Thailand: Phuket – Patong Beach

After our wonderful adventures in Chiang Mai, we headed down to Phuket for a bit of beach holiday!

Phuket is known as a beach destination — there are tons of tall hotel towers on Patong beach:

But we were lucky enough to stay at the quiet end of the beach — and ohhhh was it lovely.

The view from our room was just divine:

So I got up early in the mornings to sit on the balcony, and watch the view while working on a pair of socks:

Then more staring at the view:

And then we would head off to the jetty:

Both for the view:

And for swimming in the bay, where the water looked like this:

We also spent a lot of time watching the jetty at sunset:

While listening to local musicians:

And saying hello to local lizards:

But of course, beach holidays in Thailand are also about delicious food.

Breakfasts were the highlight — I loved starting with fried rice and green curry veggies (and a couple spring rolls for a treat!):

Having a wondrous fresh fruit course of pomelo, lychee (longan), pineapple and papaya:

Then making a yogurt parfait by topping the shot-glasses of yogurt with dragonfruit compote and toasted coconut:

Moving on to a blueberry mousse:

Then finishing off with banana chips and dried pineapple:

One afternoon we wandered into town.  Along the way we noticed the tsunami evacuation signs:

And we kept walking until we arrived at Kohinoor for and Indian lunch.  We had excellent mutter paneer (cheese & peas) and bhindi masala (stir-fried okra) over saffron rice:

But the star of the lunch — pickled scallions.  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I need to make a batch of these.

Dinner?  Veggie Pad Thai.  Yes please.  That little white bundle in the lower left-hand corner is a half of a lime wrapped up in a cloth so you can squeeze it over your dinner and get just the juice.

And a little sunset before bed?

Perfect.