Phi Phi and a man Sea. (Andaman Sea)

We have arrived !!! the Phi Phi Islands. Currently at Phi Phi Don.
Got here, no reservations. BUT, it's not high season. thankfully. There was an actual chart listing all the guesthouses (or as many as would fit) and their going rates for 1 bed, 2 beds, dorm, fan a/c. ETC. A friendly lady (looking for commission) approached us to help us book something. We came across the name of a place that we heard from a tour agent, who of course wanted us to book the room a day in advance for much more money. We checked the charts and decided to book a night at "Up Hill Cottage." Literally, on the hill a little further away from the beach. STILL, only 10 minutes walk. This place was only 600BAHT (20 USD$). I will use the term "only" because comparatively speaking, this is a steal. The other rooms are 1000 baht to 30,000 baht. (up to $1,000 a night).

As our Lonely Planet guide puts it. It is seriously an insane deal for as heavenly as the beaches are here. The blue green sea, the soft golden sand and the numerous bays that line up one after another to surprise you with yet another peaceful place to soak the sun. Lobster style.

We immediately went to Loh Da Lum Bay the other side of the pier. The water felt like warm sweat and was hardly refreshing nor escape from the heat. Swimming out further I was able to sit on a coal rock and watch large black fish and schools of tiny silver fish swim along. This was what I wanted.

After, 7 applications of sunblock, 4 intervals of reading and sweating so profusely I needed to swim, we left. We walked to the other end of the beach and out for lunch.

The cheapest restaurant we were able to find had a special for Pad Thai Chicken 60baht (less than $2 dollars). Had a lemon shake which was a lemon iceeee drink and very refreshing and tasty!

We went up to the viewpoint for the sunset. The first viewpoint out of three had before and after pictures of the Tsunami that hit December 26, 2004.

http://www.theage.com.au/ftimages/2004/12/29/1103996584693.html


From the 3rd viewpoint up steep steep steps ...The sunset was another winner.






Enjoying our porch in the evening we see lightning in the distance and a sudden storm takes over. It rained for 10 minutes fairly relentlessly hard, then calmed a bit.

Successful day 1 on Phi Phi Island.