Koh Phi Phi 1

Where is Leo? Am I in a video game or am i going insane? These are the things running through my head as the crossing is being made out to an intensely mysterious island. Nobody goes there and there is a small community of travellers living there, killing fish, and stealing from the local marijuana farmer. This is my story.

Upon arrival i didn't see the enclosed bay or pot farm or picturesque beauty. Wait, i did see the last one. This place is beautiful. The rocky islands here are beautiful and the beaches not too bad either. Well getting off the boat we were surrounded by would be taxi drivers and bungalow renters but we had our own path to pave so after some discussion and a Roti for me we decided to go to Rantee Bay on the other side of the island away from all the people and noise. We hire a long tail and he takes us to some skanky place that he says is it but all it has are two old women who don't speak English and a mean, barking dog. We ditch out and head for the neighboring beach because we saw signs of life over there. After getting settled into some bungalows (Steve and John's w/o fan, ha) because there was only one choice we head to the beach and it is hot. After some intense Frisbee which would last the whole while on Rantee got some food and learned that the restaurant closes at 430. We plan to make the hike over the hill to town that night. After a long day in the sun and some good snorkeling right off the beach we realize that we really are alone. The other people that were here earlier in the day were just passersby on the tour boats who stop for the snorkeling. We get ready to head up to the viewpoint for sunset and start off not ready for the steep, muddy hike that followed. Jo decided it a good idea to take a malaria tablet on the way up so feeling nauseous she wants to throw up and nobody has any water or food. The sunset ends up being quite beautiful and we head down following some Germans that we end up seeing the rest of the time on the island. Stop off at the 2nd viewpoint and the colors keep getting better as any good sunset should. Head down and find a place called the Rock to eat and its an old boat that has been crashed perhaps by the tsunami. Pizza and beers and happiness for some curry and water for others. Walked around a good bit and found some fire shows which were bad ass and some pancakes. When it was time to go we went to the taxi boats and they wanted 600 when it was 300 earlier. We refuse and start to head back by light of one headlamp. We do end up making it with Steve leading and I in back with the torch. We experienced laughter, fright, and complete darkness on the walk. We tell our friendly Burmese bungalow owner and he is amazed we didn't see/trip over any brown snakes which are quite deadly. Smiling nervously we head to breakfast.

Another day on the beach and a decision to move to the main bit of the island that night. Maybe we aren't cut out for the intensity of being alone on a beach in southern Thailand.