Our Convenient Neighbourhood

One day when I was cycling around the neighbourhood, it occurred to me that there is an incredible number of “conveniences” just a short distance from our home, such as restaurants, massage spas, and shops. So I decided to take a count of what was located within a one-kilometer radius of our home. Darrel helped me with the project.

We started by locating the Dewa on Google Earth, and then marking the perimeter of the one-kilometer radius extending from the Dewa. We were frankly astounded by what was contained within the perimeter.

Let me set the scene for you: We are located in an area that is jungle-like, has a National Park full of casuarina trees, is beside the sea and has a long, pristine sandy beach. A scenic range of hills separates us from the eastern and southern parts of Phuket Island. Nai Yang has a definite “village” feel with its tiny lanes, feral dogs and palm tree plantations. On the flip side, it is also very close to the airport and the busy road that leads to it.

Three times a week, an open-air market sells affordable clothing, household items, a variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, fresh meat, eggs, and even sushi.  There are numerous stalls at the market that sell cooked foods – barbeque chicken, corn on the cob, fried fish, pork sausages, curries, and items we have yet to identify. My favourite stall makes fresh papaya salad.

Most of the roads and lanes in our village are paved (although we have no paved sidewalks) and the terrain is flat, making it a perfect neighbourhood for a bicycle ride. In the dry season, the weather is nearly always perfect. In the wet season, the weather is nearly always perfect, too, with rain from time to time.

In our village, we have spotted a water monitor but no other wild animals other than the fish in the sea and numerous varieties of birds. We also have a small wildlife sanctuary with a few deer, and a monument to recognize that, once upon a time, sea turtles would lay their eggs on our beach.

You will see that we have many restaurants, most of them Thai. Many of these are for locals, and have a small selection of dishes at very affordable prices, and usually have only a few tables. Some of these are for tourists and are pricier, but include a number of western dishes too, and are usually located closer to the beach. Many of them are seafood restaurants and offer a good selection of dishes prepared with the fresh catch from the local fishermen. One of the restaurants at the Indigo Pearl has a weekly brunch during the high season that is world-class with a definite “wow” factor. We have virtually never had a bad meal from any of the numerous restaurants that we have tried.

Our village is dynamic. Restaurants and shops come and go, new hotels are being built, and there is a huge hotel/shop complex under construction just around the corner. From time to time, officials come into the village to tear down shops and restaurants that are built illegally. Once a year, during the Songkran Festival (Thai New Year) our village becomes a huge playground for thousands of locals from our village and the surrounding area. Every weekend, locals come in smaller numbers to enjoy the park and the sea and the many conveniences.

Here is the “convenience” count. Be prepared to be amazed.

 

ATM	15
Bars/Wine & Cheese Bar	15
Beauty Salon/Barber	18
Bike/Car Rental Outlet	13
Boxing Arena (Muay Thai)	2
Bus Stop (official)	1
Campground (tents)	3
Clothing Shop	6
Coffee shop/stand	15
Convenience Stores	18
Currency Exchange outlet	4
Dentist (we hope this number changes soon)	0
Dive Shop	3
Gas Station (mini, self-serve)	5
General Store (for yard and house)	3
Gift/Souvenir Shop	8
Graveyard	1
Hardware Store	2
Hotel – boutique	14
Hotel - guest house	10
Hotel (1-2 star)	9
Hotel (3 star)	5
Hotel (4-5 star)	3
Laundry - do it yourself	3
Laundry Service	9
Lifeguard Station	3
Market – fish	1
Market - fruit and vegetable	1
Market - the works	1
Massage Spas	22
Mechanic – Bike	3
Mechanic – Car	1
Medical Clinic	1
Mosque	1
National Park Entry Gate	3
Pharmacy	7
Police Centre	1
Postal outlet	1
Public Telephone Booth	2
Public Washrooms (buildings, not stalls)	5
Restaurants – Indian	1
Restaurants – Korean	2
Restaurants – Pizza	4
Restaurants - Roadside stands	23
Restaurants – Subway	1
Restaurants – Thai	70
Restaurants – Upscale	3
School – elementary	1
School – language	1
Tailor	3
Taxi stand	7
Temple – Buddhist	1
Tour Operator/Travel Agent	15
Tsunami Warning Tower	1
Used Furniture Store	1
Wildlife Conservation Park (deer)	1

Did I mention that we are close to the airport?

 

Hula's - on the beach.

"Coffee and Meal" is still on the beach.

One of many. Pictures of the King are common.

Roadside stands right near the beach.

Getting your hands on Thai baht shouldn't be a problem.

Octopus is still standing, but still in jeopardy.

Lots of protection from the tropical sun.

Darrel chatting with some local business women.

We didn't count all the shrines. They are everywhere.

Trees have been planted where restaurants once stood.

It's not all pretty ... yet.

A lovely eating establishment close to the beach and park.

If they can't be on the beach, how about on a roof?

Phen's new spot ... about a close as you can get to the "no restaurant zone"

"Oh Oh"' - a busy coffee stand right across from us.

An upscale lunch and coffee spot - right here at the Dewa.

Right across the street from us.

Unfortunately, this sign is often ignored. There are drownings each year.

A colourful corner in our village.

If Darrel should ever want a suit ...

Workers putting finishing touches on a new "walking street"
that has numerous restaurants, bars, and a massage parlour.

There is never a shortage of fresh fruit.

A convenience store at a busy corner.

This is where we take our laundry.

A do-it-yourself gas pump.

An attractive private residence.

 

 

There are lots of roadside stands in the National Park.

The Turtle Monument.

Right now it is red lotus season.

"Shop houses" - miscellaneous shops, residences above.

One of our favourite Thai restaurants - tastiest, friendliest and cheapest.

This is just new and we haven't tried it yet.

The main drag. Did you spot the Subway?

Other side of the main drag.

 

The outside step of the convenience store is well-utilized.

A typical "local" eatery.

A bike repair shop.

One of many coffee stops.



Cutting boards for sale on the side of the street.

Need a broom?

A do-it-yourself gas pump.

Future site of condominiums.

'The temple grounds.

Roadwork for the new condominiums.

New public toilets beside the outdoor market.

 

The colourful market.

The tsunami warning tower.

The neighbourhood school.

One of many convenience stores with ATMs.

That sums up our neighbourhood. We may have overlooked a few services, and some places may have been double-counted, but I hope you get the picture - an incredible picture of our beautiful and convenient Nai Yang.
 

The Restaurants are Back in Nai Yang

It has been a long and difficult period for many of our friends in Nai Yang. They had received warnings over a many-month period that they would have to move their establishments away from Nai Yang Beach. Over the past few months, most of them have been torn down and our dear friends were forced to either relocate or go out of business.

And now most of our resilient friends are back. A few lucky establishments are still standing – Noi’s Massage, Ruangmai Massage, Coffee & Meal, the beach minimarts, the beach pharmacy, etc.

A number of establishments have rebuilt in the new and exciting Nai Yang Walking Street, which is across the street from the beach and runs perpendicular to it. There are about fifteen places in the walking street, including some of our favourites such as Savoey and Rotcharin plus a lot of the old regulars like Watt Bar, Sunset Bar, Kwanta Restaurant and the tailor. There will soon be a massage spa or two and a few more eateries/bars. It is an appealing walking street – new construction, lots of outdoor tables, a jungle in the background, and all the usual smiling faces.

Phen’s Restaurant found a new spot with much the same orientation as their last place, but closer to the Dewa. They are one of the few establishments that have tables on the beach. Linda’s Restaurant is further down the south end in the little street with all the girly-bars. They have added some class to the street. They are right at the end, beside the canal and under the cooling shade of trees.

Lee’s pizza (take-away) has found a new home in a little strip that is between the road and the beach. There is also a hair salon, massage spa, tourist shop and another eatery that is virtually right on the beach.

Another exciting development is that Hula's Shop (the suppliers of our beach wear and toys) is back on the beach, close to Coffee & Meal. It looks like they have a long-term lease so I hope this means they can finally get settled after relocating a number of times over the past few months.

A couple of establishments relocated on the outskirts – e.g. Shababa Indian Restaurant and Muyee’s Seafood Restaurant, but not too far away … just down the road from Indigo Pearl. I hope business picks up for them on that fairly quiet road, or that they find their way back to Nai Yang Beach.

There are still no beach chairs with umbrellas on the beach, but visitors can rent or borrow beach mats and umbrellas from a variety of places. Most of the hotels provide them to their guests for free.

All in all, Nai Yang Beach is back to life and well-prepared for the high season, which has just begun.