Hey Phuket People,
Ready for your weekly scoop of sunshine, stories, and island finds? 🌺
We’re bringing you the best of Phuket — from cosy corners and cool events to local legends and little surprises you won’t find on Google Maps.
Think of us as your laid-back guide to life on the island — every Thursday, no stress, all vibes.
This week’s highlights:
☔ FEATURE READ: Millie Johnson’s hilarious, heartfelt take on surviving her first Phuket rainy season. Floods, mould, toddler chaos — and a few genius hacks.
🍰 RAINY DAY GEM: MONDO Espresso & Tea Bar, Old Town — moody, minimal, and made for misty mornings. Don’t skip the banana cake.
🏗️ SPOTTED: HOMA’s building big in Chalong. New co-living space = café crowd incoming. (Is Soi Ta-iad next?)
🌧️ ISLAND TIP: Why umbrellas don’t work here (spoiler: wind). Get the poncho. Trust us.
💬 YOUR SAY: Where’s your go-to rainy day escape? Vote in our Instagram poll or reply to be featured next week!
Let’s dive in 👇
✍️ FEATURE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
How I Survived My First Phuket Rainy Season
by Millie Johnson
When we moved to Phuket, I had zero clue what “wet season” actually meant.
Spoiler: it’s not cute drizzle. It’s thunder that shakes your teeth and laundry that never dries.
But here’s what happened next — the mess, the mould, and the unexpected magic.
In this one:
Flooded flip-flops & scooter fails (plus what actually works)
How rainy season tested my patience... and my parenting
Real-life hacks: poncho picks, towel piles, mould prevention
Where we found calm when everything felt soggy
I wrote it like I’d tell a friend over a coffee — just with a damp toddler on my hip.
☔ Read the full survival story here →
How I Survived My First Phuket Rainy Season
Bring a towel. And maybe a backup poncho.
🥢 HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK
MONDO Espresso & Tea Bar – Phuket Old Town
📍 Google Maps | Instagram
There’s nothing like good coffee on a rainy day.
And MONDO hits different when it’s drizzling outside.
This minimalist café in a vintage Sino-Portuguese building is your go-to rainy season refuge — especially the third-floor balcony, where you can sip something warm (or iced!) while watching the mist roll through Old Town’s colorful streets.
☕ Thai specialty beans, creamy lattes, rich Basque cheesecake — it’s a vibe.
📸 Big plus: the view’s great, the light’s soft, and the whole place is photo-worthy.
Whether you're journaling, catching up with a friend, or just escaping the downpour, MONDO is a calm little pocket of joy.
🕒 Open daily, 8:30am–9:00pm
🐌 Best enjoyed: early mornings or lazy afternoons
🍰 Rainy day order: Iced Americano + Banana Cake + third-floor seat = bliss.
💬 SPOTTED IN THE COMMUNITY
🏗️ New HOMA Rising in Chalong
Construction is underway for a new HOMA co-living complex just off the cut-through road behind Villa Market Chalong. With hundreds of new rooms incoming, the quiet little soi is about to get a whole lot busier — especially for nearby cafés like Island and Cozy Corner by Poached.
Rumour has it another HOMA might be landing in Soi Ta-iad, too… 👀
HOMA blends modern living with a community-first mindset — and they’re making moves across Phuket.
📍 ISLAND LIFE TIP
Rainy Season Essentials: What Every Expat Learns Too Late 🌧️
Why a rain poncho > umbrella — and yes, we’re serious.
Ever tried crossing Dibuk Road in a monsoon with an umbrella?
You end up half-wet, half-angry, and the wind just flips your brolly inside out like a sad flower.
We’ve all been there. Here’s the truth no one tells you when you move here:
☔ Umbrellas don’t cut it in Phuket.
Not when it rains sideways.
Not when you're on a scooter.
Not when you’re juggling a 7-Eleven bag, helmet, iced latte, and your dignity.
Here's what you need instead:
A decent poncho — not the plastic clingfilm ones. Get one with sleeves. Bonus points if it covers your bag.
Keep it in your bike seat or tote bag at all times. Rain comes outta nowhere here.
You look less ridiculous than you think. In fact, if you’re not wearing a poncho during a downpour, that’s when you look like the newbie.
I once saw a guy trying to ride a motorbike with one hand on the throttle, one hand holding an umbrella.
Not even a big umbrella.
Just one of those mini foldables.
He nearly took flight. Pretty dangerous I say.
Meanwhile, locals?
Dry. Calm. Poncho game strong.
So yeah. Poncho > umbrella.
Every time.
📍 YOUR SAY
🌧️ Your Say: Rainy Day Escapes in Phuket?
Rain season is here — and we want to know:
Where’s your go-to rainy day spot on the island?
A cosy café? A spa? Muay Thai gym? Or just Netflix and noodles?
💬 Tap to vote in our Instagram Poll
📩 Or reply to this email — we’ll share your picks in next week’s edition!
🌿 WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET
Phuket 100K Ultra Marathon 2025 — 3rd Edition
Do the Impossible... Again
📅 Saturday, 7 June 2025
🕒 3:00 AM – 9:00 PM
📍 Splash Beach Resort, Mai Khao, Phuket
🏁 Race Categories: 100KM | 60KM
🎉 Spectators welcome
Start & Finish: Beachfront, Splash Resort Hotel
International Phuket Rugby 11s
🏉 June 6–8, 2025
🕗 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily
📍 Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), Thalang, Phuket
🎟 Free Entry
Divisions:
Men’s Open
Women’s Open
Men’s O35 “Coffin Dodgers”
Men’s O45 “One Foot in the Grave”
Sea Turtle Release 2025 @ Laguna Phuket
🐢 Saturday, 7 June | 7:00–10:00 AM
📍 Laguna Phuket, Cherngtalay
🎟 Free Entry
Join us for a heartwarming morning as we release young sea turtles back into the ocean — a cherished local tradition supporting marine conservation since 1994.
Make a difference. Be part of the journey.
Phuket Eco Market
🗓 Sunday, 8 June | 2:30–6:30 PM
📍 Junkyard Theatre, Bypass Rd, Phuket
🎟 Free Entry
Phuket’s only eco market!
Enjoy stalls, music, workshops & kids’ fun — all in support of The Litter Club's clean-up mission.
♻️ No single-use plastics — bring your own bag & bottle!
💻 NEW BLOG
New Blog Drop: “Best Cafés in Phuket for Remote Work”
The Wi-Fi’s real. The vibes are better. We’ve mapped the top laptop-friendly spots island-wide — with plugs, playlists, and perfect iced lattes.
🎬 ENTERTAINMENT
🎬 Mad Unicorn Goes Viral on Netflix
Thailand’s startup scene gets the drama treatment in Mad Unicorn — the new Thai series topping Netflix charts. Packed with ambition, chaos, and tech-world satire, it’s striking a chord with viewers and stirring up major buzz online.
Think Thai Succession meets startup meltdown.
📬 BEFORE YOU GO
Next week we’re revealing our favorite “Summer Camp in Phuket” — even during monsoon season. You’ll want to bookmark these.
🖼️ Want your story, photo, or favorite spot featured? Hit reply or tag us @phuketcommunity_com
That’s it for now — we’ll see you next week with more island gems, updates, and inspiration from Phuket. Until then, stay dry and stay curious!
