Phi Phi Island had been on a lot of top things to do at Railay, so the day we arrived, we booked a boat trip out to visit Phi Phi. We should have asked more questions. We knew a speedboat would take us there, what time we'd leave and the approximate time of our return. What more did we need to know?
Well, without even discussing it, Jessica and I both pictured sitting in the sun on the front of a speed boat as we were driven from small secluded island to small secluded island. We pictured our day, devoid of crowds, enjoying the sun and the sand on beautiful islands.
Nope.
First, before I begin, let me say that yes, we were disappointed, however, let me say that we did enjoy ourselves.
Loading and unloading boats here has been entertaining to watch. Boats pull up offshore and passengers, sometimes with their luggage, wade out to knee and hip depth to climb into the boat. Our day started that way, where we discovered that all but the first few who were loaded on at another location were sitting on long benches under cover in the back of the boat. Sitting, facing the other bench, like bumps on a long, wearing large life jackets and bumping elbows with the stranger next to you. The ride at first was not bad, when we were seemingly still amongst many small islands, but when we made it out to open ocean waters, my stomach bounced with the waves.
We arrived at our first stop, a beautiful cove with white sandy beaches that you could barely see because the sand was covered with people like a disrupted anthill. Our boat dropped us off for thirty minutes and left due to the large number of other boats also coming and going. We managed to make it over to the side of the cove, under rock overhangings for a bit more space, but with the boat traffic, the water rushed in and was often carrying objects.
The boat did eventually come pick us up, of which we were a tad worried, and we drove around a bit more seeing cliffs, a spot where an early James Bond movie was filmed and even an adorable little monkey!
After that, the boat anchored off well away from shore of another mystic island where our guide told us we could go snogging. Yep, snogging. You know, where you put on a mask and breathe through a tube while you look at the ocean life below. Some things are lost in translation and communication but the Welsh people on board giggled alongside us with this one. The water was perfect. Extremely clear, refreshing but warm, and off the coast of exotically green islands. There were a few friendly yellow fish and several others deeper down. We saw coral and sea urchins, but none of which was really brightly colored.
Our next destination was Phi Phi and for all we had heard of it, we knew it must be a gorgeous island. Well, it looked like where a cruise ship dumps passengers for the day. Much larger than our own little "town" with row after row of tourist shops. It was nice, sure, and cheaper than where we are, but we were fine to leave.
We went snogging one more time with some similar sites and stopped at a national park beach before we headed home. If nothing else, we learned that we were very thankful to be where we are: a stunning beach where crowds are non-exsistent.
While we were relaxing in the pool, our reason for making it here arrived. Jessica's former fellow teacher who now teaches in Bangkok. She will be hosting us for a few days in Bangkok, but for now, she's here to relax with us for a few days.
We watched the sunset and loved asking Tammie all sorts of questions about teaching abroad and Thai customs we had already discovered.
She led us here to Railay Beach and was able to show us to a new restaurant that we had not even seen on this small secluded peninsula where we enjoyed some delicious Indian food. On our walk to and fro, we also discovered those little mischievous creatures we had been so eager to find. The photos aren't great, but know that those are not squirrels!
And, this little cutie keeps greeting us as we walk through town, more interested in bugs than us.
Fun to read.
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