Phuket, May 2015 — Sea Caves and Glowing Water

We spent a few days in Phuket from 2 to 5 May 2015, staying at Regent Phuket Cape Panwa. I don’t remember every detail of that holiday now, but a few things have stayed with me.

One was the hotel swimming pool. Set high above the sea, with beautiful views of the surrounding coastline, it was a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon.

An infinity pool of clear blue water edged by a stone wall, with flowering shrubs, orange-roofed pavilions and hotel buildings on a green hillside under a blue sky. — The hotel's infinity pool on the hillside.

And then there was the food. I’ve always enjoyed spicy food, which is one reason Thailand is such a pleasure to visit. Somewhere near our hotel, at a restaurant whose name I can no longer remember, I had one of the best yellow ginger chicken dishes I’ve ever tasted. It’s funny how a particular meal can stay in your memory long after you’ve forgotten the restaurant itself.

The highlight of the trip, though, was our day out with John Gray’s Sea Canoe.

The yellow bow of a sea kayak on green water, heading towards a dark cave opening at the foot of a tall limestone cliff topped with trees, with another kayak at left. — Paddling towards a cave at the foot of a limestone cliff.

We spent the afternoon kayaking between towering limestone cliffs, passing through narrow sea caves and into hidden lagoons. At one point, we had to lie back in the kayak to squeeze beneath a low rock overhang. It was quite an experience, exploring places that could only be reached when the water was low enough.

A yellow kayak with its passengers lying flat as it slips under a low limestone overhang, above calm green water. — Lying back to pass under a low overhang.

Calm pale-green water surrounded by grey limestone walls and eroded rocks at the waterline, with dense green forest above. — Calm water ringed by limestone and forest.

Two sheer limestone towers covered in scrub, with kayaks on the water in the gap between them and distant islands under a blue sky. — Kayaks between towering limestone islands.

We even spotted a monkey along the way.

A small monkey sitting on a sandy beach beneath overhanging limestone and trees, with shallow water in the foreground. — A monkey on a small beach below the cliffs.

Later, we enjoyed a meal on the boat, with a spread of Thai dishes, seafood and other food. As evening approached, the sun began to set behind the limestone islands. It was one of those beautiful sunsets that made you forget about everything else for a while.

A tray of red curry with chicken and vegetables beside a platter of stir-fried broccoli, baby corn and mushrooms on a bed of lettuce, on a wooden table. — Part of the meal served on the boat.

After dark, we floated a small krathong decorated with flowers and candles on the water. And then came something I still remember vividly: the glowing blue plankton illuminating the dark water.

A small krathong lit by candles, glowing on dark water in front of a rough rock wall at night. — A krathong floating on the water after dark.

We didn’t have photographs of that last part, but it’s one of the memories that has stayed with me.

It was a short holiday, and perhaps not one with a long list of places visited. But between the hotel pool, the wonderful Thai food, the sea caves and that magical evening on the water, Phuket gave us plenty to remember.