#81 Phi-Phi

May 17

Today was a "love your choice" kind of a day. We set off on an excursion to Ko Phi Phi, an island just off the coast of Phuket. With legendary views and clear water, we were pretty excited to go.

However, we ended up waiting for two hours outside to get on a "speedboat" that was more like a big sightseeing ship with no windows, only a few uncovered seats at the head of the boat. We snagged the seats with the view and tried our best to cover up our sunburns.

Our first stop was at a tiny island with a tiny beach that was in some film with Leonardo DiCaprio. They dropped us off and said "you have 40 minutes." The boats covered the tiny shoreline so I sat in the sand and drew pictures. There were so many people I thought maybe Leo was one of the island amenities but alas, the only activities available were buying a drink or using the toilet. 20 minutes later we boarded.

The next island was the main island of Phi Phi (I am betting you are guessing how this is pronounced. Perhaps you've tried "Fee Fee" or "Pie Pie" because of course it couldn't be "Pee Pee"--how non PC would that be?! Tough luck. You have to say "Pee Pee" like everyone else! Don't worry; you'll stop blushing soon).

We had a decent lunch under a huge canopy. I understand that a lot of Muslim fisherman live on this island so fish is the food to eat here. I had a kind of blah attitude up to this point but I think I was mostly hungry, or as we call it in our family "hangry." I picked up some shells and coral and walked along the shore and felt much better. Again though, it was only 40 minutes before our exuberant guide beckoned us to back to the boat.

Our next kind of stop was passing by "Monkey Bay" where we saw some cute furry friends and the crew blatantly ignored the sign requesting people not feed the wildlife. Bananas!

The final stop was at this teeny tiny maybe the size of half a football field island for "locals" where there were so many tourists it was like hard to not bump into people in the water. Then they persistently tried to sell us drinks, 30 minutes on the beach chairs and even to use the toilets (trust me, if I had to go I was not above peeing in the water). I have a feeling we would have been out of there within 40 minutes but the clouds gave way to the deluge they had been battling against all morning. Man did it pour! I half expected it to be another trap where we would have to pay to stand under the porch.

I decided to entertain myself with people watching. I found a man with the most awesome side profile. I totally would have recruited him for my portrait drawing class back in the day. Since that wasn't an option I decided to practice my paparazzi skills. I'm sad to say I couldn't be creepy enough to get a very good shot.

Eventually we made it back into our boat and sped to shore.

Good things about the trip:
1) This guy (on the top--not the sea-sick guy in the corner). I don't know if the picture does him justice but he was just chillin up there grinning his heart out, rain and shine. He knows how to make his happy.

2) This scenery. I mean, it is pretty breath-taking

3) Practicing being a journey person, not a destination person.
4) The waves were super choppy so at times the boat felt like a legit roller coaster. We caught air more than once. I loved it!...But the guy using his doggy bag?... not so much.
5) Returning to shore:)

Then to top off the night I ordered a delish banana shake and yummy shrimp noodles, took a solitary stroll down a few streets and did a little retail therapy. Behold:

Also can double as brass knuckle;)