Of all of the areas in Thailand, I have to say that I like the South the least. Perhaps it's because I am not really a beach person. I'll take the mountains and waterfalls of the north, or the rice fields and rivers of the central and northeastern any day over sand, sun, and salty surf in the South. It seems that in Thailand, the beaches are the most likely places to be over developed. The good parts about the natural scene are over-shadowed by drunk, sunburned tourists and pushy trinket vendors.
And yet, it looks like I'll be spending a lot of my time for the foreseeable future in the capital of Thai beach tourism: the southern island of Phuket. So this is a classic "Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" problem. Phuket is a popular tourist spot for a reason. The beaches are beautiful and all western conveniences are within reach. But what would it be like to live there?
Piyawat and I just spent a three-day weekend there to check things out, both for possible business opportunities with Piyawat's friends June and Jug, but also to look around with the frame of mind of possibly living there, and not just vacationing. If there's one thing I've learned is that there's a big difference between living somewhere and just visiting.
And I have to admit that for most of the trip I was having trouble imaging myself living on the island. But we did find pockets of peace and small havens where I could forget where I was. We had fun playing with June and Jug's 1 and 2 year olds at their house down a quiet soi. The village of Nai Harn seems like another good place to get away from the hordes. And we found an incredibly good Italian restaurant in Phuket City. (If nothing else, Phuket seems to have a lot of excellent restaurants.)
I am now back in Bangkok and sitting in traffic again and breathing in bus fumes instead of sea breezes. I dream of getting my scuba certification again and heading back out to the Andaman Islands to visit the coral, the fish, and the manta rays. I think maybe my time in Phuket won't be too bad, as long as I stay away from the beaches on the west side (Patong and the K's: Kata, Karon, and Kamala).
So, a new chapter of my life looks like it's right around the corner and at the moment I am still not completely sure what that new life will be like. Only time will tell. But for now, I have a couple of months to make plans and to prepare myself for what is ahead.
If your glass turns out to be half-empty, it is pretty easy to get it refilled in Phuket.
Like anywhere else, I suspect Phuket is a matter of what you make of it. Probably plenty of tranquil spots and hidden gems, just have to find them. We'll certainly miss having you guys around but that will give us a reason to go to Phuket.