Where did the good times go? I was cleaning my phone with some unnecessary photos, and there they were, the photos from our Phuket trips with my two good friends. I can only be in awe and think, what if everything was the same the way it was? I could have been enjoying the sun and the sea right now, and to make things worse, I live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Thailand. So Ironic.

First stop: check-in. We arrived on an evening flight from Bangkok and could not appreciate the place. Everything was pitch dark except the sleek lobby and some furniture. After a refreshing welcome drink, we were off to our room.

In the mornings after breakfast, we usually hang around the beach just across and within walking distance of our hotel. You are close to calling it your private beach area as there were not many people around apart from a few dogs and a couple of lovers who seemed to be enjoying their time having their boyfriend take hundreds of photos. We stayed almost half of the day until we got bored and hungry.

Phuket is a big town with many things to do, given that you have your vehicle. Most couples would hire a motorbike, and the cost is also cheap. Hiring depends on how long you want to stay in Phuket. Grab cars and taxis are also easy to find for groups and families. Since Phuket’s main livelihood is tourism, communication with the locals is not a problem. Most locals can converse fluently in English; some have adopted and learned essential conversational words from other dialects (Chinese, Korean, and German).

We searched for interesting places to visit, such as unique restaurants and coffee shops. We rented a Grab car for 6-8 hours from and to our hotel, and we saved money as it was cheaper since we have to split the fare in three, and the most convenient is to have the air conditioning. Phuket can be very hot, especially in the Summertime; it was just us being Asian.

The trip was almost two years ago, and it reminded me how fast time went when everything was beautiful and full of life. People were free to walk around, breathe the fresh air, and do whatever they wanted. There were no restrictions, no rules, and no distancing from one another.

We can only hope that things will return to how they used to be. As for now, we can only rekindle and remember good memories, and maybe it will be a lesson for all of us that moments can always pass us by. By any means, even now, in our darkest times in this Pandemic, spend time and share memories with all your beloved and treasure every minute of it.