To the Phi Phi Islands

Monday 23 October 2006 – Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand

Up early for a last breakfast and check out by 7am. The boat to Phi Phi from the dock at Phuket Town was quite fast, taking a little over an hour to get to Ton Sai on Phi Phi Don. I didn’t have anywhere booked as I was determined to play the independent traveller and find my own digs, so I pushed past the really quite gentle and possibly helpful touts on the dock, shouldered my bag and headed for a look-see.

Walked across the narrow isthmus and along the northern beach, then back inland to the eastern side of the bay we’d docked in. A couple of bungalows were not up to scratch – little better than sweaty boxes, so I passed. After an hour or so, I was dripping with sweat and getting quite tired. Settled on a place right on the beach, about 10 minutes’ walk into the heart of Ton Sai, well away from the noise and crowds but handy enough. A bit more than I’d intended to pay, but at $60 a night it won’t break the budget. It also has airconditioning, fridge and a TV, to fill in the long evenings!

By the time I’d checked in I was quite tired so despite the fine day I had a snooze for a while. Went for another walk to get my bearings, but was feeling quite whacked and a bit head-achy, so back to my bungalow for another rest.

For dinner I had a chicken dish with fresh garlic and chilli at a decidedly local place on the ithsmus then wandered around exploring the delights of Ton Sai. Bought a clutch of DVDs for 100 Baht each, all things I’d missed or wanted to see again. Booked a snorkelling day trip for tomorrow, and had a lemon gelato.

Popped into a massage place back near my digs and had a very good neck, back, shoulder and head massage, to ease the apparent physical stresses of the day (ah, the price of insisting on being an independent traveller!) Then to bed and a sound night’s sleep in the king-size bed (at the Baan Sukhothai I’d had a choice of two singles, such is the life of the solo traveller).