Our member, Faisal Ali, has spent his adulthood travelling the world and in this story he shared his Thailand experience.
Travelling to Thailand during the winter months promises an exquisite adventure, offering a perfect blend of tropical beauty and warm, pleasant weather.
Phuket is a diverse and vibrant location in the peninsula, boasting an incredible scenery for the travellers seeking an exotic escape with relaxing atmosphere during the day and an ever-growing choice of captivating night-time venues aimed at both tourists and locals.
I arrived in Thailand’s most renowned location looking to escape the bone-cutting cold that is also known as the winters in the UK.
As I disembarked the plane, an unexpected torrid breeze swarmed across my face, revealing a sweltering yet perfectly balanced equatorial scene.
The timing of my travel was quintessential for experiencing the Malay Peninsula’s clear skies, gentle sea breezes, and blazing sun. With varying temperatures throughout the day, this ideal weather created favourable conditions for exploring the thousands of beaches, lush islands, and vibrant local culture.
Following several days of disrupted sleep patterns caused by the considerable time difference, I gradually started adapting, almost seamlessly, to the tropical climate, culinary delights and cultural customs.
As I reintroduced some routine into my days, moving away from the inviting sun loungers where I had been drifting unwittingly since my arrival, I set to find reputable excursion agencies to help me discover the natural beauty of the surroundings with ease.
The following morning, whilst the sun was still sleeping, I boarded the nearly full minibus, unsure of what awaited me.
After an hour of driving through both upscale neighbourhoods and the most impoverished areas I had ever seen, surrounded by a sea of mopeds and motorcycles carrying multiple passengers, we arrived at a dilapidated port with rusted motorboats and creaking fishing vessels.
In a moment of doubt, I contemplated the wisdom of venturing into this unfamiliar and potentially unsafe territory.
As the crew handed me an anti-sickness pill, I hesitated to board the boat, considering a retreat to the safety of my hotel, but ultimately, I dismissed this impulse and decided to embrace the unknow. What followed turned out to be one of the most remarkable adventures of my life.
This day trip of island hopping was brimming with unforgettable moments, from discovering the myriads of islands scattered along the coast, each with its distinct landscapes and ecosystems, to embarking on deep-sea explorations of uncharted marine caves, kayaking adventures, and forging lasting friendships that will endure a lifetime.
The time spent at each island allowed only superficial exploration, the restaurants on the sea front and the activities that were presented at each stop. Overall a thrilling a experience, one to remember.
The beauty of each island rivalled the next, yet they all blended in perfect harmony. The tour included stops at some of the most iconic attractions, such as the island Khao Ping Kan, also referred as ‘James Bond Island’, or Phi Phi Island and the enchanting Koh Panyi, the floating Muslim village.
Witnessing the locals seamlessly blend into the untamed landscape without disrupting its natural harmony left me feeling awe-inspired and somewhat disconnected from nature.
Engaging in eco-friendly activities such as feeding monkeys and bathing elephants, initiatives the country has implemented to replace the exploitative and inhumane interactions between tourists, locals and animals, awakened my inner child and filled me with a profound sense of contentment and peace.
As the boat made its way back to the rundown port, I boarded the minibus with a tinge of sadness, yearning for the opportunity to return and behold the beauty of these lands once more.
The return to the city uncovered a lively atmosphere of Phuket’s bustling strip, distracting me from the unforgettable day I had just encountered.
Crowds of friends filled the bars and restaurants, their laughter reverberating under the starlit sky. I navigated through the busy throngs, drawn towards the beach by the melodic crash of waves and shimmering stars dancing on the distant sea.
