Fishing in Phuket

My friend Mon took me fishing with his family during my visit. His father is a fishing aficionado and so was the rest of the family. We rode their fishing yacht from Ao Chalong (Ao means "bay" in Thai) and spent the whole morning trying to catch our dinner. No fish, no dinner!

Finding the fish was easier than I thought. With just a push of a button, their on-board sonar device detected how many fish were under the yacht. However, catching the fish was challenging, a test of patience and timing. Our fishing rods had about 10 hooks to increase our chances for a catch.

We docked at Coral Beach where Mon's family owns a restaurant by the coast. While waiting for lunch, we snorkeled in the nearby coral reef. The island was totally deserted except for the restaurant staff -- a welcome retreat from tourists who have overrun Patong Beach. It was as if the whole island was reserved just for us. The view was picturesque. We spent the rest of the day lazing around on the beach. The breeze was gentle and the waves were discreet. With a cold watermelon shake in one hand and sand in between my toes, I was all set to enjoy some peace and quiet.

We left Coral Beach at dusk. The ride back felt shorter because the waves were not as choppy. We brought the day's harvest to Mon's other restaurant, Kan Eang @ Pier which was right beside Chalong Bay. Kan Eang is one of the best restaurants in Southeast Asia. Not only are their Thai dishes fantastic but the ambiance -- the view of the calm bay, the fresh air, the austere furniture, the customer service fit for a king -- was absolutely wonderful. At night, a band plays live jazz music, a perfect accompaniment to sipping a mojito. The chefs of Kan Eang (which means "at ease" in Thai) prepared half-cooked sashimi from the fish we caught that day.