Up early for a speedboat trip to Phi Phi and Monkey Island. An hour of fairly bumpy seas and we arrived at the truly stunning Koh Phi Phi Lei: vast limestone cliffs and turquoise lagoons.

We entered a lagoon through a narrow strait and it soon became apparent this was paradise found. 30 other speedboats and lots of longtails had deposited hundreds of others on the strip of beautiful sand, once the set of the Beach movie. The increase in average BMI and tattoo count was indicative of mass package tourism. At sunrise the place would be truly magical.

Stopped round the corner and snorkeled, the Asians on the tour doing their usual whooping and throwing bread in the water to attract huge shoals of fish.

Next up was Phi Phi Don, scene of total devastation at the hands of the 2004 tsunami. We ate a bland lunch in a large canteen and agreed with a Dutch couple that the place had lost its soul (the wife had been there 20 years ago too). We walked through a hotel to see the other side of the spit: it was still a beautiful spot, but where have the coconut trees gone?

Stopped at another beach and snorkeled over amazing coral. The journey back was very rough and we pitied the folks in the bows! Those at the stern were subjected to a constant face full of spray. some of the passengers were looking a bit green around the gills…..

Back on dry land, we barged our way onto a free pick up truck taxi and headed back to the Vogue. By now we had discovered that Thais did not understand Vogue, but Wogue was recognized immediately. (bit like Visa and Visaaaaaah).

By now the Bikini bag had been located. I had saved the day by finding it in my rucksack, however was subjected to a few comments intimating that I hadn't searched thoroughly enough the previous morning.

Went to an Internet café to upload a long overdue blog update and then walked to the seafront for dinner. We commented that Ao Nang had been a great place to hang out for a few days: it offered all the creature comforts a road weary traveler might require: McDonalds, Starbucks, Burger King, 7-Eleven, lots of "designer" fashion outlets and hookers. Talking of which, we had seen enough of the western bloke/Thai girl circus and headed back to the Wogue for an early night.