Wednesday 10 December 2025
Last day chillin’ in the village of Thai Mueang

Thai Mueang is a small village on the Andaman coast in Phang Nga Province about 60 kilometers north of the Phuket airport. Now a small village, Thai Mueang was once a thriving a hub for a large tin mining operation in the 1950s through the 1980s. When the tin mining ended, most people left, leaving a quiet beachside village. This is a place that really clicks for anyone who’s comfortable in their own skin and doesn’t need or want a flood of distractions. I am thoroughy enjoying my time here. Thai Mueang is the epitome of place to just chill. Even my night out yesterday with Steve Rosse at the karaoke place—the only real entertainment spot around—hanging out with a few ladies, chatting and sipping drinks, was totally relaxed and pure, casual chill.

Wat Tha Sai

There is one “attraction” fairly close that I have not seen, Wat Tha Sai (Wat Tesdhammanava), located a few kilometers south of the village of Thai Mueang. This temple is distinctive, situated almost directly on the beach and constructed entirely of wood with intricate carvings and decorative panels. It is renowned for its unique architecture, which features a strong Chinese influence. This influence is not a surprise considering that most of the tin miners were Chinese labor. The temple is also loved for its serene, remote setting by the forest and the beach.

Because the temple is considered one of the best cultural sites in the area, I asked Tim to organize a ride for me to go there. He took me and suggested that I get a Grab ride back because he would be busy picking up other Airbnb guests at the Phuket airport and getting them settled.

The beach road to Wat Tha Sai is similar to the beach road in Thai Mueang. A few sparse trees between the road and the beach.

Before crossing the road to the temple grounds, I walked over to the beach. I found that it looks very much like the beach near where I am staying along Thai Mueang Beach Road. Here are two views, the first looking south, and the second looking north from my vantage point across the road from Wat Tha Sai.

Across the street and into the Wat Tha Sai temple grounds. First, the sign. Translated it says, Tha Sai Temple, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province.

Passing the sign, I see the main attraction, the viharn (assembly or worship hall), a stunningly beautiful wooden structure standing patiently in the sunlight.

As it is so often, photos fall far short of conveying the beauty of this structure. It was amazing from a distance, and moreso up close. But before I get closer, I took a photo of the side of this all wooden viharn. This is a beautiful structure!

Surrounding the temple grounds are a number of these marble pedestals foreshadowing the marble Buddha statues inside the viharn.

Approaching the front doors, the woodwork and its detail reflects skilled craftsmanship. The tall, natural-looking log supports are skillfully blended with intricately-carved accents.

The inside of the viharn is simple, spacious, and uncluttered, so attention is drawn to the alter and the large marble Buddha statue.

And a closer look at the marble Buddha at the head of the viharn. Not the largest Buddha image, but the natural, polished marble just draws you in, captivating your attention.

All around, the woodwork is beautifully done, the natural logs blending well with the more detailed and elegant wordwork all around. Looking up from the alter, the back wall and ceiling detail is shown.

The window shutters are exquisitly carved. All are different. Here are photos of two.

The doors are also intricately carved. The second photo is closer detail above the main entrance.

The wooden viharn at Wat Tha Sai is a beautiful and memorable. Being set practically on the beach in a remote wooded area adds to its appeal and gives it a bit of intrigue. The beautifully-crafted all wood viharn is elegant and understated. One last look at the viharn as I walked down the road for lunch. It has a beautiful presence, almost a powerful look in the setting.

Sea Light Restaurant

Tim suggested I have lunch at the Sea Light Restaurant, a short walk from Wat Tha Sai. It is quite close, and there is nothing else around, so I went there.

For my lunch, I had pad kaprow, and they make a very good, classic version. I splurged and had chocolate cake for dessert with a cafe latte.

I tried to get a Grab taxi ride back to Thai Mueang Beach Road, but Grab kept telling me there were no drivers in the area. I asked at the front desk (using Google Translate) about possible options, showed the young man on Google Maps where I needed to go. He talked with another young man, they studied the map, and the first man said they knew exactly where I needed to go, and that his brother would take me. So off we went. When I arrived, there was no request for compensation, so I insisted on paying (or tipping) him 250 baht (about $8). The people in this small village are very kind.

This afternoon, clouds rolled in. The sunset was still good, maybe not as dramatic, but I got a nice photo with a fisherman’s boat going past as darkness approached.

Tomorrow Tim is taking me to the Phuket Airport at 7:45 AM, so for my last night in Thai Mueang, I walked down the road to P’Sao, a Michelin-mentioned restaurant for a very good dish of stir-fried sweet & sour chicken. This ended a very mellow, relaxing and chill three days in Thai Mueang.

Next: Something…another adventure?