June 26, 2001 - Tuesday - Ko Phi Phi, Thailand
Another lazy overcast day and we went to breakfast before heading over to the dock to wait for Michael's arrival. We waited and waited and 1:30 came and went and no Michael so I went to the cyber café and saw an email from Michael telling us that he missed the 10:30 ferry and won't be here until 3:30.
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| Sweeping view of Kho Phi Phi from the view point. |
I went on ahead on my hike and walked down to the southern tip of the east side of the island. The trail wound through rainforests and rocky shorelines and white sandy beaches. I came out onto Long Beach and sat and relaxed for a while before heading over to the eastern shore through a trail in the forest.
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| Loh Mon Dee Beach before a brewing storm. |
The trail ended in a coconut grove and nice sandy beach with turquoise water lapping lazily against the shore. I locked up my gear and went in for a swim but the reef wasn't worthwhile. I wonder if it's like this all over the island. It poured down like summer rain in the tropics and I had to run for cover even in the water.
I was more worried about my belongings on the land and had to get it to some sort of shelter before everything gets wet. I waited the rain out under the canopy for about half hour and talked a little bit to the locals before continuing my journey again.
I continued my hike north through some treacherous moss-covered rocks and receding tides, and finally came out to Ray Tee Bay at the end of my eastern shore hike and rested a while longer. After that, I started a grueling climb up to the viewpoint again and the trail was even steeper than the other side.
It was a muddy, twisty trail gnarled roots and mozzies buzzing around. I finally reached the top after what seems like an endless climb and just collapsed onto the rock over looking the two bays. A beautiful Siamese cat decided to have a nap on my chest while I laid on the rock sunning..
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| Grant, Dirk, Ling, Michael, and me on a night out at the Reggae Bar. |
I went back down into town after that and found Grant and Dirk eating at the Viking. I joined them for a nice plate of Pad Thai and then went back to have a shower. Michael finally arrived but was napping. He came up to our room after my shower and gave me a big hello. We spent another night of eating and watching movies and drinking afterward at the Reggae bar.
We also became friendly with the locals at the Amsterdam bar - a barmaid named Kung and also a waitress at the Viking named Ling. They both took a liking to our group and chatted with us continuously whenever we visited.
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