Phi Phi and onwards

Whenever I relocate to another port of call, that day is almost a right off as far as any serious adventuring goes. But I try to treat it as the activity of the day and am getting pretty relaxed about moving around. You meet people, you go somewhere, no probs. I just dont understand the attitude of the odd traveller that has to be there NOW and how nothing works like clockwork. Thats just not true.

Phi Phi Isl was an interesting place.. its actually a national park but obviously has some areas designated for ‘light’ development. Foot is the main mode of transport. Lanes are very narrow suitable only for foot traffic. (Thais riding bikes down the narrow Soi actually call out “beep beep” when there are coming!) It really would be quite idylic if there werent so many people in a small place, and dominated by resort accomodation. If I come back to Phi Phi I’d stay at Long Beach (which I hadnt known about till the next day) which is more the bungalow backpacker scene and requires a longboat taxi to get there and away.

I took a day trip the next day for 500bht (NZ $18) reasoning that I’d get off the island and meet some people. It turned out to be a good play in that respect. First stop was Maya bay from ‘The Beach’ fame at Phi Phi Leh. It was a disapointment to be honest – the bay is dominated by launches and the snorkeling was average. Moving around the island we saw the caves where Swiftlings (birds) live and where the nests are collected for the delicacy – birds nest soup. Its the birds saliva that binds the nests that gives this soup its flavour mmm yummy…

At times the weather didn’t play ball and neither did the wildlife. No baby sharks at Shark Point and no monkeys on Monkey beach.. the consolation was that I was one of the only ones to spot some Baracudda snorkling (thats me, not the Baracudda). The weather did improve and hey, the water is always like a warm bath. I met a cool Canadian couple, some Poms and Swedish girls and had some lively chats: 9 is a facinating number. If you add 9 to any number (greater than 9), the sum of the numerals in the answer will always be the same as the sum of the numerals of the original number. eg 17+9=26 (1+7=8 and 2+6=8). Some pie in the sky theorizing (on that and much more), posited the question “is god a mathematician?” (It was drizzling outside..)

Israelis are definitely the majority nationality on PhiPhi, hebrew beats out english as the island’s second language. I hadn’t had much fun talking to them – they really seemed to stick to their groups and didnt want me to play beach footy with them. But on the boat I did meet Adam, an Israeli travelling by himself who was good value and shared a Kayak with him.

Our little crew met up that night for some awesome bbq’d seafood (shark tastes like chicken) and the half moon party at Hippies Bar. Yeah I know, wasnt the moon full just the other night? Regardless, the party happened – some of the most furious fire dancing I’ve seen, and then dancing in the rain. Fact: Thai Red Bull kicks your ass hard and wipes you out for the next day.

I’m in Patong, near Phuket, now and have just checked CNN weather – Rain and Thunder all weekend. I caught a local bus around today and managed to get my phone fixed for $300 bht after I had dropped it in the sea. Deal! Text me if you like on +66 40631765. Funny how I bumped into a few travellers I had met elsewhere today. I’m off for a drink with a brit couple I met on the bus back. Whats happening Friday night back home?

This entry was posted on Friday, October 8th, 2004 at 9:30 am and is filed under Thailand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.