Phuket and Koh Phi Phi

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Alright! We have finally found somewhat resonably priced internet on the islands but we are once again way behind on the updates.

We were fortunate to get a relatively cheap plane ticket from Bangkok to Phuket, after the buses in Cambodia we were not too excited about the 20 hour bus ride to go to the south. Arriving in Phuket we caught a mini bus into Phuket town. This is also where we learned that you never tell anyone that you don't really know where your going or staying the night because we were promptly brought to the drivers "friend" who had "nice, cheap rooms" after many no-thank-yous we were taken into the town and dropped off at another "nice, cheap place" the hotel looked like no one had stayed there for at least a few years. Luckly it was only a block down from the backpackers place we were looking to stay.

We only spent a few days in Phuket and just in the town. We caught a Songthaew (a truck with the roof and benches in the back) to Kamala beach for a day but it was cloudy and rainy the whole time. We also heard that almost all the beaches were red flagged and therefore, no chance of swimming.

So it was on to Koh Phi Phi.

We caught an early ferry to Phi Phi Island and were welcomed by beautiful beaches and tall limestome cliffs. Koh Phi Phi is strictly a tourist island and the liveable areas only contain bungalows, restaurants, bars and shops. However it was nice to get away from the traffic, you can walk from the pier to the end of the town in about 10 minutes so there is no need for cars or scooters. We decided to stay in some jungle bungalows on the side of the mountain and then spent the rest of the day poking around the town and walking on the beach.

We decided on a whim one afternoon to climb to a view-point, from thew bottom of the stairs it looked roughly to only be a 100 or so steps up and then a little path. Little did we know that after the first hundred steps you turn a corner to another 100 or so steps, then a windy path, more steps and then and incredbly steep paved incline to the top. We were exhausted and disgustinly sweaty when we reached the top- definitely not well planned. We we got back down we dragged ourselves to the 7-11 to hang out in the air-con.

Just a sidenote, 7-11 has become like a becon for us everywhere we go. Cheap water and they are guaranteed to have air-con, really cold air-con! We walk up and down the aisles and look at things just to spend a bit more time in there.

Koh Phi Phi was not a place I would want to spend a long time (we ran into people who had been there for weeks) but the three days we had were perfect to just lie on the beach and read (even though to had to pay so sit in the beach chairs under the umbrella) and swim around. At night the resturants and bars bring mats and tables out to the beach and have fire dancers. We stayed in cute bungalows and ate some alright food but in general it was way to touristy.

We are now on the east islands which we'll write about later, but they are awesome!! And hopefully we can get some more pictures up soon.
-Erin

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Photos

View from the point
Once we hiked up to the viewpoint, we realized just how small the town of Koh Phi Phi was.

Beautiful Fraggipani
A great shot of some flowers we found in Phuket town

Sunset
Sunset on the Beaches of Koh Phi Phi

Me (Ben) on the beach
Title = self explanatory
It's in Koh Phi Phi

Fountain
Found in the Natural Restaurant in Phuket Town.

Comments

[mnd]

great to read some more of your adventures. We looked at the islands on google map, they seem tiny but there's a 7-11, go figure!!! I can't believe that you spent a night with a bat in the room.... our Erin, who used to scream at the sight of a tiny spider - that was before Australia of course. Take care, there are only 3 weeks left

[Jeff Ruehle]

The Plan
Hey there you two! A bat you say! Awesome, can't say I've yet had a bat in any of my rooms just yet, I can just imagine the sounds it would make eating above your roof. Oh yes the mighty 7-11, I found it to be quite interesting how they are littered all over the place out there, especially in the big cities! I loved their steamer boxes on the counters with all the nifty little fluffy pastry treats, quite yummy too. These islands you are at now, I hope give you a bit of an escape from the tourist crowds, and that you get the sunshine to boot ! I am curious where you plan to head from here? Have you seen any big snakes yet either? Well I look forward to the pictures!!! Ciao