Phuket: From the Ordinary Green Attractions to Colourful Memories

At night, we visited a remote town an hour and a half away. However, the attractions didn't meet my expectations. The area was full of bars and Western-focused restaurants, not very Muslim-friendly. Feeling tired, I took a short walk along the beach and then came back to the hotel.

Phuket left a momentous travel and education experiences to me. At first, I didn’t expect the nature-based activities, which seemed too ordinary, to turn out so colourful and joyful.

The next morning, I had breakfast with other participants, most of whom were lecturers. The atmosphere was lively as everyone chatted happily, though we rushed to prepare for the conference. The presentation began at 8am, and my session was at 11am. While waiting, I paid close attention to other presenters, who were unfamiliar to me but very experienced. When my turn came, I presented calmly despite some arguments from audience. After about 20 minutes, the presentation sessions were all finished. In the evening, we attended a lecture by leading literary figures and took a group photo on the rooftop, surrounded by hills, plantations, and open fields. Later, we returned to our rooms and prepared for dinner.

That night, everyone looked smart in formal attire. I wore a simple white T-shirt and green khakis, mingled with others, watched performances, and enjoyed delicious food. I didn’t expect there would also be an award ceremony for the best papers. Each category had five shortlisted candidates, and I was one of them. Alhamdulillah, my journal won the best paper in the culture category. I went on stage, smiled, and felt over the moon as everyone applauded. Their support was overwhelming. I slept peacefully that night, with the trophy on my desk.

On 7th August, the third day, we went to James Bond Island by bus and boat. I was amazed by the breathtaking views of hills, sea, and village life. Tourists from different regions, such as Germany, South Africa, and Scotland, also joined us. We took photos, bought souvenirs, swam at the beach, and went kayaking with local guides who loved their work.

The highlight of my trip was visiting Koh Panyee, a Muslim-majority floating village. The houses were entirely made of timber, linked by wooden bridge and walkways, connected by boats by separated by the sea. The initial purpose of visiting this village was to have lunch. The seafood was well-balanced in flavour, eye-appealing and delicious. After lunch, we strolled around the village, communicated with the residents and explored small shops. In this enclosed cultural spot, there is a public school, a religious school, a world-famous futsal court, and a mosque as well. Within an hour walking through the narrow alleys, I deeply admired the rustic timber houses, boats tied beside them, clothes hanging on lines, and bird cages in corners. I even tried coffee at a small café in the village centre. The peaceful atmosphere made it hard for me to leave. 

On the last day, after breakfast, we exchanged contacts, took photos, and shook hands. At 10am, the van took us back to the airport. I felt deep longing for my new friends, the towns, 7-Eleven, and especially Panyee Village. I was truly grateful to Allah for the award and for the friendships, which I consider the greatest gift of all. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Alhamdulillah.

On 6th August 2025, I landed at Phuket Airport around 7pm, just as the sky was darkening. The driver, a Siamese Muslim fluent in Malay, specifically the Kelantanese dialect, made the journey feel more familiar. Alongside me in the van were a sasterawan negara, two members of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, and several university lecturers. The journey was long and quiet, as everyone was knackered. After an hour, when our stomachs were starting to shout, we stopped at a restaurant opposite our hotel for dinner. I ordered a bowl of beef noodles, a common Thai dish, which cost 50 Baht. The ambience in the restaurant was calm at initial but then brightened by the sound of the local people speaking Thai in Muslim attire. I checked into the hotel around 10pm and ended the day by 11pm.