AT HIS final mass media conference recently, retiring Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob paused in front of a large seascape of Phuket's iconic Cape Promthep. And yesterday, his affection for the must-see sunset destination became even more obvious.

In his final days in office, Governor Wichai led a ceremony of Phuket's key local authorities and officials as workers began a 400,000 baht project to restore Cape Promthep to peak postcard condition.

An invasion of bugs and a wildfire over the past 18 months brought down the distinctive palymyra that crown the Phuket promontory. Yesterday the first of 64 large palmyra and 200 seedlings restored the cape's good looks.

Governor Wichai was looking on with Anchalee Vanich, former Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation Chief Executive and now the Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department, and the presidents and mayors or representatives of Phuket's 19 local authorities.

The governor has made no secret of his crush on the cape. It was the setting for a remarkable piece of television late last year when thousands of Phuket people waved flags during a national anthem festival involving all of Thailand's provinces.

And an earlier visit to Cape Promthep may well have been the inspiration for Governor Wichai's decision to line the highway route from Phuket International Airport to Phuket City with palmyras, replacing the existing healthy trees.

With Thai flags flying from all the lightposts among the palmyras, Thepkasattri Road is certainly an impressive Phuket gateway boulevard now, even if questions are still being asked about the cost.

Governor Wichai has said he will have to return to Phuket for court cases involving protests to two major roads he'd like to see complete the island's infrastructure. It's highly likely that he will also head back to Cape Promthep for a few more spectacular Phuket sunsets.