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The pick up to take us for our ferry arrives early but the bus is packed, too full for us and another family to fit in, after a few raised voices (from some very mouthy Italian couples) and refusal for them to make room some separate transport arrives and we're more than happy to climb in. The ferry is no better, crammed full with bodies and crying children, this is going to be a long journey!
We arrive an hour and half later at Koh Phi Phi pier, it's hard work with all the bags, crazy with people holding placards for different resorts, others asking whether we need accommodation but a relief when we see someone with our resort name and he tells us the boat around to our resort will be here soon. There are no roads on Koh Phi Phi which means no cars, no tuks tuks, no motor bikes etc so the only ways of transferring to our hotel is by longtail boat. As we make our way around the bay to the private beach at our resort the views are breathtaking, it's like a piece of paradise, or indeed what one expects paradise to look like (the bounty advert maybe?). The resort itself is gorgeous, everything is naturally sourced, furniture made out of trees, hammocks swinging in the breeze and to Lee's delight Bob Marley music is playing in the bar area where we check in!
Our houses don't disappoint either, we have two deluxe which turn out to be two of the closest to the beach and bar area, bonus. We spend a few hours on the beach before heading into town to conquer the viewpoint in time to see the sunset. Again Phi Phi feels very different to the other areas we've been too, it's a rabbit warren of little streets, people walking barefoot, some carrying buckets (of Sang Som) and feels somewhat hip and trendy. The only thing to look out for here are the pedal bikes who politely ring their bells to let you know they want to pass through. The walk up to the viewpoint is strenuous, at times the steps are almost vertical and at the top you are 186 meters above sea level, the hard hot climb is well worth it and the views across the bays and entire island are breathtaking. The beer bought at the 7-11 earlier are wasted though as this is Muslim land so alcohol cannot be consumed as you watch the sunset which is fair enough and probable best given the climb back down!
We end up on the beach and watch some of the most spectacular fire shows and have our first Sang Som buckets, wow wee, the sedate beach life from earlier today feels like a million miles away from this party town. Ashley gets in on some of the fire show action, limbering under a pole on fire and jumping through hoops of fire for free shots, Lee and I are far too old for all that! We catch a long tail boat ride back to our hotel in the dark, it's fun but frightening, we can't see a thing so how can the captain, but that could be the Sang Som?
We spend a few hours in our retreat laughing and playing games with the hammock before Ashley and Madison head to their house. It's so lovely watching them navigate the hill downwards to their house together especially when they encounter a frog and Ashley asks Madison what they should do, hilarious and that's our first day in Phi Phi done.
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