So we decided that it was time to head to the islands and hit up some of the beaches starting with Phuket. However first, we had to get there and that turned out to be a little harder then we first imagined.

We booked our flights and headed to Bangkok International where we checked into our flight with Air Asia. We went to what we assumed to be the designated gate due to the signs and notices stating our gate number, and waited for departure. Ten minutes before the plane was due, someone from Air Asia told us we had just missed our flight, which was a big shock since we were sitting there waiting, typical! We were told that we would need to buy new flights in order to fly. Luckily, we were not the only people this had happened to and one was a Thai lad who helped translate. He said that they told him it happens all the time with this gate, which made us wonder if four people from one flight missed it and it happens all the time, why they didn't go up the one set of stairs to find us?! Then we remembered…we were in Thailand! We ended up having to buy new tickets, but we got there in the end.

We had an interesting taxi journey and eventually turned up at our hostel that had a problem with their water so we were upgraded to a twin room instead of a dorm. As the last few days had been a bit expensive, we decided to spend the day on the cheap by the beach on the Andaman coast. The weather was really nice and occasionally cooled down which gave us a nice break from the sun. Phuket was all right on the coast but really just provided us as a base to fly into and travel out of to the islands. We booked a boat to Koh Phi Phi and left the next afternoon.

On arrival at Phi Phi we were bombarded with touts trying to sell us amazing hotels but we had to stick to our very basic guest house with a fan that just moved hot air around! We headed to the beach and it was very picturesque with green waters, longtail boats and surrounded with chiseled limestone cliffs. We found a really nice restaurant and that has been our home ever since, great food, really cheap and they have the football on every day, our kind of place!

We booked a day tour, as there is so much to do here and its best to condense it as travel here is not cheap, you use longtail boats, as there are no cars or bikes on the island. It was an early start and we headed out around 9. We went to some of the bays on the main island, a few surrounding islands and to Phi Phi Ley, which is the national park adjacent to Phi Phi. The snorkeling was amazing and there was fish all around us, so when we took in a few custard creams they soon came in schools from everywhere for a bit, proves everyone loves a custard cream!!

Overlooking Phi Phi and the two sides of the beach is a viewpoint with breathtaking views. Grillz went up there because yesterday he put sun cream on, whereas I stayed in the café as I didn't!! It took about 20 min to get there but it was well worth it.... apparently!

For our last night in Phi Phi we decided since we weren't going to the Ko Pha-ngan full moon party along with the other 10,000 people, that we would have a mini one here on the beach. We spent the night at a bar that had a big fire show and a DJ to kick off the night, which soon turned into a multi-cultural rave of Thai proportions! It was really good to have a dance and a drink, although dancing in the sand is a little harder then you think!

Phi Phi has been a great place to visit but we have a funny feeling a few of the other islands can top it. We have booked a boat to head off to Railay just off from Krabi, which Lonely Planet described as having possibly one of the worlds most beautiful beaches. We shall let you know...see you there!

Adam & Adam