Phuket, Thailand: Thanksgiving on a beach

November 26, 2010

Phuket, Thailand

Thanksgiving on the beach

This was my first Thanksgiving away from family. Phuket made our longing for family on Thanksgiving magically disappear.

We heard of Phuket, and had vague impressions beforehand of an overdeveloped, overtouristed island in Thailand. But, we wanted an easy, cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur for a long beach Thanksgiving weekend, and Phuket was it. The reaction to our trip from our KL friends ranged from barely restrained disdain (from those who’d previously lived in Thailand) to their faces lit up from just remembering how blissful Phuket had been for them. We now fall in the camp of lit faces.

Truth is, we’re living in a bubble in Phuket. We will manage to not leave our resort the entire vacation. Funny, we’ve avoided vacations trapped on resorts but this time we surrendered to resort life. We just plain needed a break. For Ken, he needed a break from the stay-at-home relentless routine, for the kids from the intense, early morning school schedule, and for me, from pushing myself so hard in my work and family time.

My body and mind felt like they were still running from one activity to another here, for the first day or so. I would rush myself to breakfast, thinking we had to get there before the rush, to find there is no such thing as a rush in Phuket. I’d even rush to my massage. Now, I’m at least able to put the break on my fast-paced thoughts and planning. The massage, running every morning on the beach, then floating in the ocean topped off with a little meditation sure helps.

We are in paradise here. And, the kids know it. They passionately threw themselves into beach play like it had been years. There were an overwhelming number of choices of beaches to stay in Phuket, and Ken wisely chose a beach with calm surf. Then, the kids have been able to learn to snorkel for the first time in their lives. The waves gently rock them while they follow schools of tropical fish along the shallow waters next to the rocky coastline.

Abraham has patented a body surfing technique that allows him to body surf with the tall kids. It involves his putting his snorkel equipment and leaving his snorkel breathing tube up, then he lets the wave wash high over his head, with his breathing air the entire time. He emerges unscathed from each wave break, smiling triumphantly.

Boom has taken on body surfing too. He calls his boogie board his “skateboard.” Once again, he’s patented his own signature boogie boarding technique involving his riding his board sideways, undeterred by his older sister correcting his board position with every wave.

Then, they return to the beach to attempt to catch speedy little silver fish with their nets. They haven’t caught a fish yet but that hasn’t stopped them from fishing for hours, yelling at each other to herd the school of fish into their nets.

Our resort is intimate and nestled up on the cliff rocks next to the ocean. The food is amazing at the restaurant, where I eat nightly green mango coconut salad, with some sort of ceviche dressing. We have a view of the ocean from our balcony lounge chairs. The resort owner is an architect who has designed soaring ceilings, modern clean lines, and Thai traditional gold designs and patterns. And, I’m soothed by the constant sounds of fountains, little waterfalls, and ubiquitous Buddhas, since Thailand is a Buddhist country. I’m bowing to everyone here, and ended my run this morning with a prayer at their Buddhist shrine, watching a skink lay on the hot, stone Buddha.