Tourist Haven, or hell...

Well I have spent the last couple of days in Ko Phi Phi...although the scenery is beautiful, the tourists are about 5 to 1, and considering the experience I've had so far on the trip it's a bit disconcerting. I have been (uneccessarily) worried about finding good places to stay...So, like a good stalker I followed a couple of girls off my ferry, and got a room where they did, far off the beaten path, and at 60% off what they were paying! (they had a double room, with A/C)...So I am staying in a bungalow, freshly built, just outside of the hub-bub of Ko Phi Phi (pronounced pee pee by the way) It's nothing fancy, but for 500 baht a night (about $17) I am doing well.

My first day was just relaxing...reading books on the beach and doing a little bit of shopping. Yesterday I went on a boat tour of the islands, which included snorkelling. We saw Maya Bay, which is the beach where they filmed "The Beach"...if you haven't seen the movie...well, it's nothing to write home about, and the beach. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it's ...a beach... Our boat dropped us off in the next bay over, which was interesting. Using our fins and snorkelling masks we swam over to the stairwell, to climb into the next bay. Problem was that the waves were so strong you kept getting slammed into the ropes surrounding the stairs. Then we went over, and had to walk over sharp rocks to get to the otherside...Yes, I know it sounds like a joke... but about 15 minutes after we returned, they took the boat to Maya Bay, so we could take photos facing it.. All of us are looking at each other and saying..."okay, so why did we risk our lives to get over, when you could have dropped us off out front???" But that was all good.

The tour was about 9 hours long, so by the end I was hiding in the alcove from that DAMN sun! But, it was alot of fun. I met some canadians from winnipeg, and one of them worked at Hugh's room..weird coincidence. Also hung out with some brits, who were very nice. We all went over to the last stop, Monkey Bay, where there was,...you guessed it, Monkeys. Viscious Monkeys. After navigating more crazy coral reef to get on shore we took lots of shots, but if you got close to the monkeys, they ran after you, scratched and bit you! I didn't get that close but one of our boat mates did. He spent last night in emerg getting rabies shots I think.

After that day I just relaxed.I was invited out with the group, but didn't end up meeting them. Today, I am on my way to Phuket for a quick overnight, to fly to Ko Samui on Tuesday morning. In Ko Samui, I am going to do some yoga at a yoga retreat, a bit of a change of pace.

There are a ton of cats on these islands, and they make me miss home (amongst other things :). Although, the cats are MUCH skinnier than mine...but according to my vet, many cats are... :)

I have to say though that I am getting a little "island-ed" out. Yes, the beaches are beautiful, and Yes, the limestone cliffs are stunning, but I am looking forward to going back north...and I will...come Friday.

and a note on the temperature, it's about 35 degrees,but not as much humidity, so it's easy to sleep at night. Every night there is storm...lots of rain to break the heat and make the already green area, greener. It only lasts an hour.

Hope all is well, onto the next island!