South-East Asia

From Langkawi we went back into Thailand by ferry to Satun, avoiding the South which is troubled by some Muslim minority separatist insurgency and just reported some killings a few days before. From there, we once more enjoyed being back in Thailand, which was at once recognizable by the well organized bus and ferry combination trips which brought us to Ko Phi Phi in the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean).

PP has been devastated by 2004s tsunami and since then rebuilt with extensive foreign aid. As a result, the whole island is pretty well in order, cheap and good quality accommodation is available, and the whole place has a 24-hour party vibe that attracts hordes of young people looking for fun, party and beaches. This must be the place where the BUCKET was invented - the best value for money you can get for booze. A bucket with 0,4 liters of whisky or rum plus some cola and red bull costs merely 4 euro, and if you need more than two buckets to be happy until late in the next morning, than you have no financial problem but should seek come counsel with the Anonymous Alcoholics. There are a couple of bars on the beach front which compete each night for the biggest crowd with fire shows, free barbecues, free shots and so on, although, at the third night the permanent smell of the inflammable chemicals used for the show and the ever-repeating music started to get on our nerves. There are also some excellent restaurants and food stalls around, selling fresh spring rolls and chicken barbecues for cents.

PP has beautiful blue waters surrounding the island was once deeply covered with tropical forests, but the paradise picture postcards they sell now date back 20 years, before touristic development started, so the view you get from the islands highest elevation is somewhat less beautiful than it used to be. A daily boat trip took us out to a couple of nice snorkeling locations, one more monkey-cuddling point, and Maya beach, where the movie "The beach" was taken. Pretty rough waters to go there, but the views we got were impressive, though the movie obviously got much of a visual upgrade. Also, James Bond island is just around the corner (remember that tropical island in "The man with the golden colt").