Journey to Phi Phi Island Krabi

Phi Phi Islands are 40km from Phuket and 30km from Krabi and Koh Lanta . My  birthday travel wish  is  to see  Maya Bay where the the movie " The Beach" was filmed starred by Leonardo di Caprio last 2000. We were quite reluctant to stay in Ko Phi Phi because of the strange deaths of some foreigners there like the Belanger sisters from Canada last 2012. You can read the the story here. Me and my hubby finally decided to stay in Phi Phi since the mysterious deaths are just isolated cases. We booked our hotel from a reliable website  sawadee.com. There booking system is easy and they offer good rates than agoda and bookings.com. After minutes of searching we finally chose Hotel Andersen because of its location and reviews.The hotel gave us a great discount for our 3 night stay on the island  despite the high season rates during our visit last November 2012. From Rassada Pier in Phuket we boarded a ferry boat to Phi Phi Islands and the journey took nearly two hours. We finally arrived and we hurriedly get our bags from the cargo cabin and went straight to our hotel, which is just a short walk from Ton Sai Pier.

Rassada to Phi Phi boat time table

Phi Phi map by  sawadee

Ko Phi Phi Don village

The following morning, I went outside and there's no one around.Some tourists are not only here for the sand and the sun, but also for the overnight partying and mix cocktail drinks. Scary scene but thank god I saw a woman riding a bicycle. 

Tuklasera Tips

• Always remove your shoes or footwear before entering a temple, someone’s home and even some shops.

More than 1,000 people had died during the Tsunami last December 26, 2004

Note: From Wiki 
By the end of July 2005, an estimated 850 bodies had been recovered, and an estimated 1,200 people were still missing. The total number of fatalities is unlikely to be known however local tour guides cite the figure of 4,000. Of Phi Phi Don residents, 104 surviving children had lost one or both parents.

Three Birds and a pizza

Long tail boats along Ton Sai Bay

Colorful Ribbons for prosperity and luck

     

You can rent this Long tails for 1,200 baht

At the beginning of each season the long-tail boat owners bring colorful cloths to tie to the front of the boat for good luck and ask the spirits to protect and bring prosperity to their business. This happens during the month of November of every year in Ao Nang, Krabi. 

Fresh Seafoods

 We ordered some fresh sea foods from the hotel chef to be cook later for dinner. Less expensive than a comparable dinner for one in a nearby restaurant. Fastfood chains like Kfc and Mcdonalds don't exist on the island.

With my yummy spring rolls

We bought some spring rolls from a nearby food stall and it cost around 100 baht ($3.50) or Php 138.00. What can I say this is Phi Phi and almost everything is expensive!

Bridge lights were lit and the sky was turning blue. For some tourist, happy hour starts at 6:00 pm and ends the following morning.

Phi Phi Island 4d ride

Opened in October 2012, Pirate Adventure House is a very well done Disney-like attraction located diagonally opposite Le Grand Bleu restaurant near Phi Phi's main pier in Tonsai Village. This two-storey building offers three attractions: downstairs, you will find an electronic shooting range with 'old' pistols and muskets, and an XD theatre with 4D rides (the seats move, too). Upstairs, prepare to be scared as the second floor is a haunted house with all the classics of horror: skeletons grabbing your shoulder, spider webs, dark atmosphere and creaky floorboards.

Our favorite snack "pizza"

There are several  shops and restaurants on the island. If you find yourself running out of cash, don't panic. There are now ATM machines all over the island especially in the Phi Phi Don Village area of Phi Phi. However, if you would like to use a credit card for most of your Phi Phi island business, Visa and Master Cards are widely accepted. There are two banks on the island. One is located in Tonsai Village called Thai Military Bank. The second place to do Phi Phi island banking is at Siam Commercial Bank. This is located in front of the Phi Phi Hotel. Both of these Phi Phi Island businesses have a currency exchange and offer limited banking services. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30-15:30. If you plan on doing currency exchanges outside of these hours, resorts usually have an exchange. However, these should be avoided since the rates are extremely poor.

Phi Phi Sunrise

Brand new day at Phi Phi

Red Bicycle

Bicycle is the only mode of  transportation on the island. Tourists and locals usually walk around the island.Watch your back for bells.

They were said to bring good luck

Thai cats are cuddly and friendly . It is a breed that enjoys being with people. They can easily win your affection through their irresistible grace, elegance and devotion. Other traits that the lovers of this breed especially appreciate include their high intelligence and friendliness, as well as the ease with which they learn new things. Thai cats are not as noisy and ‘talkative‘ as modern Siamese cats, and they do not stubbornly try to attract your attention either. They love children and are very sociable. They like living in a pack, and they enjoy the company of other pets.

Overcrowded Tonsai Pier

My hubby at Tonsai Pier

 Top Things to Do

• Enjoy the nightlife – Nightlife here is crazy. Fireshows and Thai boxing matches are a regular occurrence at the beach bars. Often times, there are massive beach parties. For live music make your way to the fantastically named Rolling Stoned Bar. Partying is not cheap here and one of the reason people spend too much money here!
• King Cruiser Wreck – One of the best dive sites off Ko Phi Phi is the King Cruiser wreck.  The passenger ship sunk in 1997 when it hit the Anemone reef.  This site is packed with fish including clown fish, tuna and barracuda, not to mention the sea anemones that cling to every surface of the reef.  Keep an eye out for the occasional leopard shark.
• Feed sharks – One of the most popular trips out of Koh Phi Phi is an early morning excursion to feed sharks. A 6 hour trip will cost from 400B and will have you feeding black tip and leopard sharks. Most tours also include visits to coral gardens for snorkeling
• Maya Bay – Made famous for its starring role in the Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Beach. Maya Bay is on Koh Phi Leh and is usually included with all the island/snorkeling trips you see advertised. For those who want to see the place without lots of boats and people, you can spend a night on the island. It’s a far better way to experience the seclusion of this place.
• Phi Phi Viewpoint - The twenty minute walk up to the Viewpoint is rewarded by an amazing panoramic view of Phi Phi Le and Phi Phi Don. The Viewpoint is 186meters high so you’ll need to be reasonably fit to get here but your camera will thank you! The best time to go is at sunset or sunrise.
• Hin Muang – This diving site boasts the highest vertical wall in Thailand at 60 meters.  Leopard sharks, whale sharks, manta rays and reef sharks patrol the depths at the site but its crowning glory is the huge purple rock.
• Monkey Beach - Monkey Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, nevermind Koh Phi Phi.  Powder white sands and excellent diving makes this a popular spot but one of the coolest things about it is the monkeys that come down to the beach. They’re pretty tame and you can feed them!
• Bamboo Island – For a less crowded alternative to Maya Bay, consider a trip to the uninhabited Bamboo Island. The island lies 13 kilometers from Ko Phi Phi and is home to the coral garden Hin Klang.  The Island is part of a National Marine Park so you’ll have to pay the 200B entrance fee, but it’s worth it for the secluded snorkeling, sunbathing and exploring you can do here.
• Deep Sea Fishing – One of the more expensive activities you can do off the coast of Koh Phi Phi is deep sea fishing. At 2500B for 8 hours, it is pricey but for that you’ll get the chance to fish for tuna, barracuda, dorado, king mackerel and sailfish. For an added twist, night fishing is a great way to experience the nocturnal life of the waters surrounding the islands.

What if we want to go island hopping?
You can rent a traditional long tail boat for THB 1,200 for three hours during my visit. or you can join a tour boat which is more expensive. 

What if we got sick or accident? 
There is a hospital on Phi Phi and a few small clinics and pharmacies. A serious illness should be treated in Phuket. 

What if we run out of cash? are there any banks?
There are now ATM machines all over the island especially in the Phi Phi  Don Village area of Phi Phi. However, if you would like to use a credit card for most of your Phi Phi island business, Visa and Master Cards are widely accepted. There are two banks on the island. One is located in Tonsai Village called Thai Military Bank. The second place to do Phi Phi island banking is at Siam Commercial Bank. This is located in front of the Phi Phi Hotel. Both of these Phi Phi Island businesses have a currency exchange and offer limited banking services. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30-15:30. If you plan on doing currency exchanges outside of these hours, resorts usually have an exchange. However, these should be avoided since the rates are extremely poor.

Why Thailand? 

We had few minor bumps (Phuket scams) along the way but it's all worth it. Thailand has a lot to offer when it comes to culture, tradition and tourism. We are well over our Php 20k budget ($500) budget in Phi Phi alone including ferry tickets, food, long tail rent, souvenirs and accommodation. Lastly, no amount of money will buy happiness and experience of a lifetime.