Sapan Hin Food Market

Sapan Hin Food Market, Phuket Town, Thailand:

The Sapan Hin food market is a fresh food market in Phuket City on the island of Phuket, Thailand

On 13 February 2004 Phuket Town was elevated to city status, so while it seems everybody is relating to Phuket city when they speak of Phuket Town …. old habits die hard. Saphan Hin or Sapan Hin is in the Phuket city area which contains a lake, a faded and not so lucky empty shopping mall by the name of “Lucky Plaza”. Further down the place, you will find the lake front and the famous Sapan Hin Shrine which is important for the Chinese community of Phuket since this is the place where all their deities end their journey after the 9-day lasting Vegetarian festival and be send back to their heavens.

The Sapan Hin area was built on reclaimed land, designed to provide space for public facilities and a recreation area near the town. Sapan Hin is right by the ocean which is slowly trying to reclaim the land! Major work was undertaken a few years ago to fix the erosion and make a nice park with paths for walking, benches, grassy areas and rocks that make ideal seats.

Like the usual quietness of a Wat changes when the fun fair is in town the so-called “boring” place erupts into a happening attended by hundreds of families, friends, co-workers after finishing their daily duties at their workplace. Like a synchronized movement they all stream into the place and fill it with chatters, laughs, loud playing children and everybody is enjoying themselves. Here is a question for you: What was first?.. the food stalls or the people?.. might be open to discussion … but at 6.30 the whole place fills up with hungry humans and food stalls to feed them.

Like the old saying: If you’re hungry follow a Thai … he will end up eventually very close to food.