---

Phuket

Take one look at me and you’ll know I’m not a beach person. Even though I grew up in Florida, I tend to avoid things involving sand and salt water. Add to that anything close to a Spring Break atmosphere (circuit parties, drunk twenty-somethings) and I’m positively allergic. But the geography of Phuket island was too tantalizing to pass up.

Plus there’s the camp element of The Man With the Golden Gun being filmed there. I mean, they even have an island called James Bond Island. For all the “touristiness” of it though, it’s undeniably beautiful. It’s where mountains meet the sea and towering limestone stacks dot the beaches. Think of it as the beach version of the Zhangjiajie mountains in China that inspired “Avatar.”  

Hiring guides was again my preferred mode of getting around. But this time I had a boat guide as well as a land guide. The land guide took me up to the more mountainous north part of the land (also the location of the rainforest), while the boat guide took me around the bay for some beautiful vantage points. 

Just like my time in Northern Thailand, wildlife was a big focus here as well. Located in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, in the last stretch of Thailand’s rainforest, is the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is a non-profit focused on the rehabilitation and release of endangered gibbons. You have to view them from afar, in their natural habitat – no photo-opps here! An added nearby bonus is Bang Pae, the island’s largest waterfall. (Side note: there are also a lot of macaques on the island, so keep an eye out for them in the more urban areas.)

• 

• 

• 

• 

Another highlight was the Phuket Aquarium. It wasn’t large, but since I’m not a scuba or snorkel guy, it was a nice way to see some marine life. It’s also the site of the Phuket Marine Biological Center, focused on the rehabilitation of sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs (a relative of the manatee). I’m always happy to support such places. 

I wanted to go to the Thalang National Museum—focusing on the history of the area, mainly to learn more about Chan and Mook, but it was closed for renovations. (Apparently it had been closed for years, but finally reopened this year.) Instead I checked out their monument, a sculpture called Heroines’ Monument. Who were Chan and Mook? Two seriously kick-ass sisters. Than Phuying Chan was the widow of the governor of the area and Khun Mook her sister. Together they led about 500 other women in successfully averting a Burmese invasion in 1785. 

The food on the island was “beach-appropriate,” heavy on fruit and seafood for obvious reasons. There were also Chinese and Malaysian influences, harking back to its trading post days. 

Even if I’m not keen on beaches, I’m certainly not averse to tropical cocktails (whether or not I’m at the beach or poolside, although that certainly helps). So this week’s recipes are perfectly suited to be both desserts and boozy cocktails. The coconut-lime sorbet is a variation on a recipe from Andy Ricker’s most excellent cookbook, “Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand.” We definitely recommend adding it to your collection I’d you’re interested in exploring Thai cooking at home. Our Big Gay version of the infamous pineapple “Dole Whip” can be served frozen as ice cream or unfrozen as a smoothie. Dress up both with a topping of diced pineapple and mint, garnish with tropical fruit bark and don’t don’t forget the alcohol for the adults in the room! 

Hugs, Bryan xo

---

More of Bryan and Doug’s Thailand adventure

---

WIN A BIG GAY VACATION TO AMAZING THAILAND

Enjoyed Bryan and Doug’s travels to Thailand? Well you too are in with a chance to WIN a trip to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket with flights for two from a US international airport to Thailand, including 9 nights luxury hotels included. Simply fill out your name, email address, contact telephone number and your state of residence, as well as your Instagram username for a chance to win. Make sure you FOLLOW @gothaibefree and @biggayicecream on Instagram too! We’ll be checking to see if you have.

Special thanks to our hotel partners
137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok | 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai | The SIS Kata

Plus many other Big Gay Ice Cream goodies to be won!

---

Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions apply. Contest open to legal US residents only of the 50 States and the District of Columbia aged over 18 on August 1, 2020 (except 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 21 in Missisippi). Contest begins midnight EST July 27, 2020 and ends midnight EST August 28,  2020. Winner will be drawn within 4 weeks of closing date, based on correct and factual data entry including an Instagram handle. That Instagram handle must be following @gothaibefree on Instagram at the draw date (at any time 4 weeks from contest closing date.) Only one entry is allowed per email/Instagram handle, plus full and clear entry of all contact details. Failure to complete answers and contact details will result in disqualification. No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning the prize depends on the total number of eligible entries received during the promotion period. Winner will be notified by email. Sponsor is the Tourism Authority of Thailand, NYC Office, 61 Broadway, Suite 2810 New York, N.Y. 10006, USA. Sponsor’s decision is final. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the prize, consisting of ONE (1) set of  TWO (2) return economy flights between an international airport in USA with connectivity to Thailand, and an international airport in Thailand – inter-USA domestic transfer flights are not included; and 3 x economy one-way flights for TWO (2) people between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai and Phuket, Phuket and Bangkok; with one of equal value. Hotel prizes are supplied as vouchers with their own individual terms and conditions including blackout dates. The three hotel prizes include vouchers for THREE (3) night’s hotel stay including breakfast for TWO (2) people at 137 Pillars Suites, Bangkok, THREE (3) night’s hotel stay including breakfast for TWO (2) people at 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai, and THREE (3) night’s hotel stay including breakfast for TWO (2) people at the SIS Kata in Phuket. Prize may be substituted by partners and subject to further terms and conditions. Prizes are mutually exclusive and are subject to availability. We will try our best to ensure that all elements of the trip link up, but by entering you recognize that there may be parts of your prize that are unavailable at time of booking/travel and you may have to seek alternative accommodation at your own expense. Consolation prize fund consist of 10 Big Gay Ice Cream recipe books.

Winner may not substitute any part of this prize for cash. Employees, officers, agents and directors of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Big Gay Ice Cream and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, contest, fulfillment and marketing agencies, their immediate families (parent, child, sibling & spouse and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and persons living in the same households as such individuals (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate in the Promotion. By participating, you agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of the judges and Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Void in any state not listed above and where prohibited by law, rule or regulation. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Flights must be booked as soon as possible, with at least 6 week’s notice, to fly before September 30th, 2021.

You agree that by entering the competition, and should you be selected a winner that your names and an image of you (chosen by yourself) may be used in the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s promotion.