let's find some place beautiful to get lost: Koh Phi Phi: Viewpoint, Maya Bay Boat Trip & Beach

I am just going to skip past writing about Phuket, as we weren't there long enough to warrant much written about it. We landed in Phuket, took a nauseating mini-bus ride to our hotel, slept there, had some food in the morning and took a ferry to Phi Phi.

As we approached Phi Phi on our ferry, we realized just why everyone raves about it. As obviously busy as it was while we approached, it still was a sight to be seen. We met a wonderful guy named Andy, working at a diving shop, who offered us some free advice, even drawing on a map to show us the best places to go while on the island. From food to views to tours, he knew it all. After some hassle with our booking not being made (though I had emailed the place before I even booked to make sure they had a room for all us 4 to fit), we found ourselves a couple rooms that were close enough to everything we needed (not that you really could get far from anything).

The first night there, Megan stayed in and Nicole, Nick and I went out to the Jordan's Irish Bar. The place had chalk writing all over the walls, a pool table and 2 for 1 buckets of alcoholic drinks. We decided to get two buckets split between the 3 of us, as I rarely drink and two buckets would probably be a bad idea for me. Not too long after being there we met a few friendly English blokes who lived in Australia and were visiting Phi Phi for a 4 day weekend. They were quite entertaining between the discussions of randomness, their sunnies that ended up getting a lens popped out and passed around, and them taking us across the soi to the Reggae Bar where their two friends, who are brothers, were about to get into the ring to box each other. The bar offers free buckets to those who want to participate in Thai boxing against another volunteer. After watching a bit, I eventually turned in and headed to bed.

The next morning we chose to head out to find the Phi Phi viewpoint that Andy had told us to seek out. We followed his directions, as well as some signs. About halfway up, Nick and I had been traveling a bit too fast and lost Megan and Nicole, so we decided to forge on ahead and meet them at the end. It was a gruelling climb around and up the mountain, but it was completely worth it. After many pictures taken and a bit of a wait for the other two (about 45 minutes we reckon), we decided to head back down. We ran into them a short time after, it seems as though they went to the other viewpoint first and were headed to the one we went to now. So Nick and I headed to the viewpoint they just left, and it proved to be worthwhile, giving an amazing view of Phi Phi as well. We then took the stairs down (apparently we could have taken those up, for 20 baht of course) and waited at the room for the girls.

Viewpoint Two

Boat in Phi Phi

Viewpoint One

Once they arrived back, we headed to the Pirate Bamboo Tattoo place. It was time for me to get my bamboo tattoo I had been planning since before coming to Thailand. It was pretty cool, as it felt quite different than a regular machine tattoo. Though neither hurt me, the bamboo tattoo hurt even less, due to the lack of scratching/burning that a machine feels like. The tattoo took no time at all, as it was merely the word 'teacher' in Thai, pronounced 'Krue'. That afternoon was then spent laying on the beach reading, and getting some sun. With an early night due to exhaustion by all.

Getting my Bamboo Tattoo

New Tattoo, it says 'Teacher' in Thai (pronounced 'krue')

Reading on the beach

Beach

The next morning we set out to find a driver to take us on a catamaran to Maya Bay. We found one for 1500 baht total to take us on a 3 hour boat ride. Our driver took us all around Maya Bay, with stops to swim, and even snorkel. He threw in food for the fish to swarm around us while snorkelling. Colourful fish swimming between our arms and legs was quite unreal. Then he took us into the actual Maya Bay, and the actual beach was so busy, so he took us to a smaller beach off to the side for us to get out and swim a bit and take pictures. Then it was onto Monkey Beach, where we got to get out and feed the monkeys and take pictures, naturally. Then we headed back to Phi Phi. That afternoon was spend napping, as all the sun and swimming took it out of me. After dinner, Megan wasn't feeling so great so she headed back to the room. Nicole, Nick and I headed to the beach and found a quieter bar for them to get a few beers, and me to get a few fruit shakes. I live off those at the moment. Nothing beats a good mango, banana or lemon shake. We stayed awhile chatting and drinking, as the stars came out and the beach bars began to get busier. We came in eventually, and retired to our rooms to get some rest for the ferry in the morning to head to Koh Lanta. Onto the next island...