March 29th, 2010
Phuket’s Chinese Altars
Phuket’s Chinatown is well past its prime, consisting mainly of old shophouses that seem not to have been touched, inside or out, for the better part of a century. It isn’t even that overtly Chinese anymore. What gives away its cultural background are the Chinese altars mounted in the sidewalk arcades around the neighbourhood. The pineapples and bright flowers laid as offerings speak of Thai influence, but the overall design of the altars belies the Hokkien origin of Phuket’s Chinese immigrants. In other parts of Thailand, most Chinese people are Cantonese or Chiu Chow, who seem to prefer far simpler, more conservative altars, like those in Hong Kong.
Tags: Exploring the City, Phuket, Thailand
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