Thursdays boat trip to the beach, not the beach, The Beach beach...

Morning faithful friends, so here I sit once again as the breakfast things are being clattered, the tipper trucks are rumbling and over it all the waves are crashing onto the shore.  Lovely.

So, Thursday, another boat trip to another island.  But this the island they all come to see.  Well most of them, a lot of them and I mean a lot.  Phi Phi.  There are 2 Phi Phi islands, Phi Phi Lay and Phi Phi Don, Don being the bigger of the two.  But Lay has the bay they all want to see, Maya Bay made famous by Leonardo Di Whatsit in The Beach (see what I did with the title again).

So it was an early start, pick up at 8am at the hotel, by 8.20 no show but I had been warned that it may be a bit later.  Sure enough, 8.20 a beautiful air conditioned bus came into view full with other expectant tourists all ready for the day.  And we were off, another two pick ups and then to the boat.

Now, I knew it would be busy, this is one of the biggest draws of this area.  And they weren't wrong.  This little boat bay is were all converge to pick up the boats for all the various islands around so we were herded like cattle into our respective huddles, given little  coloured stickers so we didn't lose each other and told to wait for 20 mins and follow Mr Wit our very funny little guide.

In that 20 mins I managed to use my first standy up toilet of the trip (unsuccessfully I might add but it was warm and I was sure my leg would dry quickly) and buy 3 pairs of tie dye harem pants and a frock!!!! For 100 baht each!! Even beat Bangkok and I was so happy to have more harem pants that I would take home and never ever wear until my next holiday.

And then it was time to join our speedboat and all aboard (after shoes in a bag please).  With a boat full of people from all over the world, all looking slightly rabbit in headlights and as if they had just woken up (it was early) we were off.  Not yet, room numbers got confusing, are you on or off.  2 sit up front please.  No, don't want to sit up front.  All change, and we are off.....

Then the boat broke.  I kid you not.  He slowed down to let us have a closer look at Chicken Island, so called as it looks like a chicken (apparently) and as he went to pull away a distinctive loud beep came from his instruments.  Now we all knew what it meant, we were going slowly and only one engine was working, but there were mutterings and calls on mobiles until about 10 mins later Mr Wit announced that boat was broke and we would be heading to a secluded bay to wait for a replacement.

Result, the secluded bay was indeed splendid and suited us very nicely.  Not for the sour faced topless bird who was on the beach with her boyfriend and had obviously thought that they would not be disturbed.  She threw a massive strop flounced off (not far as it was a small beach) and despite us telling her we wouldn't be there long, she demanded her boyfriend canoe her off into the sunset (it wasn't sunset but it works better in the story).  And so they did.  Bye then, we shall enjoy the tranquillity of this bay without your sour face!

An hour, some paddling and a sea wee later the new boat arrived, bigger boat with 3 engines, shoes in bag please and we are off, smile everyone we are on a boat trip, one bloke was even on his phone!

Now once again these stops were all about the scenery and just taking in the atmosphere so the pictures will hopefully tell the story.  First stop Bamboo island, incredible as the pics will show.

Then we moored up for a bit of snorkeling at Laem Hin but I stayed on the boat and watched.  They pulled a sea urchin from the sea and we all marvelled at it.  We those on the boat did as all the others had their face in the sea.

Then we stopped at the main island Phi Phi Don for lunch.  This stunning spot was hit by the Tsunami on that fateful Boxing Day and it completely wiped it out, they had no warning. 3000 people died here alone.  Incredible, and as you stood there on the shore you could only imagine how that giant wave must have looked looming into view.  So sad, but they have rebuilt it and Mr Wit said something very poignant as we were chatting about it, he said they were caught out once but never again.

After a nice buffet lunch and a bit of getting to know the others on the boat (had a lovely chat with a couple from Northern Ireland, hello if you are reading this!) it was onto Phi Phi Lay, via Viking cave where a drawing of a Viking ship from forever ago is on the cave wall but you are not allowed to go in anymore as this is where the Thais get the swallows nests from to make birds nest soup so that the Chinese can have 5 wives (I think that is what Mr Wit said).

A quick trip via another lagoon and the main event, Maya Bay.  And very beautiful it was too, even with the hoards and this was nothing compared to how I normally is, as we were a bit later due to the breakdown. The water was crystal blue and so warm but mankind is not being helpful to this place.  Rubbish on the beach that had been discarded by people who just don't care gave it a sad feel that soon we will be stopped from visiting this truly beautiful place. I even picked up some of the rubbish and took it back to the boat.  My little bit to help.

Anyhoo, onto more snorkeling at monkey bay, a bloke from another boat almost drowned (well not really but he screamed like a lady boy in Mr Wits terms) the lovely Irish couple asked for my blog address (the picture of the two people snorkeling is them just in case they do read it!!) and it was a race back to Bliss for the sunset.

You will be pleased not note that I did make it back to my spot, by the swing under the ban yan tree, you know the one, but it was not as special as other night due to cloud, but stunning none the less.  So after a can of Chang and an hour on the swing it was time for tea at the Sunset Bar.

As she saw me coming up the beach she was ready with a Chang and the menu and I settled on spring rolls, masaman curry and pad Thai, a big task but one I almost managed.  And man alive it was as good as ever.  A couple more beers and then desperate for a wee I bid my farewell and wandered home, slightly melancholy that tomorrow was my last day at Bliss but happy that I had that time to fill with all the wonders that this little place has to offer.

And here I am, just ready to start my morning routine and grab my spot.  So until later my faithful friends...

TTFN xx