Bryson writes · Phuket, Thailand · 24–30 January 2026
Emily had been missing her mom. I had been missing the islands. That was enough reason to go to Phuket. We wanted a quiet week together, which is not the first thing Phuket is known for. I searched for the calmest beach and found somewhere that was actually chill.
Emily’s mom found a direct TUI flight from London. One long flight. Not appealing, but efficient. She arrived before us.
We left Bangkok on Thai Lion Air. Emily does not like that airline. The flight was fine, apart from my shattered fingers after she squeezed my hand as if it were keeping the plane in the sky.
Emily’s mom could not check in when she arrived, so she went next door for a massage. By the time we reached the apartment, she was settled. Hammock. Pool. Nap in progress.
The resort was large and spread out. Lots of pools. Lots of places to sit. Easy to disappear for a while.
We ate at Monkey Beach, which claimed to be a top 50 restaurant in Mai Khao according to Forbes in 2005. There are probably fewer than 50 restaurants there. The food was still decent.
A food stall down the road was cheap and good the first night. We tried to return several times and it was always closed. We never learned its hours.
One night Emily’s mom took us to La Sala, a Bib Gourmand restaurant. Dramatic entrance. Fire. Lotus pond. Completely over the top, with very good food.
Emily and her mom had Thai massages on the beach a few times. Open hut, ocean right there. I used the sauna instead.
Emily and I went to the gym most mornings and cycled. We are trying to keep that habit while travelling. Some places make it easier than others. Sunrise on a stationary bike was not bad.
Most nights we stayed nearby. We played video games and cards, and swam in the pool. I built Mario courses for Emily. Her mom joined us a couple of times.
One day Emily and her mom went into town to shop for dresses. I stayed at the resort and moved between the pool, sauna, and jacuzzi until Emily found me that evening.
Every day we swam in the ocean and watched the sunset. It did not get old.
On the last night, we sat in the jacuzzi facing the horizon and watched the sun go down.
Dinner that night came with live music and traditional dancing on the beach. I asked for my food regular spicy. The waitress gently suggested that this might be a bad idea. I kept the order and it was good. When I finished, I added the chillies on top to create the illusion that I had eaten them. Emily laughed. The waitress looked confused. Worth it.
The next morning we packed, had coffee, and said goodbye. Luckily this one was short.
Then we left for Kuala Lumpur. Not on Lion Air.
Open the camera roll (13 photographs)
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