Photos from Phuket

Phuket is pronounced poo-ket.  So this post is pronounced “Potos from Pooket.”

This island state in Thailand was a very unique experience for me in this day and age.  Perhaps I’ve lived in Japan for too long – but relaxation almost permanently eludes me here.  Although I try and succeed in traveling often, I am an active traveler.  Those who join me are sometimes frustrated by my aggressive itinerary planning – seeing temples, climbing mountains, riding boats, storming the bars and clubs.  On vacation, every moment is precious to me.  Sitting in hostels using computers is something I am never comfortable doing.

Moreover, Japan is a very busy country, with very little downtime.  Writing, sorting photos, reading, and watching TV or movies/doing laundry or cooking (I combine all of that) generally takes up the rest of the time that I am not with friends.

And the result is, since 2013 or so, I have had extremely little free time.  While I enjoy many of my doings, I had nearly forgotten what it was like to spend three whole days without any plans whatsoever; to just drink and socialize.

Until Phuket.

Here are the photos of that incredible time:

Patong Beach, Phuket

Patong Beach, Phuket

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Left to right: Koyama, Chris, Eli

Left to right: Koyama, Chris, Eli

Jordan and Koyama, Patong Beach

Jordan and Koyama, Patong Beach

Koyama and Mario the dog at Patong Beach

Koyama and Mario the dog at Patong Beach

View from the hostel

View from Patong Backpacker Hostel

Andaman Sea, Patong Beach

Andaman Sea, Patong Beach

Eli, Chris, and Jordan on Thanon Bangla

Eli, Chris, and Jordan on Thanon Bangla

Koyama dancing on Thanon Bangla

Koyama dancing on Thanon Bangla

Patong Beach, Phuket

Patong Beach, Phuket

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Andaman Sea/Indian Ocean

Andaman Sea/Indian Ocean

Koyama, Chris, and me, Patong Beach

Koyama, Chris, and me, Patong Beach

Koyama, Patong Beach

Koyama, Patong Beach

 

Eli at Patong Beach

Eli at Patong Beach

Koyama and Chris on Thanon Bangla

Koyama and Chris on Thanon Bangla

Koyama in Thanon Bangla

Koyama in Thanon Bangla

Eli and Koyama on Thanon Bangla

Eli and Koyama on Thanon Bangla

Me, Eli, and Jordan, on Thanon Bangla

Me, Eli, and Jordan, on Thanon Bangla

Thanon Bangla

Thanon Bangla

Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Thanon Bangla

Thanon Bangla

Patong, Phuket

Patong, Phuket

Jordan, Chris, and Eli at Patong Beach

Jordan, Chris, and Eli at Patong Beach

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Yuu Koyama, Patong Beach

Chris and Koyama, Patong Beach

Chris and Koyama, Patong Beach

Jordan, Chris, Koyama, Patong Beach

Jordan, Chris, Koyama, Patong Beach

Koyama, after our hostel owner chewed him out for getting sand on the floor, Patong Backpacker Hostel

Koyama, after our hostel owner chewed him out for getting sand on the floor, Patong Backpacker Hostel

Stump on Thanon Bangla

Stump on Thanon Bangla

White Room Club, Thanon Bangla

White Room Club, Thanon Bangla

Koyama and me, on a bus, Phuket

Koyama and me, on a bus, Phuket

Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Koyama feeds pigeons at Patong Beach

Koyama feeds pigeons at Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Chris, Koyama, and Eli

Chris, Koyama, and Eli

Koyama, Chris, and me, Patong Beach

Koyama, Chris, and me, Patong Beach

Koyama and me

Koyama and me

Koyama

Koyama

Koyama and me

Koyama and me

Chris, Koyama, Eli, and me, Patong Beach

Chris, Koyama, Eli, and me, Patong Beach

Patong Beach, Phuket

Patong Beach, Phuket

Koyama, Chris, and a dog

Koyama, Chris, and a dog

Koyama and Mario, Patong Beach

Koyama and Mario, Patong Beach

Jordan's back was stuck

Jordan’s bag was stuck

Departing Patong Beach, Phuket

Departing Patong Beach, Phuket

Koyama: "I'll tell my boss I went snowboarding."

Koyama: “I’ll tell my boss I went snowboarding.”

Sunset in Phuket, Thailand

Sunset in Phuket, Thailand

Patong Beach, Phuket

Patong Beach, Phuket

Departing Malaysia, 1/5/16

Departing Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1/5/16

Oh, Koyama

Oh, Koyama

Thanks for looking at my pictures. Follow live on Twitter or Instagram at @gregnasif