After publishing my last blog post, I was eager to make the most of the remaining days before the fitness camp by exploring more of the local attractions within Phuket Town. I had high hopes of uncovering new sights and experiences, but, to my dismay/annoyance, I quickly realized that over the past two days, I had already seen most of what was easily accessible and worth visiting.

Sure, I could have hopped in a taxi and ventured to a nearby town for a change of scenery. However, the idea of a 45-minute journey—paired with the 500 Thai Baht fare (which, is about 15 euros, and Yes, I am that cheap)—didn’t quite appeal to me at the time. As a result, much of the day was spent simply walking and walking and walking some more.

With no real destination in mind, I wandered through the streets, taking in the everyday life of Phuket Town at a slower, more contemplative pace. While it may not have been the most eventful start to the day, there was something oddly satisfying about letting my feet guide me, soaking in the atmosphere, and stumbling upon little pockets of local charm that I might have otherwise overlooked.

After about an hour of wandering, I unexpectedly stumbled upon what appeared to be a hub for the Royal Thai Navy. It was a fascinating yet slightly intimidating discovery, and it quickly became apparent just how little I knew about the local culture and customs. My ignorance reared its ugly head as I found myself unsure of the proper etiquette when approaching such an official site.

The two images below are the only ones I felt comfortable taking, as I was uncertain about the rules regarding photography in the area. There was a noticeable lack of signage to guide tourists like myself, leaving me questioning whether it was acceptable to explore further or if I was inadvertently overstepping boundaries. With no clear indications, I opted to err on the side of caution, choosing to appreciate the site from a respectful distance rather than risk intruding where I shouldn’t.

It was a humbling reminder that, while travel offers exciting opportunities for discovery, it also requires a deep respect for the places we visit and an awareness of the cultural sensitivities that may not always be immediately apparent. Unsure of whether I was overstepping any boundaries, I decided to move on, continuing my exploration with a renewed sense of caution and curiosity.

Afterwards, I continued wandering along the walkway, taking in the surroundings and allowing my thoughts to drift. Eventually, my curiosity led me to the entrance of a park. It felt like a welcome change of scenery—an open, inviting space that offered a chance to slow down and simply enjoy the moment. With a sense of relief, I stepped inside, eager to see what hidden gems this peaceful retreat might have in store.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be just a wooden walkway that stretched on for about 10 minutes before opening up to a spectacular view of the ocean. Funny enough, this sight was the first thing that truly hit me with a wave of nostalgia—or maybe even a touch of homesickness. As I stood there, gazing out at the vast expanse of water, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the good times I’d spent looking out at the waves of Strandhill or Rosses Point back home. I wasn’t expecting anything, I wasn’t waiting for anything—I was simply enjoying the tranquillity that the water always seemed to provide.

It was in that moment that I realized just how much of a hold those two parts of Sligo had over me. Honestly, I even started to well up while taking it all in. That is, until a random hawker—peddler, street vendor, or whatever you might call them—came up to me and completely shattered my emotional epiphany. I’d be mad about it if he hadn’t almost convinced me to buy a hat.

After this, I continued on my escapade and soon came across a few attractions clearly designed to welcome tourists—things like a “Welcome to Phuket” sign and an entrance gate leading to an “I Love Phuket” display. Normally, these types of attractions wouldn’t appeal to me; in fact, they usually annoy me because I see them as a collusive waste of money.

However, once again, I was reminded of the recent “Sligo” sign that was placed in Queen Maeve’s Square, right in the heart of town. Although I personally think it could have been designed with a bit more charm to better reflect Sligo’s character, I couldn’t help but chuckle at these Phuket versions. Seeing them brought an unexpected sense of familiarity, a reminder that no matter where you go, places find their own way to celebrate their identity—whether it resonates with everyone or not.

Which led me to discovering another Chinese-inspired temple. Interestingly, when I initially planned my walk for the day, this temple didn’t appear on Google Maps. Yet, somehow, it was here. After closing and reopening Maps, it finally showed up—funny how that works.

I entered and was immediately captivated by the majestic beauty of the iconography and the serene music playing in the background. It made me feel not quite sad, but somewhat wistful, as I wished I knew the language. I would have loved to ask more about the temple’s origins. Was it here because of Thailand’s deep historical and cultural ties with China, formed over centuries of migration? Or did it have more of a Thai influence, adopting a Chinese aesthetic while being uniquely Thai?

Alas, I never found the answer, but the experience sparked a desire to someday travel to China and explore its rich heritage. Though, I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon… or at least, I think.

Anyway, after this, I had clocked over 20,000 steps and was completely not arsed to walk back. As a result, once again, I ordered a motorbike taxi to take me back to the dormitory where I was staying. Honestly, after my previous ride, I was actually a little excited to try it again. Last time, we passed through a rather dusty area, so I couldn’t fully enjoy the ride or the scenery—despite having literally walked past it earlier. It’s a whole different experience at nearly 50km on a bike.

This time, I did get to take it all in, but with one major caveat—I was terrified for my life. You see, my driver was, as a very kind nurse once put it, [If you know that story, an internet cookie for you] a rather rotund man. This meant my backside was practically hanging off the back of the motorbike. Honestly, this experience has made me seriously consider getting a motorbike license when I return to Ireland, so next time I travel, I can just rent one for myself

Upon arrival at the dormitory I decide I was hungry and decided to walk 30 minute to get a bite of food. Yes I realize the reason I ordered the taxi was so I wouldn’t have to walk. No one has ever said I was an intelligent man or a consistent one. Anyways I went in to the fine establishment and tried a Thai Pork meal of some description. A picture is below so you can enjoy its spectical. Now later in my tenor of this blog I plan to right more reviews on of which will be food reviews. Today I will not be doing that. However the reason I mention that is the staff came up and kept pestering me for a review and by giving it I’d get a free drink. So I gave them their five star review ate the food had the free drink and as soon as I paid up and left the establishment deleted the review. Honestly their lucky I didn’t leave a negative review because I dispise that shite with a passion. However to be fair the food was … grand maybe a 5/10 so theres that

Upon arrival at the dormitory, I decided I was hungry and, for some reason, walked 30 minutes to find food. Yes, I realize the irony here—the whole point of ordering the taxi was so I wouldn’t have to walk. No one’s ever said I was an intelligent man, or consistent, for that matter.

Anyway, I walked into a fine establishment and tried a Thai pork dish of some description. A picture is below for you to enjoy its spectacle. Now, later in the tenure of this blog, I plan to write more reviews, including food reviews. But today, I won’t be doing that. The reason I mention this is that the staff kept pestering me for a review, offering a free drink in exchange. So, I gave them the five-star review, ate the food, had the free drink, and as soon as I paid and left, I deleted the review. Honestly their lucky I didn’t leave a negative review because I despise that shite with a passion

To be fair, the food was… grand. Maybe a 5/10, so there’s that

After this, I had a meeting with the great Gavin Meenan. Website: Gavin Meenan’s Modern Warrior Program, Twitter (or X, if you’re a snob): @GavinMeenan, Instagram: @GavinMeenan.

He checked in on me after our final swim in Rosses Point the day before I left. I can’t fully describe how refreshing and necessary that call was. At that point, I’d spoken very little in English—just a bit to my father, more to my brother, and interacted here and there on Twitch Streams [Shameless plug: https://www.twitch.tv/craicattackcentral]. But this conversation was different. It was exactly what I needed and truly beautiful for the soul—if that’s not too corny.

He did ask about the sleeping arrangements in the dormitory, though. Now, I’ll repeat: for the price, it does exactly what I need. I’ve been able to sleep just fine with no issues so far. The staff has been excellent, helping me find some local gems for coffee and food. That said, I’m looking forward to the proper accommodations at the fitness camp. But, I do wonder if your reaction will be as “coffined in” as his was…

As I sit back and reflect on the day, I’m continually happy I chose to do this. I’m reminded that sometimes the best parts of travel aren’t the iconic landmarks or grand experiences, but the small moments—the ones you almost miss if you’re rushing through. While I can’t promise the next blog post will be any less chaotic, I can guarantee it’ll be full of these little gems that make the journey worthwhile.

Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!