Drawn Back to the Sea (Even When It’s Restless)

Hello everyone!

No matter how much we travel around Thailand, somehow we always end up drifting back toward the sea. It’s a bit ironic, honestly — I’m not even much of a swimmer. You’d think I’d be the type chasing mountains or shade somewhere inland. But no… the sea has this quiet pull that’s hard to explain.

Most of the time, it gives me a sense of calm. The kind where you sit still, stare at the horizon, and your thoughts just slowly dissolve somewhere between the waves and the sky. But this time, it was different. This time, the sea wasn’t calm at all — it felt alive, restless, almost moody.

It’s off-season now, and during the day the tide retreats far from the shore, exposing a completely different world. The water had taken on a deeper blue tone, and the waves were strong enough to rock a small boat anchored not too far away. The whole scene felt dynamic, constantly shifting, like it couldn’t quite decide what mood to settle into.

Meanwhile, I was doing what I do best under the tropical sun — absolutely nothing. The heat turns me into jelly. Slow, lazy, and completely unmotivated. Moving feels optional at best.

But kids? Different species.

My son, as always, was full of energy and curiosity, completely unaffected by the weather. That’s when we noticed an old man not too far away. He was standing in the shallow water, holding a long stick with something unusual attached to the end. From a distance, it looked like he was drawing patterns on the surface of the sea.

Naturally, we started guessing what he was doing. Fishing? Cleaning something? Just passing time? None of the guesses made much sense.

Curiosity won — at least for my son. He headed straight toward the old man without hesitation. Along the way, he picked up a companion — a girl he had just met, as kids effortlessly do. Within minutes, they were both standing next to the old man, fully involved in whatever mysterious activity was happening.

From my sunbed, I watched like it was some kind of slow documentary unfolding in real time.

The old man wasn’t just holding a stick — it was more like a homemade tool. Imagine something between a rake and a spear, with metal rods attached at the end. He was dragging it through the shallow water, methodically combing the seabed after the tide had pulled back.

Every now and then, the kids would bend down and pick something up, carefully placing it into a plastic bag. Still, from where I was sitting, I couldn’t quite figure out what they were collecting.

I had a suspicion that low tide reveals all sorts of marine life, but the idea of catching something edible with what looked like oversized metal claws? That was new to me.

About half an hour later, my son finally made his way back, holding something in his hand with a look of quiet triumph.

Shells. Or maybe snails. Honestly, I’m still not sure what the correct name is.

He explained — with the confidence only a child can have — that the old man told them they were edible. Not just edible, but something he collects regularly and sells.

That’s when it clicked.

I had seen these before — at local markets, already cooked and served as street food. But I had never actually tried them. Something about it always felt a bit unfamiliar, maybe even slightly strange.

But then again… that’s part of traveling, right?

You come across things that feel unusual at first, and slowly they stop being strange. They just become another experience.

So maybe next time, when I find myself wandering through a Thai market again, I’ll stop, take a closer look — and finally give them a try.

Seems only fair.

Thanks for reading.

Thank you for your likes, your comments, and your time. It never goes unnoticed.

I write my texts myself, correct mistakes and translate via ChatGPT (which is not a violation on Hive)! All photos were taken by me personally - I am a beginner photographer, so I ask professionals not to judge strictly.

Thank you for sharing these moments with me! Until new stories and new holidays! ✌️.

Camera 📷: Sony Alpha 7 IV full-frame

Lens 🔭: Sony FE 70-200mm F: 2.8 GM OSS II

Lens 🔭: Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Lens 🔭: Sony FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II

Processed 🛠: Lightroom