Day 73 8th feb

We are wake way before the alarm goes off.... Two dogs have decided to join the morning chorus and with open windows there not much sleeping taking place.... Besides, we check out today and need to pack so we get up and get ourselves sorted for our 9 o'clock collection for the port.... Today we head to Ko Phi Phi...
Breakfast was lovely.... Another club sandwich, and another chat which Michelle who also leaves today..... She's basically starting her journey home today, but stops off a few places overnight in her way to Bangkok....
As we are served our breakfast the woman informs us that our collection has arrived.... Early so we eat up quick and shoot off.... The vans already been waiting 10 mins and is full of other people when we climb aboard.... But still, at 8.55 we are on the way.....
The port area looks beautiful in daylight, with many Thai long boats moored up on the sand along side a selection of super modern speeds boat taxis, and three small ferry style boats... It's on one of these more commercial boats that we'll be traveling today, and promptly board..
We notice as we leave that Bruce has obviously had success with his replacement propeller as his boats gone.....
We pass many insulated beaches amoungst the islands what are littered with Palm trees and large beach umbrellas... These beaches are only accessible by bots and really are little pieces of idillic paradise.....
The boat rides nice.... We treat it as a time to catch up on blogs, whilst enjoying the views of countless pristine beaches.... The boats full of tourists heading to Ko Phi Phi and has three floors.... Most people are seated in the middle floor, as we were initially, but shiree finds an area down stairs that has a lovely cool sea breeze which we retire to whilst bikini clad sun worshipers lie around on the open top deck.....
Before long we arrive into the picture postcard perfect harbour of Ko Phi Phi.
We disembark with rucksacks on and head off down the pier... The sun is baking hot, but the waters crystal blue.... Schools of fish that shelter under the pontoon are clearly visible as we walk along.... I notice a guy holding a board with our hotels name on it, so wonder over...
He is stood out in the sun so after making contact and rubbing our hands together at our luck... Unaware that we had a transfer from the boat, and assume we've just managed to pick up someone else's we take cover in the shade... After 10 mins the guy holding the board arrives with a trolley very similar to the type issued out in DIY stores or garden centers... It basically a large mesh trolley with push bike wheels... We dump our bags in and follow the little Thai guy down a number of paths that wind there way passed several bars and restaurants.... There very tightly packed with people so he has to take great care not to hit people's legs with the trolley beeping them out of the way... We walk for around 5 mins and we are beginning to wonder how far away the car is, and then we stop... Outside our hotel.... The Sabai House Hotel.
The hotels nice.... It is located within the little town of Phi Phi which we now learn has very little four wheeled transport.... There is a single track road which leads away from the town and up into the mountains but that's it... There's a couple of decrepit, isolated old 4x4s that have not been moved in years dotted around, but other than that the locals either ride little motorbikes or more commonly push bikes around the foot paths and use the trolleys to manoeuvre stuff around the island.
Ko Phi Phi is basically a H shaped island.... The two uprights of the H are two small mountainous areas and the connecting horizontal piece of the H is covered in white sand and its where the small town is located.... The town pretty much fills the whole area, any everything takes place within it... The rest of the island is uninhibited. Both sides of the town area are lined with perfect white beaches which are filled with restaurants, between them is a labyrinth of narrow footpaths with all the hotels, pubs, shops and other buildings on them...
It takes about 4 mins to walk from one beach, through the paths to the beach in the other side of the island....
We chuck our bags in out room.... Which I'm delighted to say has a hot shower, and electricity and air con and then head back out for a look around.....
Whilst following the Thai guy earlier with our bags we both noticed lots of shops offering boat trips and diving days.... Shiree can't dive as she has to much hot air in her head that can't escape through her tiny little ears resulting in ear problems when she tries, but she asks me a number of times if I want too.... I'm not initially interested, but have a look anyway... I'm surprised at its good value and after walking around the island comparing "Try Dive" offers we book up for the following day... I'll go diving... And Shiree can come along and snorkel.... Perfect !
It's to hot to spend much time out in the open so after a quick look around the beach that we arrived at earlier today we head back to the hotel for a shower.... At around five o'clock we head off in search of a beach called "long beach". This involves the use of a path that we've not yet used and on doing so we notice a finger post to a viewing area... We decide, as it won't be long till sunset to head towards the view point instead of the beach, so with a change of direction we follow the sings....
The path soon becomes an up hill endurance challenge if a life time.... Even the locals on there motorbikes crawl past us on there way up.... There are brief sections that level out before heading almost straight up again.... We are boiling hot and soaked by the time we make it to the view point... We are now at the top of one of the mountain areas,we've long left the contrete road behind and have spent the last 10 mins following a dusty track that even a modern 4x4 would struggle on... But at the top we are met with some much needed refreshments and a view back down to the town area.... There's a heat haze in the air so unfortunately it's all a little blurry but its a good view all the same.... The sun sets behind the opposite mountains and we decide to leave before it gets to dark.... We are one of the first back through the wooded dusty track that leads us to the steep concrete road.... We encounter a three foot brown snake in our path as we walk, but it quickly slithers into the bushes and once on the concrete road we stubble across a family of monkeys that are on the move.... They scurry across the road in front of us, and cross over our heads high up in the trees.... There maybe 8 of them..... I guess there heading home as it's getting dark....
We arrive back in town and wonder off to the beach on the other side if town.... It's been described as the party beach by some of the guys in the scuba diving shops and they were not kidding !!! There's pubs with huge speaker systems playing along the entire beach at full volume... Almost every bar has a fire display team out the front breathing fire, or juggling with fire balls... The shows are absolutely great !!
It's around 10 o'clock k before we grab a meal in the centre of town and then head off to bed...
We lie there listing to the music from all over the island.... It's loud, and lasts all night.... And I mean all night !