Phi Phi Island
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2007
1
45
54
Trip End
Dec 20, 2007
Patong,
Thailand
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Once again we were picked up at our hotel by mini bus and driven about 10 minutes away to large ferry terminal on the out skirts of Phuket Town. This was definitely not like our previous boat trip. This was a busy public ferry port and our ferry was transporting a vast amount of tourists around the surrounding Islands. They did serve complimentary tea and coffee with biscuits but it was no better than a rugby scrum with the other Brits desperately seeking their ritualistic tea fix for the day. The sea was choppy and most of us who were lucky enough to get plastic deck chairs on the roof were quickly engulfed in spray and reluctantly returning to the lower decks. It was no better than a cattle market and they blatantly didn't have enough life jackets (or any life boats for that matter) if we ran in to any problems
Phi Phi Island
. However, it stuck to the schedule and we arrived at Phi Phi, only to be bundled onto a smaller wooden vessel in groups depending on the colour of our stickers.We made it back in one piece (although slightly stunned) to the boat and headed for the main beach resort for lunch. Again, a nice buffet was served but by the time our group made it, most of it was gone - devoured by the rest of the tourists who didn't go to monkey beach.
We had a couple of hours free time to spend on the long stretch of golden sands by the line of hotels encompassing the beach. We can see why it got hit so badly by the tsunami as the main Island consists of two large rock formations linked by a slither of golden sand with several hotels neatly perched on top. Either side the clear waters within the coves stretch out into the open ocean, making it the perfect trap to 'bottle neck' a tidal wave with no escape.
We cruised around the island to more off shore by the famous beach location from the film 'The Beach'. It was so over crowded we couldn't even go ashore. However we did join the countless other boats all mored up and distributing its snorkeling passengers into the surrounding reef. It was Bob's first time snorkeling so it took a while and some choking on sea water before she could appreciate the full beauty
Phi Phi Island
. Neither of us had seen fish as spectacular and with such a vast colour range as what was swimming all around us! Before we new it the horn form the boat bellowed and summoned us back to the boat. Those of us who had paid for VIP tickets got to have an extra go at snorkeling off the shores of monkey beach. This was a sectioned off area around the reef that encompasses the petite beach located at the bottom of a cliff face. As the name suggests, it has a family of playful monkeys begging for food. To our disappointment, we pulled up outside the designated swimming area only to discover that some smaller boats had ignored the signs and mored up on shore. There were also several tourists canoing inside the zone too. This was a big problem as there were so many boats and canoes all competing for space with no regard for the people actually swimming there! Several of us had collisions with them - I am not surprised if there were reports of people severely injured by propellers as it was incredibly dangerous!!
Back on the main land, we tucked into the left overs of the buffet that was included in our trip. Because of the vast numbers of people doing the same tour and that most of them didn't do a second snorkeling session, there wasn't much left. It was good though but it didn't include drinks unfortunately.
We spent a further two hours at our leisure down on the beach. We can see why Phi Phi was devastated by the 2002 Tsunami - The Island consists of two large rock formations joined together by a thin strip of golden sand with a long line of hotels on top. With the clear waters stretching out into the ocean either side would be enough for the tsunami to be 'bottle necked' between the two land masses with no visible form of escape
Phi Phi Island
.Before we new it the horn on the boat was signaling us to return. Just in time for the rain to kick in. Most of us were crammed on the lower decks with not much seating available. However, we did get complimentary tea and biscuits to pass the time. Fortunately neither of us gets sea sick. We boarded the mini bus back at the docks and were the first to get dropped off at our hotel.
We got a reasonably priced dinner at a lovely Thai restaurant next door to the pizza place recommended in the Lonely Planet guide. We both tucked into spicy chicken and cashew nuts with rice, followed by roasted banana with what tasted like maple syrup and vanilla ice cream - delicious!! The service was excellent too.
Comments
vell helo zere
vell i am back home in germany. zo zorry ve did not met. villy ist in bali. i go back zoon unt met villy unt NZ. i lik yo blog und lik wat u rit, goot lic gruber