Very last asian sunset and swim in a warm sea
This is slightly out of sync as by now in real life I had been to Myanmar. But I thought I’d put all the Thailand adventures together and then concentrate on Myanmar. So this was my very last evening in Asia after such a brilliant trip. By this stage I was back on my own and staying for a couple of days near to Phuket airport to wind down and collect my thoughts before going home. I had planned to also use this time to catch up on this blog but for some reason I couldn’t get it to work. Instead I opted for time wandering on the beach and I am so glad I chose that option. Sirinat National Park comprises of 26 square miles of protected forest and beaches surrounding Phuket airport it costs 200 bart the equivalent of £5 to enter if you are not Thai although the first evening I was there I wandered down at about 4pm and the ticket lady had gone home so it was free.
This is Hat Nai Yang beach literally five minutes walk from the airport. If you walk down to the right hand side of the beach it is directly underneath the flight path of planes coming in and out of the airport so you can sit underneath as a huge lump of metal launches over your head! Not exactly peaceful but definitely an experience. If you walk to the left it is a much more relaxing experience the planes are still coming and going in the distance but if I am honest they really didn’t bother me at all.
The beach has beautifully soft pale sand and the water is warm. The forest area stretches along the back of the beach and acts as a wind break and a bit of protection from the sun if you have had enough of the heat. Because of all the trees there are some fascinating root structures dotted along the sand remains from previous trees long since died but have left an eerily beautiful presence which is quite lovely for photographs.
If you carry on to the left you come to an area of Thai longboats moored up bobbing about on the water. In the late afternoon/evening this area, or rather under the trees just off the beach, is full of many local families out for an evening picnic together. For me it turned out to be a really perfect oasis which I was extremely grateful for. The sand is also teaming with tiny ghost crabs busily digging holes all over the place I got quite mesmerised watching this little one!
Well after a couple of hours the sun had almost gone and I felt very relaxed and warm whilst imagining the snow that had fallen at home! The colours were exceptionally beautiful as the sun disappeared behind the horizon and I said my farewells to this gorgeous place that has treated me so well over these last few weeks.