Ko Phi Phi

Pretty cool little island!  We arrived to Krabi and took an airport bus the ferry.  Smooth transport coordination – almost as if they’ve done this 1000 times before. An hour and a half ferry ride in rainy weather – Charles and I were the only ones (beside a few smokers) who were on deck seeing some cool distant monoliths rising straight up out of the sea. Even in the rain – wow!

Our hotel transport – a small-capacity "long boat" – met us at the ferry dock. We stayed at  a cool place on Ko Phi Phi Don just to the west of Long Beach swimming beach).within some trees on a hill.  Periodic views across to Ko Phi Phi Le (the southern island).   Nice (big) restaurant, open air right on the tiny little beach adjacent to “long beach”.  Free taste of Thailand at 7 with free soups and fried food. We ordered some grilled shrimp and garlic bread to supplement.

Our snorkel tour the next morning left right from the hotel and went across the bay to the uninhabited island. I thought the weather would hold – it was overcast but light. Later on while snorkeling we had a few showers.  Cool little inlet area with a load of other tourist.  Still very cool though.

The next day was this torrential storm. Wind, rain, no ferries. A few small boats – even a big boat sank due to the huge waves.  Since we couldn’t leave on the ferry that day, we had to scramble to find a room. We schlepped our bags to town and Charles found us a hostel right in the main part of town to stay at.  We weren’t too impressed with the swimming beach – too many people.  Bleh. But the hike up to the overlook at sunset with nice. The next day was mayhem trying to get on already packed ferries.  Someone asked what the scariest moment was for us on this trip – or the moment when we felt the most concerned.  It was this one. 

So, the weather inhibited us from realizing Ko Phi Phi's overrun beauty.  Also, both of us read Ed’s accident report that day so this stormy day was mostly a daze of sadness and shock – the raw trauma coming to the surface again and thinking I really needed to be home close to Sara and family…but stuck.