Pearl of the Andaman sea

Every angler could use a captain like Khun Chalee Janamporn. Steering our chartered motor boat, the Fish & Fun 1, which houses up to 10 passengers, Janamporn took us to the hottest fishing spots in Phuket’s Naka Noi Island and Naka Yai Island. Our catch was bountiful: Greasy grouper, Russell’s snapper and seabass, to name a few. The bigger fishes were served sashimi style as appetisers during lunch. Janamporn, who also doubles up as chief angler and chef, also personally prepared tom yam soup, BBQ squids with sweet sauce, steam prawns with salt and Thai herbs, vegetable salads—all sided with Wolf Blass Chardonnay.

It was a fruitful one-day expedition organised by Fish & Fun (www.phuketfishandfun.com), a company that offers boats to cater to various fishing tour trips, from short weekend sojourns to those that last for several days out to the Andaman Sea. The price of our jaunt was S$780 for six people, which included trolling and bottom fishing and snorkelling equipment, and baits provided by Fish & Fun. Drinks and lunch were also provided onboard.

Our hospitality in Phuket—the Pearl of the Andaman Sea, and a favourite destination for party revellers, food lovers and beach goers—came courtesy of Michael Ma, chief executive officer of IndoChine Group: Ma had invited us to spend a weekend at the one-year old Indochine Hotels and Resort, which is perched on a Kalim hillside near Patong. The property, which is just minutes away by tuk-tuk to Bangla nightlife haven and major shopping sites in Patong like JungCeylon, also represents the Group’s first foray into the hotel industry.