Koh Phi Phi

OK this post is on Koh Phi Phi. We're a bit behind here because it was too hard to find Internet access in the North Island of New Zealand (namely because everything closes so fricken early!).

Koh Phi Phi was our favourite place in Thailand. It's made up of two separate islands- Phi Phi Lei and Phi Phi Don. Phi Phi Lei is where some scenes from the movie, The Beach were shot. You can only visit it during the day, except if you camp on the island (very limited number of campsites- like 5). Phi Phi Don is the bigger island and where all the accommodation is. A relatively small (compared to Koh Lanta and Koh Samui) but very picturesque island. It is quite built up since the last I was there, 4 years ago. Lots of little shops, restaurants and bungalows. And nowhere near as commercialized as Koh Samui. They're still doing some re-building from the damage done by the tsunami, but like I said, it's more built up than before.

We only had 2 days in Koh Phi Phi. Spent one day diving, and one day sleeping (we were exhausted from the diving)/ touring Phi Phi Lei. As I mentioned in my last (very short) post, when we were diving we saw a Leopard shark lying on the ocean floor near Koh Bida, which we'll show you a pic of when we get back (can't scan in photos from the underwater camera here). Must have been around 2 metres long. Really cool looking with big spots all over it (hence its name). We also did our deep dive there. A lot of people will start to experience nitrogen narcosis at around 26m depth and start to act all silly. The instructor will get you to do some mildly stimulating brain task to see if you can accomplish it. Happy to say that Sham and I can both spell our last names backwards at a depth of 32m (I'm lucky mine is so short). Neither of us got really silly although both of us mimicking a mermaid's swim was very amusing at the time. We also did a night dive right around Phi Phi Lei. Sham and I both had primary lights plus a backup each. The Divemaster had only one light, but looked like a really good strong, robust light. About 5 mins into the dive, both of Shameiz's lights were out, and my backup somehow got flooded so he couldn't use that either. So we had to hang on to eachother with my crappy light and follow the Divemaster around (more difficult than it sounds when you can barely see what's around you, and to try to control your bouancy together so you don't crash into the rock/ coral below). By the end of the dive, my crappy light was the only one working. Luckily we saw a couple Barracuda, so that made the dive worth it.

OK here are a few pics--
1. Viewpoint on Koh Phi Phi Don (this is not the whole island!)
2. Beach on Koh Phi Phi Don where the ferry docks (accidentally deleted pic- will re-upload later)
3. and 4. Maya Beach on Koh Phi Phi Lei
5. Sunset on the way from Phi Phi Lei to Don
6. Sham drinking

Will post New Zealand soon. So far it has been really nice driving around the North Island- sort of reminds us of B.C. Just got into the South Island last night. Going to search out some seals today on the beach. L8R.

PS. Re Sham's toe. I didn't describe in the last post, that the big ball of crap on his toe is puss. It just sort of exploded out of his toe all of a sudden. Anyways, it's all better now.