Phuket, Thailand
I wanted to continue being in a warm country for Xmas and New Year. Thailand was on the list for a long but couldn’t be done because of COVID. In summer, they finally reopened for everyone and welcomed tourists again without limitations. The stopover in Dubai was planned a long time ago, and part of its journey was another stop in Mumbai with a connecting flight to Phuket.
When I arrived in Phuket, I had to figure out how things worked and adjust to the humidity. I also didn’t know anybody here and had to invest time to meet some people. I tried to get into a routine. I got up early, drove to a co-working place, and ate regular and proper food. That worked well, and I was quite motivated. The Thai food is amazing and I tried many dishes, only problem sometimes it the spaciness, but in Phuket they’re used to tourists and adjust their dishes accordingly.
During my leisure time, I also went around by scooter and explored beaches and temples. I met some locals who could show me around or recommend me things. Also, sometimes, meet them up for dinner at a night market or just hang out for a coffee. Those things made me really happy and I felt very comfortable. My first plan was to spend a couple of days in Phuket and decide where to heat next, in the end I spend 3 weeks on the peninsula.
For Christmas, I stayed in Phuket and went around with a friend to go canoeing and have a nice dinner. It’s an extraordinary Xmas time. I’m used to cold and snowy Christmas back home in Switzerland. It was the first time I wasn’t at home during that time. But it was a good experience. I enjoyed the day still, to was just different.
Koh Lanta, Thailand
After Xmas, I was heading to a nearby island called Koh Lanta. There’s a famous co-working with a great community a friend recommended to me, and I wanted to check it out. It was pretty empty between Xmas and New Year, and few people were around. So, the community aspect wasn’t thrilling. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the space a lot. Excellent facilities and a fantastic outdoor space to work in. In addition I also fell in love with the island. There’s many restaurant and bars, so no issue to get food or enjoy a drink by the beach for sunset. There’s also some nature to visit and not that touristy. I love such places without big crowds, but still decent infrastructure. Koh Lanta is one of these places.
For New Year, I went with my Russian Airbnb host to the South to grab dinner and watch the fireshow at the beach. Xmas and also New Year isn’t a thing for Thai people. It’s just for tourists. They don’t have Xmas at all and the New Year is later in the year since they have a different calendar. They’re also in a different year than us. They made a nice show by the beach and the vibes were good, I enjoyed it with great company.
Koh Lanta, Thailand
After the New Year, I stayed some more weeks on one of my favourite islands. I was hanging out with friends from the co-working and my Airbnb host, which were great companies. The Thai food is just excellent, and I always enjoy it. Koh Lanta also has amazing beaches and, therefore, great beach bars from which to get juice and chill.
Phuket, Thailand
Later, I went back to Phuket to grab my flight. I booked just one night next to the airport bus terminal so I could drop out and get on the bus in the morning. Since I know some people in Phuket, I wanted to grab a nice dinner beforehand. My friend was up for it, and we went for a fancy dinner near Phuket town. Talked a lot and enjoyed ourselves.
