When we arrived in Phuket in November 2021 we stayed in Nai Yang for a week and immediately jumped to Krabi, a place we were longing to get back to. This trip we took our time in Phuket exploring new places within the island. After my first visit I had promised myself, and the dogs at Soi Dog, that if I ever came back to Phuket I would come back and volunteer. So, Nai Yang became our mandatory last stop in Phuket and I was really excited to be back! On top of tons of puppy love, I had really enjoyed our stay there. The beach is one of the prettiest and most pleasant on the island. It offers the gorgeous Sirinat National park and forest as well as an up close view of the planes landing and taking off at Phuket International Airport. You can watch them fly right over you as you sit on the beach!
Our first afternoon was dedicated to finding a place to catch up on laundry. Later that evening we watched the sunset from the rooftop pool at our hotel, The Sixteenth. The hotel was on the opposite side of the beach from where we stayed last and we had an amazing view. I grew really fond of watching the planes come in from the ocean horizon and fly out of the lush island mountains. It always gave me this overwhelming notion of possibility.
Soi Dog is an amazing foundation dedicated to the street dogs and cats of Thailand. Founded in 2003, they have already made a noticeable impact through their work to catch, neuter, treat, vaccinate, and release the dogs and cats that can live healthy lives on their own. They fight to adopt the animals that can no longer care for themselves, and they watch over them until homes are found. Soi Dog also works hard to educate the locals on how to interact and treat these wonderful creatures who roam the streets freely to improve the culture. Volunteering with Soi Dog is free and you can volunteer for as long or as brief as you wish, with donations much appreciated and encouraged. There is a shuttle bus that picks you up and drops you off from designated areas each day for 100bht and you can order lunch through them for 30-50bht or go out on your own.
The facility is impressive! It is obvious that it was built with love, sweat, and donations. It is clean, constructed well, and offers so much enrichment for the animals compared to what I have seen before. It can be such a hard thing to manage and keep up a facility like this one when you rely solely on donations but they make the most out of every bit. It is one of the most simple and wonderful organizations and I quickly became a devoted Soi Dog family member after my first hour volunteering. Our second time to volunteer was even more fulfilling. We were welcomed back with open arms and it was like seeing distant relatives again after a long separation. As fate would have it, our first 2 friends we made on this grand adventure, Nola and Swany, were still volunteering. They were elated to see us again and it was a really special thing.
We were able to see some major changes and improvements even after just a few months. It was great to see that people were supporting this place and necessary things were happening for these animals in need. No time is wasted here! It was incredibly hot, some of the hottest days of the dry season thus far, and the humidity was thick. Thankfully the day was breezy and we both handled the heat pretty well. We had some pretty cute distractions too. Not too many better ways to spend a day than walking and playing with dogs. The best part was getting some group time with all the dogs we had walked during the day. There’s something about dogs that makes me feel like everything is alright, I am safe, and the world is beautiful. Life is simple. In dogs, unconditional love and loyalty is perfected. And sometimes it is instant and seems instinctive. It is an addicting feeling. To be surrounded by it is pure bliss. Needless to say, I fell in love many times that day.
On our way back we passed by a pop up market that had looked deserted for years just the day before. Tonight it came to life! The Thai people have magical ways of popping up an entire market or event and transforming places in a matter of hours. Even though it had been a long hot day, I wanted to walk around and explore and we both wanted to eat some street food for dinner! The market was huge and full of stalls selling anything you could think of. Clothes, decor, gadgets, plants, delicious food, and the freshest fruits and vegetables. Pop up markets are easily one of my favorite things to experience in Thailand. After we filled up our arms with bags of goodies we made our way back to our place and beat the rain. We watched a huge storm roll in from our balcony and slept like babies.
Bradley woke up with a migraine the next day and stayed back to rest while I volunteered for one more day. It was much hotter than the day before and I ended up helping two people who were experiencing symptoms of heat stress towards the end of the day. The day was long but so rewarding. I loved on more dogs, made friends with the German man who shared my dog run, and shared stories and experiences with the other volunteers at lunch. I helped make a difference for animals and people, and my soul drew some power from that.
The shuttle bus home was full of laughs and stories between a couple of Austrailians, a Finnish woman, a French man, and yours truly. We gave each other inspiration and encouragement. Information was exchanged and more promises were made. One by one each volunteer was dropped off until I was the last. Those last few minutes alone I was very aware and in the present. I took the moment to really feel all the good things flowing inside me. It is a rare thing to feel complete peace because my mind is always racing about something. My anxiety is always there, even in the best of times. So this moment of peace and fulfillment I savored. I made it home just before the evening storm hit and once I was out of the shower I wasn’t good for anything other than the bed.
We enjoyed our last day in Nai Yang on the beach! It was so pleasing to see the Casuarina trees guarding the shore. It was a scene I couldn’t get enough of. We laid out in the shade and enjoyed the still and clear waters for hours. We grabbed some lunch at Jacks Bar and it was here, enjoying the breeze and the trees, that I decided that Nai Yang was the place for me if I was visiting Phuket. The rest of the day was spent soaking up the sun at the rooftop pool and watching the planes fly in and out. There was also a great swing on the other side of the roof overlooking the city and the mountains in the distance. I absolutely love to swing because it feels like time stops. I spent a fair amount of time swinging there and pondering.
Stopping in Nai Yang had been the perfect way to end our travels in Phuket. We had fully experienced the island. I felt my soul was continuing to heal with the help of the salt, the sun, and the dogs. I was excited to leave this island and explore a few others before we were ready to head up north.
Even if you are not visiting Thailand, there are still many ways you can help Soi Dog. I encourage you to always explore ways you can give back wherever you are with whatever you can. And if you are in Phuket, volunteering here is a must!