Si's Year Out! (Plus Europe! Plus Morocco!): Kho Phi Phi days 1 and 2

After Phuket we headed to the islands of Kho Phi Phi. I can't actually remember why we decided to go there but I'm really glad we did! You might have heard of Kho Phi Phi ...we were actually staying on Phi Phi Don, the North island, but the South island, Phi Phi Leh, is where much of the film 'The Beach' was shot.

We arrived on the ferry at about 4pm and after getting off we were pounced on by about 100 people telling us they knew cheap places to stay (which is not unusual upon arriving to any destination in Thailand). For once we didn't actually know where we'd stay due to the fact that my guidebook was written just after much of the island was flattened by the tsunami. We wanted to go to the more remote, quieter, side of the island but there was no time to check it out (there are no roads and it was a 4km trip over a very big hill), so we stayed in the main part of the island for a couple of nights, in the U.S. Guesthouse. The woman who ran the guesthouse had a rather odd way of finding out which rooms would be free for the day....about 2 hours before checkout time (about 9am, when we were usually still asleep) she would bang on the door and scream 'are you staying or going?!'....now that's service!

Anyway, our first full day on the island was Matt's last with us, as he was flying back to the UK in a couple of days. So, this was the day we'd get a boat round Phi Phi Leh and check out the beach from 'The Beach'. We rented a Thai longtail boat, complete with crazy driver, and headed off. We cruised toward the South island wondering if we'd actually make it as every wave made the boat creek. We went past a big cave and then into a bay for some snorkeling. The coral was amazing and I was glad to finally use the snorkeling set I'd lugged round Bangkok and Phuket! Next was another snorkeling spot where we saw a sea snake! Finally it was time for 'The Beach' beach, AKA Maya Bay. As soon as we entered the bay we all recognised it! It was smaller than in the film but just as beautiful. We had a walk around, chilled out a bit and did some swimming. Next it was back to Phi Phi Don for cliff jumping, where you could jump 6m-18m into the sea. We jumped off the 10m ledge and that was scary enough trust me! Finally we went to 'Monkey Beach'. I'd not read anything about this beach and just guessed that we might see a couple of monkeys. Well, just as we were pulling onto the beach a few guys in kayaks cruised onto the beach. As soon as their kayaks touched the sand about 30 little monkeys shot across the beach, jumped into the kayaks, and grabbed every piece of food these poor guys had. One guy tried to hold onto some food but he was fighting a losing battle and eventually gave in and handed it over! As soon as our feet touched the beach they came over to us and tried to steal my camera! Even after walking into the sea some swam after me! Our Thai guide just stayed in the boat and laughed at us.....

That ended a great day but the island would get better in the days to come.....