Flick & Nohj were up surprisingly early (according to Sarah) so we all breakfasted at around the same time. The younger travellers had bought tickets for the ferry to Phi Phi Island the day before after some seriously effective negotiations by Michele & Steve the day before that.
We checked out at 12:00 and the ferry connection picked us up at 12:20 for the 1:30 ferry. We piled into the van with a Japanese couple and made the ferry by 1:00 armed with about 120kg of luggage between us.This was pertinent as our ferry was '3rd one across', which meant hauling it across two ferries run by other companies. The ferries carried about 200 - 300 people (mostly backpackers) at a time and no-one had more luggage than us.
We found an outside possie in the shade for Steve and the sun for everyone else and a couple of beers and two hours later we rounded the point into a beautiful, but bustling bay. There were about 5 ferries in the port, dozens of long boats and a few million schooling little fish in absolute crystal green waters by the boat. 20 Baht (about 60 cents) later each we were on the island and checking into the resort.
There are no cars on Phi Phi, motorbikes are only for police and other officials and everyone else either walks or cycles. It's a real beachy sort of place, but the mountains occupy far more of the island than beaches. Phi Phi is actually two main islands - Phi Phi Don which has people, hotels, but no roads and Phi Phi Leh which has no inhabitants save for a couple of locals who keep things in order. There are 4 much smaller islands that make up the rest of Phi Phi, but no-one seems to go there.
Our luggage was wheeled to the hotel and after a few lectures about beach towels and pool use we were in. The resort was straight from the 70s or 80s, complete with pre-cast rocks, tree stumps and 'wooden' handrails. Other resorts were made up of simple bungalows, but ours was a couple of stories high and we all had rooms on the top floor, hopefully out to the way of any Tsunamis, should they come our way.
There is a comprehensive Tsunami warning system and evacuation instructions in every room. There are also thousands of cats, (none neutered or spayed) that seem to be outside every shop and on every table at every restaurant. We chose a little beach side cafe for our first meal, had a couple more obligatory cocktails (Michele was up to 28 Long Island Teas by now) and then back for a swim.
The Geelong Carlton game was on, but alas, the Australia channel we had found all over Vietnam was no-where to be found. As luck would have it, A big burly Aussie in a Carlton Guernsey directed us to a bar that was showing the game, but playing the obligatory Bob Marley music that was the standard fare for Phi Phi. Another bit of negotiation and we had the music off and the volume of the Carlton game on, much to the disappointment of the Poms watching soccer on another screen. You all know the result, so I won't go there, but the atmosphere was great and the cocktail and beer count significant.
A quick swim before the ridiculous 8 PM closing and we found an Indian Restaurant that also served Thai food for dinner. The food was continuing to be a highlight in Asia and even James was happy. (Rice and soy with whatever else he ordered). The aircon worked (at least for some of us) so we slept well
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| A couple of beers on the ferry |
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| One of the hundreds of islands along the way |
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| A couple of sun bunnies |
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| And a third for good measure |
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| ......... getting closer to Phi Phi |
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| Rounding the corner into Phi Phi |
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| Wow |
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| Stickers still in tact (The system worked!) |
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| Four happy Werners |
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| Millions of fish and crystal green waters |
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| On the way to Tea |
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| Playing pool and watching Carlton |
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