Ko Phi Phi

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Monday 28th February

Sunset at Ko Phi Phi

I had a late start and got picked up at midday for the ferry to Ko Phi Phi. The ferry was open at the sides, and the sea was quite rough, so everyone above deck got drenched. After an hour or so I admitted defeat and went down below deck where it was a bit warmer and drier.

On the ferry they'd pushed their own bungalow accommodation, but this was all really expensive, so I hadn't booked anything. On the pier there were again lots of touts.

Ko Phi Phi

I was a bit paranoid about not finding anywhere, so I took the first one which was half decent - a room above some shops. In hindsight I should have shopped around a bit more, 'cos it wasn't particularly nice. Next time, maybe.

I dumped my bag and wandered down to the beach, found a cafe on the shore and sat there watching the sunset. Ko Phi Phi is beautiful. At least it is if you don't have to look at the development. Imagine a beautiful tropical island.

An island off Ko Phi Phi

Put Khao San road in the middle of the only flat part of the island. Fill the rest of the space with up-market restaurants and bungalows. It is still beautiful, especially once you get away from the town, but it must have been so much better a few years ago.

Tuesday 29th February

Leading to Maya beach

If you go to Phi Phi I'd recommend the island boat and snorkel tour. I picked one at random from the many available at shops in the town. There were about 12 of us, of various nationalities, but overwhelmingly English speaking, on a boat that was big enough to wander around.

Maya beach

The snorkeling was fun, but the highlight was seeing the parts of the islands that haven't been spoiled and are still beautiful. Even Maya beach (where the film 'The Beach' was filmed) still looked unspoiled, at least to these untrained eyes.

A tame monkey

Amongst our number where a couple of young girls who spent the hour or so at Maya beach looking for one of Leonardo's discarded cigarette butts, but without success, much to their mum's amusement.

After Maya beach we went further round the island to (if memory serves) Monkey Beach where there were many very tame monkeys (right). After feeding them bananas and pineapples, we sailed back to the ferry port and went our separate ways.

Wednesday 1st March

The weather wasn't great for the few days I was there, so I didn't spend any time lying on the beach. Instead I took the footpath over the island, which as well as being good exercise afforded a spectacular view of the island (see composite, right). Of course, because the island is so small, I kept bumping into people who I'd met on the snorkeling trip, so I wasn't short of someone to have a beer with.

One of the beaches

Centre of Ko Phi Phi

The other beach

And all three together

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Last modified on 22nd December 2007 3:31 PM EST

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