IN THE PICTURE #44

Here’s an image of the road along the Bang Wat Dam in Kathu. Kathu is the district I live in, the dam is 6km from my house. Kathu is in the central area of Phuket Island, between Phuket City and Patong Beach. I often go cycling to the dam and, early morning, the light goes through the trees and offer great photo opps.

The Big Buddha has become the prime man-made attraction in Phuket. It overlooks the Bay of Chalong from the top of Nakherd Hill. At 45 meters tall, it’s really an impressive monument. I go there from time to time (this photo is not recent) as the complex around the statue gets slowly improved.

The Similan Islands is the most beautiful place I’ve been in Thailand: it’s photogenic nature far from the crowds.

I’d like to visit the north of Thailand one of these days. After 25 years in the country, I never went further north than Bangkok.

Ya Nui is my favorite beach in Phuket. It’s in the south of the island between Promthep Cape and Nai Harn Beach. This little stripe of sand is certainly the best snorkeling spot in Phuket.

The Phuket Bike Week is my favorite event in Phuket. I love bikes and rock ‘n’ roll, and every year, a big circus of hundreds of bikers come to Phuket during Songkran (Thai New Year) to celebrate the biking world. Exhibitions and concerts are held in Patong and Phuket City. This photo was taken right above Ya Nui Beach at the end of the bikes’ procession between Patong and Promthep Cape.

Promthep Cape is the southern tip of Phuket Island. Curiously, not many people dare to walk until the end of the rocky cape, although, it’s not too demanding. The place is very quiet and is a favorite spot for watching sunsets.

I’m not a big fan of crowds but the Phuket Walking Street deserves to be seen. Held every Sundays on Thalang Road, in Phuket Old Town, it’s a lively market at which you can find plenty of delicious local street food.

Patong Beach is the prime destination on Phuket. It’s on the west coast of the island and is usually a very busy place during high season. The beach is very beautiful and the city is home to lively dining and shopping options. It’s also very (in)famous for its nightlife scene. This image was snapped at the end of afternoon.

Phang Nga Bay is another iconic area to visit. Similar to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, it’s a paradise for photographers. Hundreds of small limestone islands featuring caves, tunnels, and beaches offer a fantastic playground for a day trip.

Kalim is the small beach just north of Patong. This spot is one of our family’s favorite for grabbing a snack at sunset time. The small food market is busy every time it’s held.

Lying about 2km off Rawai Beach in the south of Phuket, Koh Bon is another of my loved destinations for a break far from the crowds. There’s a beach and a restaurant, that’s it. It really gives me a taste of holiday when going there. A short ride on a long-tail boat, then relaxing on the beach.

I’ve been working with Canon EOS cameras for years until I changed for Fuji. I now have an XT2. I also use a DJI Phantom 3 drone.

On Instagram.

Even though I do not go often, Phi Phi Islands offers a real escape from Phuket. Besides the famous yet crowded spots such as Maya Bay and the main village (Ton Sai), there are still quiet places to discover in Phi Phi. This Golden-Gate-like bridge can be found in the north of the island, between Loh Bagao and Loh Lana.

Here’s a heavily retouched image (no s–t, Sherlock) of Phang Nga Road in Phuket Old Town. The architecture of this bank building is really beautiful, even more at dusk. I just replaced the sky on the image and added a large moon/planet to give it a science fiction look.