Phi Phi Longtail boat fun

| June 3rd, 2008 | Koh Phi Phi

After the 3 in 1 fun trip we were all loving the longtail boats and because Laura had been too ill to come we decided to hire one for a whole day and go exploring the islands nearby… We got up bright and early and headed down to the pier and after a few hiccups (I had left our cash card at the cash point the night before only to be found by the friendly guest house staff next door) we were on our way with our longboat captain Tok… We had 6 hours and decided on an itinerary of snorkelling and island hopping. We headed out of the bay and around Ko Phi Phi past some amazing looking deserted beaches with only a few shacks on them and locals swinging in hammocks to a spot a few hundred feet from a beach, Tok got out a pineapple and a meat cleaver and hacked some into the crazy clear water above a beautiful coral reef, there were already hundreds of fish in sight just below the boat but once the pineapple was in there was a frenzy of beautiful blue and yellow stripey fish so we dived off the boat and got amongst the hungry little buggers. It was so fun, the fish would peck anything they thought was food off of you and stare thoughtfully right through your mask inches away as if they do this every day….which i suppose they do. The reef here was much bigger than we had seen the day before with huge coral caves and big strange fish lurking around in the deeper parts, also because the floor was sand and it was a sunny day it was amazingly clear. I went back to the boat for a sip of fresh water and a snack and thought i wonder if the fishes like oreo’s, and the answer was YES! they went mad for them as they turned the water all brown and cloudy hundreds came from all sides even some bigger ones from below and it was like we were in a tornado of vividly coloured fish… We swam for probably an hour at that spot before we got back aboard our hansome longboat and Tok our captain and our new friend took us to another hotspot this time with a promise of “nemo” fish and he didnt let us down, we did much of the same for another hour or so before heading to Moskito Island which is one of 2 islands off the west coast of Phi Phi and when asked for a beach to ourselves Tok told us not many people go there so we decided to check it out. It was a lush green island with 2 massive hills jutting from the sea like a pair of giant tree covered boobies and a beach just below the low point where they meet in the middle. It was beautiful and quiet and as we messed about in the sea amongst the jumping fish Georgie had an idea we should camp there and managed to pursuade us all what a great idea it was but after speaking to Tok he told us there is no beach left at high tide and the jungle was too thick for much of a camp, not deterred Georgie asked about the other island nearby called Bamboo Island and Tok said there was fine and they hire tents too, so we asked if before we head back we can go around Bamboo island so we can pick a spot for the next days camping adventure. As we poodled around the island spotting plenty of deserted beach we were sold even though it was a tourist trap by day at sunset time it was almost completely void of people and boats. That decided we made waves for Phi Phi and our last stop was another baron stretch of sand called Ao Lo Mu Di I think, as the longboat skidded along the sand to a halt we hopped off and it was a postcard view of lush hills falling to bent old palm trees stretching over almost white sand to the emerald sea. But when you turn to face the sea it gave me goosebumps, looking out past a few longtail boats with their colourful ribbons hanging from the front over to the distant mainland with the sun setting behind a massive far away storm cloud I just sat on a log while the others had a walk along the beach. I would live here for ever more if given the smallest chance! and if to tease me more right in the middle of the bay was a spot maybe 20m square where the palmtrees almost make a perfect square back into the brush just perfect for a wooden shack… But we had to go back now for food and we were all pretty tired from a long day so we strolled back to Tok and his boat and got on our merry way… We love you all millions xxx