July 2020

Bang Neaw Dam reservoir project (constructed in 2006)
Another nice dam, inland from Kamala Beach is the Ban Bang Niew Reservoir, just south of the Anthem Wakeboard Park. This dam is larger than Bang Wad Dam I recently visited, and a whole lot emptier. This is due to an enlargement project due to finish next year to increase the Reservoirs capacity.
The vegetation on this run is particularly lush, and there is good shade. There are water views in quite a few view point spots.
A full 6k rive round this reservoir makes for a great days Photography.

Phuket is not just beaches and sea, beautiful green interior awaits those who like walking.

Music free under creative commons licence from you tube music library
Credits to : Parzival by William Rosati

You’d be forgiven for thinking that living on a tropical island where we’re surrounded by water, and with plenty of monsoonal rain falling on the island every year, it’s hard to imagine we could possibly ever be facing a water shortages. Phuket does, either to over usage, not enough rain fall, or poor maintenance of the reservoirs.

Bang Wad Dam and reservoir, is from the three main water management areas I have visited so far on the Island, the best stocked one so far .

Bang Wad reservoir is Phuket’s largest source of fresh water, a large artificial lake in the hills in the Kathu. The dam is about 800m long and there’s a small road winding for a total of 6.5km around the reservoir.

Not really a tourist destination you might think, but if you want to “mix with the locals” then Bang Wad is a good place to come in. Many people come up here to get some fresh air and exercise, walking or jogging along the dam, or even doing a loop around the reservoir. It’s quiet and green up here, making a nice spot for a picnic too, and there’s a large grassy area at one end of the dam which is made for just that! During my visit in daytime, there were few people around though.

I drove round the 6.5km road, it was way to hot, and I am way to unfit to walk it, but I was able to walk the length of the dam itself and back to my car. Just under 2 km, not bad for me! I hope you enjoy the stunning views of the interior of Phuket, I just had to share….

Music is free under creative commons licence from You tube Music Library Title; Pure Potentiality by Benjamin Martins

Living in the South of Phuket I get to visit some of the less touristy areas. Well maybe Chalong pier is not one of those, except just before the covid restrictions on movement came in in March 2020.

Which is when i had a chance to go and photograph this interesting and usually thriving /busy place.

Chalong Pier is located southeast of Phuket Island on the border with Rawai.
This pier is more and more frequented: sailboats are not the most numerous but motorboats for offshore fishing trips, diving trips, canoe trips and finally many speedboats that take you to the islands a little further away in a short time.

It is also a very active area with shops, restaurants, and a breathtaking beach. The pier offers many boat trips around all the nearby islands, including Racha Island and Koh Hae. In Chalong Bay, there is also a dive site for underwater enthusiasts and many activities like sailing and cruising among other fun endeavors.

It was completed in about 2002 and is around 700 meters long. Before this new pier, which was built to serve the countless tourist boats that depart from Chalong, there was only a rickety wooden jetty, barely wide enough for 2 people to pass each other. Now shored up as a concrete version of its bigger brother, I walked that too!

Music free under creative commons licence from Yo Tube Music Library:
Everything You wanted- by Dan Lebowitz