is one of the more popular areas to stay. Another well-known area is Patong Beach, especially for those looking to enjoy Phuket’s famous nightlife. There are plenty of other places to stay too — and the good thing is, you can actually go around the entire island in a day, like we did!
Next time, I’d really love to stay somewhere closer to the beach to enjoy the sunset, sea breeze, and night vibe more fully.
NAKA MARKET – PHUKET, THAILAND
The NAKA Market opens in the evening and runs until midnight on weekends — so I guess it’s already happening right now as I write this, from Friday evening until Saturday night!
We went there by motorbike, and it only took us a few minutes to reach. But even though we arrived early, we still had to look around for a parking spot, because many others had the same idea — everyone comes early to enjoy the market vibe!
When you arrive, you'll be greeted by a giant red Hulk statue.
Yep, not the green one — this must be his cousin from Thailand, haha!
It’s totally free to enter the market, and let me tell you — this market is huge.
We spent around two hours just walking around and exploring the different stalls. Of course, it would be faster if you walk quickly, but we took our time doing some fun window shopping and enjoying the lively atmosphere. There’s just so much to see — from food, clothes, handmade crafts, souvenirs, and quirky local items.
The first section you'll come across at NAKA Market is the food area — and wow, what a sight! There are so many different types of food being sold, it's like a paradise for food lovers.
Everything is not only affordable, but also incredibly delicious. Some of the food I saw — I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. I honestly believe some of these dishes are unique to this region, and you probably won’t find them anywhere else.
Once you’ve found the food you like, you can head over to one of the open dining areas where you can sit, relax, and enjoy your meal. What makes it even better is the free live music — or busking performances — by local artists.
And when I say this market is really big, I mean it! There are around five different busking spots scattered throughout the market, each offering a different vibe. From acoustic guitar players and soulful singers to energetic local bands, the music adds such a lively and welcoming atmosphere.
It was a bit unfortunate that I couldn’t take any photos of the busking areas — my phone ran out of battery at that time.
After having some delicious food and soaking in the live music, we continued exploring the rest of the market. The next section was full of souvenirs — from toys to all kinds of fun and quirky items.
You can also find a wide variety of shoes, clothes, and bags, all offered at different price points depending on the quality. While some items were still a bit pricey, they were much cheaper compared to what you'd find in shopping malls — and the variety is way better.
My wife ended up buying a beautiful handmade local rattan bag — one of the many unique items you can find at NAKA Market. As for me, I was more than happy just enjoying the window shopping, the music, and, of course, the food.
It was such a fun and memorable experience, and I’d definitely love to visit this place again the next time we come to Phuket.
Anyway, that’s all for today’s post. Thank you so much for stopping by — I hope you enjoyed today’s little travel story. See you on tomorrow’s journey. Cheers!