Last day of plane-watching and plain bumming around — 04.05.15

>>>>>

 Decision to make this beach my last stop was hinged on a specific purpose – to make sure that I get to my extra morning flight without the panic. That turned out not only practical as this was where I had the laziest time and at times otherwise, my less bum mode time was spent taking a walk on the national park wherein I discovered spots on the beach where locals hang out or store-hopping to get whatever take-home I could find.

Quite a thrill for me too whenever a plane would pass by as I could not help but imagine its passengers probably looking down while I was looking up. Also magical how it would disappear at some point. Or maybe it is just me being fascinated with planes that I managed to walk quite a distance just to get as near as I could to where the planes take off.

The next day I was on that plane. It was just too early that most likely, no one at the beach was looking.

My commute to this last destination involved transfers, not to mention I did not exactly know where I was supposed to go down. It was relief nonetheless that I met helpful strangers along the way – two Filipinas on the songthaew who even helped me strategize how I could take my rather giant backpack given that I was seated on the farthest end . Then there were those ladies at an eatery where I was dropped off by my driver without the word. (Not that he was mean or what, I feel we were just having trouble difficulty communicating).

One of those ladies drove me to Nai Yang beach via a motorbike. My misadventure sort of continued when  I was first brought to the wrong place, with my lady driver insisting that I was at Nai Yang Resort. I knew that it was the wrong one because it looked way more expensive than where I booked. i also happened to think I saw that “Ruan something” on our way there but I could not be sure, in contrast how that lady seemed so sure.

I should have trusted my instinct because she was wrong. It was about noon when that happened but I immediately loved the vibe that I was actually in a good mood. I no longer even asked her to take me to the right place and just did my walk to it.

 A do-it-yourself gas station

###

It was quite a wait at the station before I was finally given my oh-so-charming cottage (with an interesting restroom that has no roof!). I literally just dropped my bag and went straight to the beach.

I found a beach bed in front of the resort restaurant which apparently was for rent for 100 baht for the entire day. It was a surprise because I thought it was free but then I found it okay because I needed shade and at least I have a sort of an open ‘locker room’ all throughout the day. (Or again maybe, it could be the good mood huh).

I just lied there, occasionally drinking my beer which when finished made my kick my lazy ass out of there. I decided to explore the street next to the beach and with my can of beer, walked to the southern part. It was a good walk and I ended up discovering the Sirinath National Park portion of the area.

 My cottage at Ruan Mai Nai Yang

###

Set my spot because I knew I would be bumming around

###

From another perspective

###

How it looks like wide

###

That sign kind of scared me

###

‘I-was-here’ snapshot

###

From where I was half-sleeping

###

An almost empty sea

###

Stolen mirror

###

At best, these carts for street food

###

Not much to choose from  though 😦

A Google know mentioned of Nai Yang Market which unfortunately also happens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

###

One of many marts where I was window-shopping

###

Lost mine at Phi Phi. Realized until this that this sunblock was unreasonably expensive here! 

###

These yummy-smelling soap souvenirs

###

On the way to southern part of the beach

###

Because places of faith could be anywhere

###

… like the beachfront

###

If beach beds were on my side of beach, beach umbrellas rule this end

###

… and apparentl boats too

###

Temporary refuge from the sun

###

On the left is a street with bars

###

Tempted to get a haircut

###

Oddly, this sort of looked like a barber shop to me

###

Oh. So this is that national park

###

And here’s  a fierce one

###

Details are love. 

###

An abandoned water

###

Look, it’s a plane!

###

What is this trying to anchor itself to

###

View of the north end

(And those trees according to Google are called casuarina trees which interestingly look complementary to cold places instead of tropical beaches)

###

Creepy lake feel

###

This view reminded me of scene in the woods in Murakami novels

###

Left behind

###

A boat or two

###

Vine to top

###

 

A natural bench

###

 

One is this small

###

When low tide started kicking in, I went back to my beach bed camp and lazy time went up a notch as I dozed off. It was late afternoon when I woke up. I walked to the other side of the beach this time – with goal of finding the closest I could get to a plane.

I ended up with discovery of a part of the beach where locals ‘congregate’. It was a nice view but I had this awkward feeling as if I was invading a territory.
As with the goal, I never got too close to the airport but I stopped when I felt it was about to get dark and after realization that my bags are left unattended on my beach bed.

I was then worried on my way back. I was more worried when I saw my beach bed, together with others, were missing and I could not seem to find the man in charge somewhere near. I was relieved not long enough when the lady at the resort restaurant told me my stuff were handed over to them. (Apparently, rent for the beach is not absolutely for  a day).

Another plane cut through the sky

###

Where everything else seemed tiny

###

Some activities on this end

###

Thailand’s signature low tide

###

Scene similar from that of Loh Dalum in Phi Phi Don

###

Where locals hang out

###

It just got gloomy

###

And this at a scary angle

###

Look at that big round of a sun

###

…but smaller compared to that cloud

###

From another angle, it was this sunny

###

Is this the closest that I could get to the plane yet?

###

Someone else was waiting for the plane/s apparently, except that he has a more sophisticated tool

###

Totally different profile of people

###

Most zoom-in I could get

###

Now plane about to enter that giant dark grey puff

###

A rather scary sight

###

I almost set up tent here too

###

Why was it again suddenly light?

( Or does this have to do with my sorting of photos :D)

And now this giant ball is here

###

Because never a decent photo with sunset. At least, light from it on my face

###

Now it is again suddenly this dark

###

Night was spent walking, looking for someplace to grab some drink. I found one (and finally a working wifi unlike any of options at the resort). I did not hear some good news though that  I was suddenly not in the mood for another bottle. Called it a night early and set myself to wake up early so I can do my packing before my transport to airport at 4 in the morning.

 

Where I was sitting to escape from my fan room’s heat

###

 

I would sleep in here all day. Well, if not for the heat

###

 

One of the restaurants at the Nai Yang Walking Street

###

 

When having English-speaking crew is a proposition

###

 

Okay to play with the black cat

###

 

Where is the powder in that?

###

 

“Hi Beach” Photobomb

###

 

Having my last beer for this trip

###

 

Cozy

###

 

Clawed moon

###

HOW TO GET  THERE : 

Nai Yang is north of Phuket, very near the international airport.

I got there from Kamala via two songthaew rides (one stopover at the Phuket Heroines )Monument and a motorbike from the Nai Yang main road.

OTHER PRACTICAL DETAILS :

Restaurants are many, street food almost none. Beer (typically by the bottle) served in most but more expensive than those in can that could be bought in small and big size options at several convenience stores scattered in the busier parts of the beach area.

Though limited in variety compared to PhiPhi (and maybe other more popular Phuket beaches), souvenirs could be bought in some stalls (and even in convenience stores).

To get to the airport, I asked my resort to book me a cab.