We were first to arrive at the marina, and
then were joined by another 16 people – mostly Chinese, but we teamed up at the
front of the speedboat with a Brazilian
lady who has worked in Zurich for 9 years, and a Spanish couple living in
Dubai, where the husband is an Etihad Airbus pilot. We were taken to the boat where our thongs
and sandals were confiscated for the trip, so barefoot for the whole day - a
first for us.
The clouds were extremely threatening and as the boat raced across the water for the first stop at Phi Phi Lei island it appeared that the massive line of thunderstorms to the west would hit just as we got there. The water became choppier and the boat started hitting some waves with filling-loosening bumps which was good fun. Luckily the sun came out just as we arrived at Phi Phi Lei.
The cove was already occupied by a number of boats, many filled with Chinese. There were more Chinese in the water, easily spotted by their brightly coloured life vests – it seems that few Chinese know how to swim, but they certainly loved being in the water, particularly as there is safety in numbers.
We plunged into the warm salty water which made it easy to float around, then after 15 minutes or so we went around the island a short way for snorkelling at the foot of some cliffs. The water was clear and full of small stripy coloured fish, and it felt like being in an aquarium.
Back on again around the island to Maya
Beach apparently famous as being “The Beach” in a film called “The Beach”, but
it was hard to see any of the beautiful sand because it was covered in
tourists, mostly more Chinese. The whole
of the beach was also a mooring place for squillions of boats which presumably
were not in the movie.
Our tour guide was disappointed for us – he was hoping the majority would already have left. We pushed through the crowds for a 30 minute stop. It was a gorgeous place so we could see why the film’s producers chose it.
On again to cruise to nearby Phi Phi Don island where we pulled in towards the shore to some overhanging trees swarming with cute cunningly camouflaged monkeys. The guide tossed them pieces from just one banana. The monkeys lined up to catch the morsels, and like the Australian cricket team, dropped every single one, each failed attempt accompanied by loud disappointed groans from the boat, worthy of the MCG.
Off again past what seemed hundreds of
boats anchored at the island to our final stop, Bamboo Island, to re-join hordes
of Chinese, and to have a picnic lunch on the beach.
Then snorkelling for a while in a large roped-off area which included brown coral with bright blue clams, and more beautiful fish, including rainbow-coloured parrot fish. Easy to float on our stomachs in the clear salty water and just drift with the water and observe it all through the mask.
Then snorkelling for a while in a large roped-off area which included brown coral with bright blue clams, and more beautiful fish, including rainbow-coloured parrot fish. Easy to float on our stomachs in the clear salty water and just drift with the water and observe it all through the mask.
We sat on the beach and were very amused by
the antics of the Chinese, most in their life vests and huddling together in
water barely up to their knees. A brave one tried snorkelling in water 18
inches deep. Others were rubbing sand
on each other, and there was general yahooing around and giggling like small
children. You would think this is the
first time they had ever seen the ocean – maybe it is - and there was not a
single inscrutable face to be found.
Their childish delight was infectious.
Big thunderheads building up again drove us
back on to the boat at 2.50pm, a little early, for a 60 minute fast and bumpy
trip back to Phuket. We did well with
the weather, with only a few drops at one stage. Apparently the rainy season has started early
in Phuket (as subsequently demonstrated the next morning with periods of heavy
rain).
Got back to the hotel at 5.15pm, then dinner
in the hotel.
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