Hi Traveler, it’s Journey Wilde with Gay Thai Travel,
Let me paint you a picture. Early morning Patong, the air still cool, the streets blessedly quiet before the chaos of beach umbrellas and banana boats kicks in. I, Journey Wilde, a grown adult with a camera and entirely too much confidence, decided that 6 AM was the perfect time to visit Wat Patong, formally known as Wat Suwan Khiri Wong, before the gates officially opened. For the photos, babes. It was all for the photos.
What happened next was both a spiritual experience and a complete humiliation, and honestly I think that tracks perfectly for my life.
The Scene of the Crime
Wat Patong sits right in the middle of Patong town, which is already funny because Patong is not exactly a place you associate with peaceful reflection. It’s a temple wedged between the nightlife madness of Bangla Road and the sunburned chaos of the beach strip. But in the early morning, sweetie, it genuinely glows. The gold-tipped spires catch the first light, the bougainvillea is doing its most dramatic thing, and the whole compound has this soft, sacred quiet that makes you feel like maybe, just maybe, you are a serious travel photographer and not a gay man who got lost on his way to find coffee.
I had arrived early specifically to get those clean, people-free shots. No tourists. No clutter. Just architecture and atmosphere and yours truly working angles like it was a National Geographic assignment. The gate was technically not yet open. But the gate was also, I noticed, not entirely closed. There was a gap. A very inviting gap.
Reader, I walked through the gap.
The Dogs Had Opinions
Thai temples almost always have dogs. Temple dogs are a whole vibe, usually sleepy, sun-baked creatures who can barely lift an eyebrow when you walk past. I have coexisted peacefully with temple dogs across this entire country. I considered myself a temple dog whisperer. A dog person. A man of the animals.
The dogs at Wat Patong did not get that memo.
There were three of them. They appeared from absolutely nowhere, which is a skill I did not know dogs possessed, and they came at me with an energy that I can only describe as deeply personal. Not playful. Not curious. Committed. These were dogs with a mission, and that mission was me.
I did what any dignified travel blogger would do. I yelped, I shuffled backwards in a way that was decidedly not running (it was running), and I held my camera up over my head as if protecting the equipment would somehow protect the man holding it. My flip flops, which were always a questionable footwear choice for this moment, slapped against the courtyard tiles with the energy of a percussion section.
The Monks. Did. Nothing.
Now here is the part of the story that I need you to sit with, sis. Because across the courtyard, I could see two monks. Saffron robes, morning calm, the whole image of serenity. They had watched the entire thing unfold. They were watching me, an obviously distressed foreign person being actively pursued by their temple’s security team.
They did not move. They did not call the dogs off. One of them, I am almost certain, smiled. Not a helpful smile. A smile of someone watching a situation that is not their problem but is mildly entertaining. Men of god almost let me get eaten alive in the courtyard of a Buddhist temple at sunrise, and I genuinely do not know how to process that theologically.
I eventually made it back through the gap in the gate with all limbs attached. The dogs stopped at the threshold like they had an invisible fence. I stood on the public pavement, heart absolutely hammering, camera somehow still in my hand, and I looked back at the temple. It was still beautiful. The light was still perfect. I still did not get the shots.
Wat Patong When It Is Actually Open (Learn From Me)
Here is the thing, and I mean this genuinely. Wat Suwan Khiri Wong is a lovely temple and absolutely worth visiting when you arrive like a normal person during actual opening hours. The main bot (ordination hall) is richly decorated, the grounds are well kept, and for a temple sitting inside the most chaotic beach town in Thailand, it holds its dignity remarkably well. Dress respectfully, shoulders and knees covered, remove your shoes before entering any buildings, and be genuinely respectful of the space and the monks who live and work there. Even the ones who watched me get chased and did absolutely nothing.
If you want a more structured temple experience in Phuket, a Big Buddha and temples half-day tour covers the island’s major sacred sites with context and a guide who will presumably protect you from the local wildlife. Or if you prefer to explore at your own pace, Phuket city tour options on Klook let you build a route that suits you, dogs pending.
And if after all that spiritual adventure you need to decompress horizontally, I have no complaints about the La Flora Resort Patong for a comfortable Patong base, or check out the full range of Phuket hotels on Expedia to find something that matches your vibe and your budget. Maybe somewhere with a gate that closes properly.
Practical Notes for the Actually Sensible Traveler
Getting There: Wat Patong (Wat Suwan Khiri Wong) is centrally located in Patong, easy walking distance from most hotels in the area. You genuinely cannot miss it.
Hours: The temple is generally open to visitors during daylight hours. Do not arrive before it opens. I cannot stress this enough. There is a lesson here and it is free.
Dress Code: Shoulders covered. Knees covered. Shoes off when entering buildings. Bring a scarf or sarong if you are coming from the beach. There are usually cover-up wraps available at larger temples but do not count on it at smaller ones.
The Dogs: They are there. They are territorial. Do not test them before sunrise. Probably do not test them at all. Approach the space with the same respectful energy you would bring to any sacred site and you will almost certainly be fine. Probably.
After your temple run (literal or otherwise), reward yourself. A Let’s Relax Spa session in Phuket does wonders for adrenaline-jangled nerves, speaking from experience. Or if you want to do something that does not involve almost getting bitten, a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands is a glorious way to remind yourself that Phuket is actually paradise when it is not actively trying to humble you.
The temple is beautiful, babes. The story is better. Both are true at the same time, and that is very much the Phuket experience in a nutshell.
Journey’s Verdict: Wat Patong will give you peace, perspective, and possibly a cardio workout you did not budget for, so arrive respectfully, arrive on time, and for the love of all that is holy, respect the gap in the gate.
Don’t Just Travel – Journey Wilde
