The trip to Phi Phi islands was one that I had wanted to do the last time I visited Thailand but just didn't have time. This time I knew I had to fit it in and was so glad that I did.

Phi Phi is made up of two islands, Phi Phi Don (where there is accommodation and restaurants etc) and Phi Phi Len (probably the more famous of the two as this was the setting for the famous idyllic beach in the film 'The Beach' - everyone remember Leonardo on the beach!). Our first stop was at Monkey Bay on Phi Phi Don for snorkelling, and then it was onto the Maya Bay (Phi Phi Len), where everyone wanted to go, and when we got there where everyone else apparently was! As you pull into the bay it looks just as it does in the film, perfect clear blue sea and small white sand beach backed by spectacular limestone cliffs. You just have to block out in your own mind the mass of tourist boats and people that are also there. We did manage to get some pictures on the beach with no other people on them which was a pretty great acheivement considering how busy it was. But the thai authorities are keeping a strict control on visitors as you can only stop on the beach for a maximum of one hour to prevent overcrowding and to protect this beautiful place.

We then went around to the other side of Phi Phi Len to the lagoon and then passed by an old viking cave on our way to Phi Phi Don for lunch. I didn't realise the vikings had made it as far as Thailand, but apparently so..! Phi Phi Don still has very visible signs of where the tsunami hit two years ago. It now only takes you ten minutes to walk across from one side of the island to the other, whereas before it used to take 30 minutes and it has pretty much been rebuilt since then. On the way back we stopped off for some more snorkelling and also spent an hour or so on Bamboo island, just out in the middle of the ocean, with yet more perfect white sand, clear blue water and longtail boats providing a great backdrop.

One more thai massage for me after such a hard day, but this time I knew it was my last becuase the next day I was heading further south and into Malaysia. I think this was probably the best massage I had while I was here. My body seriously did go into positions I never thought possible, but how great did I feel the next day!