Today i was saying Goodbye to mainland Thailand and heading off to the amazing Koh Phi Phi Don Island. I was waiting outside the K.L house and waiting for my pick up, it was about 20 minutes late; I was just about to look into getting a private taxi down to the pier as the transfer shed on wheels arrived. The reason I say shed, is because it was actually made from wood.! Everything except the dashboard! There was about 20 people on this thing, and 5 staff hung on the back as there wasn't enough seats.. It was about 10 minutes to the pier. Once there we got on our boat, and left shortly after. Bye Ao Nang!
We had about a 90 minute journey doing a stop at Railay beach. Then direct to my new island home for 3 days. I had booked a place called Orange Tree! (private room!) as we docked into the harbour and walked off the boat, there was a notice everyone had to pay to get on the island, was like a tourist tax, everyone digging around in their bags. It was 20Bath! So didn't break the bank, in UK money 40p.

My task was then finding my accommodation! The island has no roads, and no cars, scooters.! Only push bikes, and everything was taken inland by massive trolleys working there way through the streets! It was now midday heat, I had my big rucksack on my back... And my day bag on my front! I was sweating like I've never sweated before, and following a map.! Everyone stopping me to ask if I knew where I was going, if I wanted to do a tour, diving... At that point i wanted to get the bag off my back, and have some lunch!

It only took about 15 minutes to get to the orange tree, I checked in, and asked to leave my rucksack there while I had some lunch as the room wasn't ready yet. (they just sprayed some mosquito spray!). I had a walk around the area where my hotel/guesthouse was, it looked as if I was quiet central to the bars.! Checked a couple out, an Irish, and a bar called Reggae Bar, apart from the picture of Bob Marley.. Nothing else screamed Reggae. But the main thing about this bar was the massive Thai Boxing ring in the centre.! I will tell you a little bit more about this place later!!
I thought it was time to go and lay in the sun for a little bit as I was starting to look a bit pale!! Lol, found a beach, that was about 5 minute walk away, walking passed about 30 tattoo shops, and 10 pizza places! The view from the beach was amazing, rocky mountains on both sides, and more white sand! Sadly this beach had seaweed...! So I didn't fancy going in, as it looked like hair! Lol.
I didn't last long in the sun, before heading back, as I wanted to shower, before walking up to the view point at the top of Phi Phi Don, so you can look over the whole island, and across to Phi Phi Ley during the sunset! Not sure how many steps it was, but you should have seen me when I go to the top, I was red in the face, sweating from every part of my body!! At least that was my work out for the day, on the way to the top, about 4 meters in front of me, a coconut fell from a tree... Hitting the ground with a massive thud. If I hadn't have stopped to catch my breath on the stairs before... I think it would have hit me! I honestly don't even think my head would stood up to a falling coconut!
I have one thing to say about the top, the view was out of this world! The sunset, even though cloudy was amazing! It was really worth the sweating. I was up there about 30 minutes just watching the sun! I was given some advise by another traveller, to head down before it got dark, as there are no lights, and the mosquitos would be ready to attack!! (I'd already been bitten 5 times! And had rock hard lumps that I was dying to scratch!).
Going down was a lot easier, and I couldn't help but smile at all the red faces walking pass me, as they were yet to reach the top, giving them friendly encouragement, saying it wasnt much further... I was lying!
The sun still hadnt gone, and I walked to the beach were I had been in the day, it's also known as sunset beach, so I watched from sea level now, still as stunning! I then went and found some dinner, a pirate themed restaurant, had a really nice Thai curry, and of course sticky rice! It was good.

Back to the reggae bar & the boxing ring, drinks were quite cheap, as happy hour seemed to be all night. The evening started with a couple of Thai boxing fights, with the locals! It was impressive.. The next section of the night was the tourist fights! All tourist that got in the ring got a bucket of your favourite alocholic drink for free! (Old school bucket and spade size form the beach!) I can honestly say, you would never have got me in that ring! Some of the fights were brutal. The last part of the night was the girl fights! (Lisa, think you would have been good!). Before they started I left, as I was still pretty sober, and had an early start boat tour tomorrow! Then the heavens opened, and it rained for an hour, water in the streets like rivers!! You had to wade through it.! Nice... NOT.