It’s funny—after my last blog, I haven’t had a moment to sit down and reflect on everything I’ve been experiencing. Honestly, that’s the best feeling, because it means I’ve been too busy enjoying it all. That said, as my time in centre of Phuket Town wrapped up and I prepared to arrive at the Titan Fitness Centre, I managed to squeeze in a few last adventures.

First up was, by far, the best breakfast I’ve had since arriving (and yes, this is some foreshadowing for a future post). The friendly staff at this little spot had been some of the kindest I’d encountered so far, making me feel like royalty and truly elevating the experience—exactly what great hospitality is all about.

They confidently told me they served the best iced latte in all of Phuket. Now, let me tell you, their sales pitch was so good that I broke a personal vow: no milk during this trip. But they didn’t stop there—they also claimed their bacon and egg bap was divine. Like the smooth, irresistible tone of a certain Twitch streamer (if you know, you know), I can confirm they weren’t exaggerating.

Next on my list was one of the last spots Google Maps recommended to me: Art Alley. I thought, “Sure, why not? I can appreciate art as much as the next person,” and the one piece featured on Maps looked intriguing enough.

Well, would you believe it—that one piece was the entire Art Alley. After a 40-minute walk to get there, I discovered that what you see on Google Maps is exactly what you get. Unlike the Khao Rang viewpoint I mentioned in a previous post, which exceeded expectations, this was… just fine. Nice to see, sure, but nothing more than what Maps promised.

That said, I captured a little video of the whole piece—just for you!

I started wandering aimlessly for a while, earbuds in, listening to clips from The Wrestling Soup YouTube channel. That’s when I noticed a spectacular building. There were no signs or symbols to indicate what it might be, so out of sheer curiosity, I decided to take a closer look.

The grandeur only grew as I made my way up the luxurious stairs. I couldn’t tell you if they were made from anything special, but they were soft to the touch and surprisingly comfortable to sit on. Intrigued, I continued up until I reached a large wooden door.

When I stepped inside, to my amazement, I discovered… a bank. And not just any bank—this was the most extravagant, bourgeois place I had ever seen. For the first time since arriving in Thailand, I felt completely out of place.

In hindsight, my next move probably didn’t help: I pulled out my phone, snapped three quick photos (which you can see below), and left with my tail between my legs. But honestly, even now, that room was absolutely breath-taking. The wannabe architect in me was thrilled to have stumbled upon it.

From there, I decided to have a gawk at what the locals call the Super Shopping Complex, aka Central Phuket. It was a 1-hour, 40-minute walk from the bank. Surely, after my last two blog posts, where I mentioned my stubborn refusal to spend 2 euro on a taxi, you’d think I’d finally give in and just pay the 70 Thai Baht fare for a motorbike ride, right?

Well, then you don’t know me at all. Nope, my stubborn arse walked the entire 11 kilometers to the complex.

Hilariously, though, that walk turned out to be worth it—not for the shopping but for two unexpected discoveries along the way. Would you believe I stumbled upon a piece of street art on a random wall that, in my opinion, made Art Alley look amateur in comparison? Tell me what you think! I guess this is just more my style

As I continued walking, I passed the first overhead crossing I’d seen since arriving in town and stumbled upon the fanciest coffee shop I’ve encountered so far. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let me post any photos of the interior, so all I have is an image of the entrance. But let me tell you, the entrance alone was something special—it featured an old-school mafia-style car with the coffee shop’s name on the license plate.

To me, that was the coolest thing ever. Maybe it’s the inner kid in me, or maybe it’s my love for the 1940s-50s era when these cars were everywhere, and everyone dressed in sharp suits. (Anyone who knows me knows I love a good suit. If I could wear one morning, noon, and night without getting strange looks—or being mistaken for a lawyer, which has happened—I absolutely would.)

This shop didn’t just have style; it offered something unique. They served tea infused with berry syrup—a simple but delightful twist I hadn’t seen anywhere else. It was, hands down, the nicest thing I’ve tasted since arriving in Thailand.

Of course, in true me fashion, I enjoyed it so much that I forgot to note the shop’s location. Maybe it’s for the best—if I kept going back, the sugar content alone might send me back to my post-COVID 24-stone days!

That concoction kept me going for a solid 30 minutes of the walk, which was exactly what I needed. But, of course, I couldn’t stay on track for long. A beautiful sound drifted down a side street, and curiosity got the better of me. I followed it and found a woman sitting gracefully on a chair, playing an instrument I couldn’t even name if I tried. The music was mesmerizing, and I stood there, completely entranced.

For a few blissful moments, nothing else mattered—until the sun reminded me that it could roast me alive if I lingered too long. With that, I reluctantly pulled myself away and got moving again.

It I found myself at the doorstep to the Central Phuket. Let me tell you, the locals weren’t lying when they called this place a super complex. Five floors, two enormous buildings connected by an overhead walkway spanning the motorway below—it was like its own little city. One side was for your regular shopping needs, while the other side screamed “I have too much money and need to spend it on something shiny.”

The place had four KFCs. Yes, four! Plus multiple other chain restaurants and shops you’d recognize from home. There were pop-up stalls on the ground floor, and every single unit was open for business. It was so massive that walking from one end to the other was nearly a 5-kilometer hike. Truly something else.

Now, here’s the thing—it was priced like something else too. Take the Nike store, for example: a single pair of sports shorts was going for 3,571 Thai Baht. That’s €100 if you don’t feel like converting. Sure, that’s about the same as Irish prices, but it still felt strange considering everything else in Thailand had been way cheaper. Even the KFC was at Irish prices! (I didn’t try it, though, so I can’t confirm if it tastes the same.)

On the fancier side, things got even wilder. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada—they were all here, flaunting their logos. I even saw a jewelry store with a watch priced at 357,142 Thai Baht (€10,000). That’s the kind of money I’d only ever seen in Barcelona. As I walked further, I stumbled across entrances to an aquarium and a closed-for-renovation theme park, and my jaw nearly hit the floor.

Then came the funny part. Every door on the fancy side had chauffeurs waiting like it was a VIP event, and every time I exited, it was into a car park. No signs, no clear way back—just endless parking spaces. It took me 40 minutes to find an actual entrance, and by then, I’d had enough. My legendary stubbornness finally cracked. I shelled out for a motorbike taxi and zipped back to the dormitory, ready for my last night’s sleep. Below are the Images of the complex and yes I should have taken more but I was enjoying the experience!

Then Before heading to bed, I remembered I needed a bottle of water in case I got thirsty during the night. That’s when I met the first truly chatty person at the dormitory—a lovely woman from England who was in the East for a friend’s wedding. She still had remnants of the Indian wedding paint on her hands, which immediately caught my attention. I’ve always admired the intricate beauty of those tattoo-like designs, and now I’m determined to learn more about them in the future.

We walked to the shop together, and along the way, she pointed out a drink with unique branding that I couldn’t help but love. The design made me wish, in another life, I had been an artist so I could create or collaborate on something like that. Of course, thanks to my earlier brush with extravagance, I splurged on the drink, spending a “measly” 55 Thai Baht—a fortune for a can of soda.

Back at the dorm, we ended up sitting outside for the next two hours, swapping stories about our lives, our experiences, and where we saw ourselves in the future. At some point, she asked me to share an Irish recipe she might try in the years to come, and this is what I gave her. Full disclaimer: I’ve never actually cooked it, but an old acquaintance swore by it, so fingers crossed it’s better than the drink—which, for the record, was absolute shite.

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Irish Guinness Stew Recipe
Rich, hearty, and packed with flavor—perfect for cozy evenings.

Ingredients (Serves 4-6):

• 1 kg (2.2 lbs) stewing beef (chuck or brisket), cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 500 ml (2 cups) Guinness Stout
• 500 ml (2 cups) beef stock
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
• 3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 200 g (1.5 cups) mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Brown the beef:
   Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then brown in batches until golden on all sides. Set aside.
2. Sauté the vegetables:
   Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes, until softened.
3. Build the flavor:
   Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the Guinness, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze.
4. Simmer:
   Return the beef to the pot and add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 1.5-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Add potatoes and mushrooms:
   Stir in the potatoes and mushrooms (if using). Simmer for another 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
6. Thicken (optional):
   For a thicker stew, mix 2 tbsp of flour with a little water and stir in. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
7. Final touches:
   Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs before serving.

Serving Suggestions:
Top with fresh parsley and enjoy with crusty bread or traditional Irish soda bread. For the full Irish experience, pair it with a pint of Guinness!

Pro Tip: This stew tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.

As I sit back and reflect on these past few days, having now arrived at the Titan Fitness facility (a story for the next blog post), I’m even more grateful I decided to come to Thailand early. The five days leading up to the camp have been a mix of highs and lows, but they’ve also been filled with plenty of epiphany moments. Even if I get nothing else out of the fitness camp—which, spoiler alert, won’t be the case—I’m simply happy I got to experience these unforgettable five days.

Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!