June 2012 anza 37

+ info

How to get tHereFly one and a half hours from Singapore to Phuket International Airport. From there, it’s a 45-minute drive south to Kata Beach.

wHere to stayBoathouse Phuket, 182 Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket. www.boathousephuket.com

room – a bright, airy suite which opened to the clover-shaped pool in the courtyard. From the room’s glass front doors, the brilliant aqua of the sea hovered in the background.

Unable to contain myself anymore, I sated my beach withdrawals by plunging into the bathwater-warm waves, one of many beachgo-ers splashing around under the burning-hot sun. Kata Beach is a beautiful, postcard-like habitat for hermit crabs, all manner of tropical fish, and Russians. Everywhere, there are Russians. It seems like a Russian national competition is to toast the skin to just the right shade of leathery brown. It makes for great people watching – whether it’s watching bikini babes posing for photos or old, leathery couples, the men clad in potbellies and gold chains, the women in platform flip-flops and rinsed hairdos.

Swimming and watching the beachgoers is hungry work, so eventually I extracted myself from the clear water and headed to the Boathouse Wine & Grill for lunch. The menu offers something a little different from traditional Thai fare – while all the local favourites and more are on offer, there is a heavy French influence on the cuisine. Along-side Gang Kiew Wan Gung (rock lobsters cooked in green curry, baby eggplants, basil, green peas, broccoli, asparagus and kaffir lime leaves), you can find snails or Grilled King Prawns “à la Provençale” (with crushed garlic, parsley, coriander butter and summer vegetables). Lunch that day was pan-grilled seabass fillet flavoured with lemongrass, chilli, lime juice and Thai herbs, followed by an

One’s destinatiOn is never a place, but a new way Of seeing things Henry Miller

excellent Pad Thai. From there, it was to neighbour RE KA TA

lifestyle club – an ultramodern chillout space, bedecked with loungers and beautiful people sip-ping cocktails by the curved infinity pool. The club also is home to an excellent spa, which specialises in Thai massages. I thought the holiday couldn’t get any more relaxing. I was wrong. Over the next hour, my muscles were kneaded and prodded until I felt like I had been reduced to a puddle on the table.

Over the next few days I formed a routine: wake up, open the curtains. Look at the beach. Run through the courtyard, onto the sand, and into the warm water, and then back to the restaurant for a pastry-filled breakfast. Back to the beach to read, swim and people watch. Eat. Read. Swim. Drink. Bed. Repeat. I didn’t regret not leaving the confines of the hotel one bit.

The old me would be horrified in this carry on. No exploring, no early starts, no adrenalin-filled adventures – just disgustingly relaxed beachside lounging. I think I’ll take the new me on holiday more often.

Kieran travelled courtesy of Boathouse Phuket.

PhuketKata

THAILAND

Travel_Phuket.indd 3 5/18/2012 3:40:25 PM