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DESTINATION | Phuket 22 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com 22 Jul-Aug 2016 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com Spiritual Cleansing The Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place annually in October, when local Thai-Chinese pay their respects to the Nine Emperor Gods by cleansing the mind and body. Apart from an abundance of specially prepared vegetarian cuisine at street stalls all over the island, the celebrations include street processions, hair-raising fire-walking and body-piercing ceremonies, and visits to Chinese temples and shrines to make offerings. Campy Cabaret Considered an establishment on the island, Simon Cabaret's family-friendly shows have been running for 25 years now; tourists are always amazed when they discover just how beautiful the transgender "ladyboy" performers can be. The 70-minute show is packed with fabulous costumes, lively song-and-dance, and ample comic relief for a night of easy entertainment. Restaurants On Kalim Beach, Acqua reigns with its world- class Italian fare. While the interior is fitted out in modern monochrome, Acqua's menu includes both traditional and novel dishes by chef-owner Alessandro Frau. All three of the restaurant's dining areas are available for group bookings, and it also accepts catering orders. In a sunset-catching, cliff-hugging teakwood Top: Outrigger Laguna Phuket's edgewater pool. Bottom: Acqua on Kalim Beach offers traditional and novel dishes.