Leaving Krabi late in the morning for the high tide, we arrived at the popular island of Phi Phi Don. We dinghied ashore as the sun sank and found our way to the LP recommended (our pick) Ciao Bella – “be prepared to feel romantic”. This could have been possible had a veritable swarm of mosquitoes not decided that Kathy’s head was now home. I leapt from my dining chair at regular intervals clapping my hands above Kathy’s head, until a young American who clearly felt my clapping was not in his best romantic interests, approached with some insect repellent and begged us to use it all. Later we walked the streets past endless massage parlours, pizza bars, bars, dive shops and tour booking booths. It was not our scene. In 2004 many people had been killed here by the tsunami and all the buildings had been demolished – a latter day Sodom and Gomorrah.
Bright and early we were on our way to the smaller Phi Phi Leh island, famously used in the recent “The Beach” movie. We were not early enough. We did manage to pick up a mooring buoy and snorkelled in clear water
before the hordes arrived. At some times during the day it was not possible to see the beach, so packed was it with speedboats, longtails and people. We walked across the island later, after the majority had left and it was an idyllic place. Too soon it will be destroyed by the number of people visiting. Our journey continued to Ao Chalong, where we cleared Customs, Immigration and the Harbour Master. They charged about £6! Lunch eaten, shopping done and farewells said, we motored for five miles to Ko Hi. As we had 55 miles to cover the next day we felt this was a prudent precaution to reduce the chance of arriving in the dark the next day. Unfortunately the wind and swell came up from the south and we had a very uncomfortable night.
We anchored at 5 pm between Ko Rok Nok and Ko Rok Noi and here we spent two
quiet nights. The snorkelling was good and we explored Ko Rok Noi, without bumping into the wardens – we had no money with us. The wardens arrived by dinghy at SD later and charged us the 400 Baht Park Fee. Our final night in Thailand was spent at Ko Butang in the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park. Again we had a lovely evening, having snorkelled close to the boat. It was a good end to journeys in Thailand, but we were keen to return to Malaysia, 3G Broadband and to sort out our plans to haul Sal Darago out of the water as she had picked up one or two knocks in the 7000 nautical miles from New Zealand.
Bright and early we were on our way to the smaller Phi Phi Leh island, famously used in the recent “The Beach” movie. We were not early enough. We did manage to pick up a mooring buoy and snorkelled in clear water
before the hordes arrived. At some times during the day it was not possible to see the beach, so packed was it with speedboats, longtails and people. We walked across the island later, after the majority had left and it was an idyllic place. Too soon it will be destroyed by the number of people visiting. Our journey continued to Ao Chalong, where we cleared Customs, Immigration and the Harbour Master. They charged about £6! Lunch eaten, shopping done and farewells said, we motored for five miles to Ko Hi. As we had 55 miles to cover the next day we felt this was a prudent precaution to reduce the chance of arriving in the dark the next day. Unfortunately the wind and swell came up from the south and we had a very uncomfortable night.We anchored at 5 pm between Ko Rok Nok and Ko Rok Noi and here we spent two
quiet nights. The snorkelling was good and we explored Ko Rok Noi, without bumping into the wardens – we had no money with us. The wardens arrived by dinghy at SD later and charged us the 400 Baht Park Fee. Our final night in Thailand was spent at Ko Butang in the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park. Again we had a lovely evening, having snorkelled close to the boat. It was a good end to journeys in Thailand, but we were keen to return to Malaysia, 3G Broadband and to sort out our plans to haul Sal Darago out of the water as she had picked up one or two knocks in the 7000 nautical miles from New Zealand.
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