THE first thing that strikes me after arriving at the Baan Bangtao Chengtalay Agro Tourism Community Enterprise is the warm hospitality accorded by the cooperative members. Headed by Sonthaya Kongthip, they put visitors at ease by encouraging us to take part in various cooking classes where traditional Phuket delicacies like tantalising coconut crepes and savoury Thai herb rice are highlighted.
A principal part of Banyan Tree Phuket's Stay For Good programme, the initiative aims to provide tourists with authentic and immersive experiences that encourage deeper connections with the popular Thai holiday destination. At the same time, it honours the heritage and traditions as well as contribute towards creating beneficial opportunities for local communities.
PRESERVING TRADITIONS
Apart from proving to be an eye-opening experience, the culinary workshop engagements expose participants to the cooperative's commendable efforts in preserving traditions and local heritage as well as uplifting women in the close-knit community. The latter is underscored when Parichat Konrien takes charge preparing Thai herb rice.
Drawing upon years of experience, she issues precise yet easy-to-follow instructions to prepare the popular southern Thai meal that has transcended borders. While slightly tweaked versions in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are collectively known as ʻnasi ulamʼ, this healthy dish prepared here in Phuket comprises largely of local raw ingredients selected for superior texture and aroma.
Besides components like carrot, pomelo, long bean, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and ground roasted coconut, Parichat favours torch ginger, bitter leaf or chaphulu, sesame seeds and chillies. Mixed well with white rice, this delighful concoction is not only a visual treat but also tastes and smells absolutely heavenly.
We washed down an entire plate of herb rice and several pieces of hot-off-the-stove coconut crepes with young coconut juice despite having enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast spread at Banyan Tree Phuket's Watercourt restaurant just over an hour earlier. After, it is time to jump on Sonthaya's custom-designed motorcycle drawn carriage and head off to the orchards belonging to cooperative members.
Trees heavily laden with local fruits like rambutan, dokong and mangosteens are a sight to behold. Without wasting time, the villagers start harvesting with nets attached to long poles while Sonthaya goes a step further by climbing up a nearby tree and starts dishing out plump dokong bunches. The ensuing feast results in attestments that freshly harvested fruits definitely taste best!
The already enriching experience then expands further in the form of a leisurely drive through Bangtao town. Despite being a vibrant coastal settlement, it remains a hidden gem overshadowed by Phuket's more famous and well-trodden tourist places. Sight of a majestic mosque just before the vehicle turns off the main road calls to mind that Bangtao, like most other southern Thai settlements, is predominantly Muslim with Islam as the main religion.
EXPANDING EXPERIENCES
Apart from underscoring Bangtao's vibrant culture and warm hospitality, Banyan Tree Phuket's immersive Stay for Good experience also highlights its rich heritage.
A walk through mature rubber plantations quickly bring to mind that latex as well as tin mined throughout the island have been primary sources of commerce for Phuket long before tourism started gaining prominence in the late 1970s.
More than a century ago, these natural resources, in their raw form, were sent for processing in Penang before being re-exported worldwide.
Just when things could not get any better, Sonthaya leads the way up a well-marked mountain trail that ends by a gurgling brook. Saving the best for the last, he summons attention to an algae encrusted rock before lifting it to reveal two tiny crabs.
Signalling to everyone to remain motionless, he watches silently as the startled creatures dash for safety among reeds at the water's edge.
Breaking into a smile, he proudly explains that the crustaceans are red land crabs before underscoring fact that the unique creatures live in jungles and cannot be found anywhere near the sea. Often mistaken as spiders due to their diminutive stature, they are also known as fire-red crab or waterfalls crab.
Widely considered one of the most beautiful freshwater crustaceans thanks to their crimson shells, they are found exclusively in Phuket and nowhere else in the world.
As their International Union for Conservation of Nature vulnerable listing suggests, these stunning crabs are considered extremely rare and highly sensitive to environmental changes. As such, ensuring their survival has become a key part of the local community's commitment towards local ecosystem preservation.
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