Exploring Koh Phi Phi in a boat called Hollywood!

| June 12th, 2009 | Koh Phi Phi

With the gruelling journey from Koh Phangan to Koh Phi Phi behind us we stepped off the boat to a gorgeous sunny afternoon and made our way through the small alleyways and streets at the centre of Phi Phi Don towards some cheap digs.

Our room was one that wasn’t instantly shabby, we checked it over and gave it the OK but by the time we’d returned from checking in it seemed a lot worse and within five minutes the girls couldn’t bear it any more. We choked the room with bug spray and made it hastily for the lovely little Sunflower beach bar we found the last time we were here to watch the sunset and get some grub.

We ate well and sat and watched the sun drop between the steep and rugged limestone cliffs that Phi Phi is so famous for while enjoying some beers, it felt good to be drinking something other than buckets and what with the days travelling still weighing down on us it wasn’t long before we were all ready for bed… Well tired at least but the girls were NOT keen on our room on little bit!

We are on a whistle stop tour of Phi Phi because Sarah’s time is running short and also our shaggy pal Toby is arriving soon in Bangkok and the plan is that we all meet up and have mucho mucho fun. So because of that the plan was to get out on a longtail boat and explore the surrounding area and forego the Phi Phi party nights because, to be honest, we have been partying for a week solid and the price of a bucket on Phi Phi is too much… So that’s what we did.

We got up good and early to another beautifully clear day, wandered through the stalls and markets into town for some breakfast and then hit the shops for supplies…

We settled on taking Sarah to my personal favourite place in the world… The paradise that is Bamboo Island. I feel fairly satisfied that I’m qualified to call a place paradise and if I am – then Bamboo Island is just that!

With our big bags in storage and just a few bare essentials underarm we took ourselves down to the pier to find us a good longtail boat and Captain… We settled on our days itinerary:

1. Swimming in an emerald lagoon at Phi Phi Lay
2. Check out Maya Bay aka “The Beach”
3. A spot of snorkelling
   
4. Head around Phi Phi Don for more snorkeling
5. Then off to Bamboo Island for a nights camping
6. Pick up the next morning

We haggled for a good price and picked a captain accordingly… Our very sea worthy vessel went by the name of “Hollywood” a newly stained and fresh looking longtail boat and our captain – Mr Nu, a quiet happy sort of chap and super friendly to boot. 

Everything in order we set off to our first destination to swim off the mornings sweat amongst the towering limestone cliffs around Koh Phi Phi lay, blessed with blinding white sand at the bottom the lagoon is almost illuminous green and as clear as glass. Our friendly captain let us jump off the boat while it was still going along so we had a little splish splash for a while in the vivid water before following the cliffs around, past the caves where locals harvest the swallows nests that end up on the dinner table as the delicacy that is birds nest soup, to Maya Bay. Our captain wasn’t keen on taking us to “The Beach” until later on because of high tides and strong winds he wanted to leave it until last but we insisted and said we would swim around the back and walk across the small forested bit to the actual beach… He seemed happy and left us to scramble over the jagged rocks and down a very precarious set of stairs made from branches. Just as last time the trees slowly start to thin and the huge cliffs become more imposing and then just before we are clear of any obstruction there’s a little peek of the white sand and crystal blue water… Coming at that time of day meant we were amongst a handful of other people and although the wind was rushing through the gap in the cliffs and making the water choppy we indulged in yet more splish splashing. Sarah was literally huffing and puffing at the prettiness of it all and regardless of the fact we had been here before we couldn’t help but join in!

Back over the rocks and a short, slightly desperate swim to our boat and then a quick snorkel before setting off for open water and another snorkelling spot we visited before and were blown away by. Mr Nu managed to hook a pretty big Barracuda around the cliffs and was chuffed as could be, he offered it to us for a beach barbecue but I resisted… I thought it was only right he should have it himself.

We chugged gently around Phi Phi Don, the wind had slowed and the waves were almost gone, dreaming about small huts in the hills looking out across the sea and a little longtail boat for ourselves.

We arrived at the spot and wasted no time in jumping in and exploring the beautiful coral and amazing fish around the boat, of course we made sure we brought along our secret weapon… A pack or two of Oreo’s, a couple of them crushed up and thrown in turns the water into an explosion of colourful fish… Literally thousands come from everywhere, from the surface it looks like the water is bubbling and boiling with colour and from below it looks like a giant tornado, the colourful fish all in a frenzy swirling around each other… And anyone with Oreo’s. 

We snorkelled around that spot for a good hour before setting off towards Bamboo Island, I thought it would be funny to keep bombarding the water around Georgie with Oreo’s… She wigged out a little bit and started screaming!.. But the screams gave way to hysterical laughing so I chalked it up as a success and we set sail…