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Hey island crew,
Happy Friday! 🎉
This weekend isn't just any weekend — it's the weekend. EDC Thailand kicks off today at Rhythm Park, bringing three days of world-class electronic music to Bangtao. If bass drops and light shows are your thing, your calendar just got very busy.
For those seeking quieter magic, we've got spa sanctuaries, creative coffee competitions, and sunset spots that'll reset your whole week.
Let's dive in. ☕🌊
WEATHER IN PHUKET
Sun-soaked days with a tropical twist 🌤️⚡
Highs holding at 31–32°C, warm nights around 25–26°C, mostly bright skies with a few classic afternoon storms rolling through to keep things fresh and green 🌴
- Weather: Classic high-season perfection. 31-32°C with morning clarity and afternoon warmth.
- Roads: Bangtao area will be busy all weekend due to EDC. Plan extra travel time if heading north.
- Season vibe: Peak high season energy. Book restaurants ahead, beaches fill up by 11am.
- Weekend highlight: EDC Thailand begins today! Plus creative coffee comps, after parties, and Sunday markets.
SPONSORED BY TON MAI SPA
If you’ve ever searched Phuket for a place to properly unwind, chances are Ton Mai Spa came up more than once. And for good reason.
Tucked into a leafy corner of Rawai, this is where sauna lovers, cold-plunge devotees and massage regulars quietly congregate. Hot sauna. Herbal steam room. Ice bath that means business. A generous pool for floating, stretching, or simply staring at the trees. Everything feels calm, clean, and thoughtfully cared for.
The massages get a lot of love too. From deep Thai to aloe vera and sports treatments, it’s the kind of place where tired bodies actually feel listened to. Many guests come for a quick session and end up staying half the day. That tends to happen.
There’s also a relaxed café on site serving nourishing food, smoothies and good coffee, so the post-spa glow doesn’t end the moment you leave the steam room.
Ton Mai Spa has built a loyal following over the years, and once you visit, it’s easy to see why. This isn’t just a spa. It’s a reset ritual.
🌿 Find them here: @tonmai.spa
TOP STORIES FROM THE ISLAND & KINGDOM
📢 Got an Event, Opening, or Story Tip?
Beach party? Workshop? Open mic? Community jam? If it's happening on the island and people should know about it, fill out this quick form and we'll spread the word.
We feature community submissions every week. Make yours count.
Thailand welcomed 1,121,549 foreign tourists in the first 11 days of 2026, generating an estimated 55.03 billion baht in revenue, as China led weekly arrivals and South Korea surged more than 47% week on week, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said.
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Details →FUN FACT
Why Phuket Rain Smells Different (It's Not Your Imagination) 🌧️
Ever noticed how Phuket rain has a distinct, almost earthy-sweet smell that's different from rain anywhere else?
That's petrichor, and on this island, it's supercharged.
When rain hits dry tropical soil, it releases oils produced by plants during dry periods, along with a compound called geosmin created by soil bacteria. In Phuket's lush, biodiverse environment — with its mix of rainforest, red clay, limestone, and sea-influenced humidity — you get an especially intense version.
Add in frangipani trees, tropical flowers, and the island's volcanic soil history, and suddenly that first rain of the season smells like nature's signature perfume.
So next time someone says "I love the smell of rain in Phuket," they're not being poetic. They're being chemically accurate. 🌿💧
Petrichor comes from two Greek words: petra (stone) and ichor (the fluid that flows in the veins of gods). The term was coined by Australian scientists in 1964, but humans have been noticing this smell for millennia.
In Phuket specifically, the smell intensifies because: (1) Long dry periods allow plant oils to accumulate, (2) High heat "bakes" these oils into the soil, (3) Tropical bacteria produce extra geosmin, and (4) The island's limestone and laterite soils hold and release these compounds differently than other soil types.
Bonus fact: Humans are extremely sensitive to geosmin — we can detect it at concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion. That's the same sensitivity sharks have to blood in water. Evolution really wanted us to notice rain.
LIVING IN PHUKET
The Power of Micro-Habits (Island Edition) 🌴
January resolutions fizzle. We know this. By now, the gym membership guilt has probably kicked in, and that "new year, new me" energy feels more like "same me, different calendar."
Here's a better approach: micro-habits.
Instead of "I'll work out every day," try "I'll do 10 pushups before my morning coffee." Instead of "I'll learn Thai," start with "I'll learn one new phrase per week." Small, stupidly achievable actions that actually stick.
Want to turn one of these micro-habits into something real?
Your easiest next step isn’t a 90-day plan. It’s simply picking a place where showing up feels natural.
👉
See the gyms in Phuket where locals, fighters, and long-term expats actually train
Phuket-Friendly Micro-Habits to Try 💪
These are so small, you can't fail. And that's exactly the point.
- Health: Drink a full glass of water before your first coffee. That's it. Your liver will thank you.
- Movement: Walk to the end of your street and back. Daily. No fancy gear required.
- Language: Learn one Thai phrase per week from your local 7-Eleven staff. Use it immediately.
- Money: Save 100 baht every day into a separate account. You'll have 36,500 baht by year-end without noticing.
- Connection: Text one friend or family member abroad each Sunday. Maintain your non-island relationships.
- Mindfulness: Take three deep breaths before checking your phone in the morning. Present beats anxious.
The rule: Make it so easy you'd feel silly NOT doing it. That's how habits stick.
💰 Money Tip: The "No-Spend Weekend" Challenge
High season = high spending. Here's how to reset without feeling deprived.
Pick one weekend this month and challenge yourself to spend absolutely zero baht from Saturday morning to Sunday night. Groceries already bought. Activities already free. Socializing at home or beach walks only.
- How much "casual spending" leaks out unnoticed
- How many free activities Phuket actually offers
- That you don't need to buy something to enjoy your weekend
Reality check: Most people who try this save 2,000-4,000 baht in a single weekend. That's 8,000-16,000 baht per month if you do it weekly. Your future trip home just got cheaper.
SPOTTED IN THE COMMUNITY / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Phuket police are intensifying drug screening efforts ahead of the Electric Daisy Carnival to ensure attendee safety. Officers plan to conduct more thorough checks...
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See it here →OUT & ABOUT
Sealay Sea Space, Koh Sirey 🌊
This one’s for slow mornings that quietly turn into great afternoons. Sealay Sea Space sits right on the water with wide-open views, a calm poolside vibe, and food that leans confidently Thai without trying too hard. Late brunch here is the move. Think seafood, proper flavours, cold drinks, and a breeze that convinces you to stay for “just one more”. Service is warm, unhurried, and genuinely kind, the sort that makes you relax without noticing.
Before: Sleep in, then arrive late morning for brunch when the light is soft and the sea is doing its thing.
After: Hop in the car and head up to Koh Sirey Viewpoint for golden hour. It’s quiet, cinematic, and wildly underrated.
Easy, scenic, very Phuket.
Explore Sealay Sea Space →
Everyone chases Promthep Cape. Smart people go to Koh Sirey.
Connected to Phuket by a short bridge (just north of Phuket Town), Koh Sirey offers 360-degree views without the tour bus crowds. Climb the hill temple for sunrise or sunset, and you'll get Phuket Town skyline on one side, open ocean on the other.
- Accessibility: 10 minutes from Phuket Town. Easy drive, free parking.
- Crowd level: Maybe 5-10 people max, even on weekends.
- Local flavor: Sea gypsy villages nearby, authentic island culture still intact.
Pro tip: Visit late afternoon. Watch the sunset, then drive 5 minutes to the Koh Sirey seafood restaurants for fresh catch and cold beer. Perfect low-key Friday night.
WHAT’S HAPPENING - UPCOMING EVENTS
This weekend's calendar is stacked. Here's what's worth your time, energy, and baht.
Looking for more? Check the full Phuket events calendar for ongoing happenings.
COMMUNITY CORNER
This week's question: What's one habit you're actually sticking to this January?
Hit reply and tell us. Bonus points if it's weird or island-specific. We'll share the best ones next week.
Got an event, opening, or story tip? Tag @phuketcommunity_com or submit here. We feature community submissions every week.
Know someone planning their Phuket weekend? Drop this in their inbox and be the helpful one.
Forwarded this email? Subscribe at phuketcommunity.beehiiv.com/subscribe to get island intel every Friday.
This weekend's all about choices: big energy (EDC), quiet resets (spa mornings), or somewhere in between (coffee competitions and sunset markets). Whatever you pick, make it count. The island's wide open.
See you next Friday,
— The Phuket Community Team 🌴
Next edition drops Friday, January 23, 2026
