I showed him where the hotel was and we grabbed a small bite to eat and called it a night.
Next morning we got up and had bout 4 hours to get to the airport. so we decided to take the adventurous route. We hailed a tuk tuk, which is a motorcycle-ish taxi. Its open in the back with one bench seat. We took that to the train station, and thought we could take the train, but after the 45 minute ride through the winding streets of old bangkok, we got to the train station. Then we were greeted by some nuns (or Islamic women hard to remember) who help answer some questions. The train was an hour wait and minimum 45 minute ride.
But that would be getting close to the time to get to the plane .
So we went outside to get a taxi. This also proved more difficult than expected. There was a big line of people, and you had to fight to get a taxi. We tried many tactics and almost had one when we put our things in the trunk when someone else jumped in the car.
We quickly had to grab our stuff out before the bugger took off.
So our successful plan included one person to jump in and block the doors and the other to load the trunk. Then jump in and look tough. haha...It worked.
We got o the airport and had an uneventful flight to Phucket. then we grabbed the city bus to town and went to a tourist info shop for advice to get the ferry. It was 2:29pm...They said the last ferry leaves at 2:30pm. And its across town. In my defense the book I had said the last ferry left at 3pm. So i was unsure if this was a ploy for something else (like stay in our hotel etc) so we left and someone asked if we needed a taxi, we said yes and he said follow me. we did but he took us to his car. he said 100 baht each we said ok, and loaded our stuff. It was no a taxi..so this added to the confusion. Bu we got there....got ticket and rushed onto the overloaded boat...they pulled the ramp and we left. Just in time...it actually left 20 minutes late.
Got to the beautiful Phi Phi Island. Got off the boat and was told we'd hve someone waiting for us. we did eventually find him and he walked us along the beach and then to another boat?!?
I was confused but we got in. He pushed off and started the traditional long tail boat. We left the beach and cruised a long way out and to the far end of the island. We beached again and got out. We walked up a couple flights of stairs, to a trolley. We put our bags in and looked up. Way up at the top os a hill was out resort. So after an excruciating 10-15 flights almost straight up barefoot, and going on no food or water, dizzy, exhausted we made it to the top. Checked in and walked further to get to our cabin.
The cabin was spacious, airy, but sparse. no air con, but had hot water.
The place over all had the most amazing view but was very inconvenient, both for being at the top of the hill, and far from the action.
View:
Next day we hooked ourselves up with another place. Same price but with coupons for food daily and about 3 steps from the beach, 10 to the water. Cold water only and a little smaller but still 2 twin beds, and private bathroom......well kinda private. I had to share it with the wild...there were only 3/4 walls, so you had scenery when you showered and did your business. kind interesting, but a little scary at night.
I signed up to go snorkeling with Paddy's diving group. He signed up to get his Scuba diving certification. So I went with them and was dropped off in the ocean near some rocks and everyone else went diving below. I was a little concerned because I've never been snorkeling before...well not really. Never in the ocean, and never swimming over my head in the ocean. So here i was off he boat in the ocean by myself no life jacket. Well i looked down and instantly saw the bottom....way down.
Well i started looking at the fish...colors..oh my there were colorful fish...WOW. Then i saw the barracudas...then schools of them ...then schools of them circling me... Then the big fish were swimming by.
All this with the clear knowledge that I'm supposed to be looking for the sharks.
I don't think that I was in the best situation... 45 minutes later i was getting tired of swimming, so i started out into deeper water, as my boat had disappeared. Getting worried, looking around for divers, or a boat.... finally the boat rounded the corner and picked me up.
end of part 2
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