A prison guard, clad in a beige uniform with black epaulets denoting his rank, steps out of the main gate of Surat Thani Central Prison.

During my visit in May 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, several restrictions were imposed on visitors, including the mandatory wearing of face masks.

In addition to a concrete wall and barbed wire, the prison compound includes a watchtower where guards oversee security.

While the buildings are outlined in a deep bordeaux colour, similar to that used by the Royal Thai Police, the bars over the main gate are painted with the colours of the Thai national flag. In 2023, the prison relocated and the prison buildings seen here have since been demolished to make way for a public park.