Today I decided to visit Phi Phi. I had been to some rocky outcrops off of the southern coast of the island yesterday for diving and the place looked beautiful. Together with the others I made my way to Phuket town and we hired a speed boat for the day. The cost including lunch a driver and a guide was only 16 pounds per head. Happy days. The seas were a little choppy and our speed boat was constantly jumping out of the water and crashing back down with bone crunching force. It was like an hour long roller coaster ride on the high seas.
We made our way at rapid speed to Phi Phi Ley, the smaller of the two islands. As we maneuvered round the island we were greeted by magnificent rock faces cave networks, trees full of sleeping bats and narrow waterways with steep cliffs on either side that led into the island.
We pulled into a bay obscured from view from the sea by cliffs and I immediately recognised the location. We were at 'the beach' from the film of the same name. You know, that one with Leonardo Di Caprio in.
In the movie Leo gets given a map of a secluded island and seeks a way to find it. Along the way he gets two travelling companions and also makes a copy for a couple of guys the night before he departs. When he arrives at the beach he finds a seemingly Utopian society of ex pats of many nationalities living there. They ask him if he made a copy of the map. He claims he hasn't and they explain it is imperative he doesn't as others will come and spoil their beach. Eventually the copied map catches up with him and others do come - and the perfect community on the perfect beach falls apart.
Now, what Leo's character did in innocence did spoil the beach in the film. However, the film has spoiled the real beach. Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited. However, there must have been 300 people on the beach - it was hard to walk. I have included a picture of the beach as featured in film above and also one as it is now below. I wandered briefly into the surrounding forest looking for where they put that man to die in the film. Either its changed a lot or only the beach was used for filming at that location.
Now, what Leo's character did in innocence did spoil the beach in the film. However, the film has spoiled the real beach. Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited. However, there must have been 300 people on the beach - it was hard to walk. I have included a picture of the beach as featured in film above and also one as it is now below. I wandered briefly into the surrounding forest looking for where they put that man to die in the film. Either its changed a lot or only the beach was used for filming at that location.
We made our way around the island to monkey beach. Its less of a beach and more of a cliff face with monkeys on. Those in our group who hadn't yet seen a monkey were very impressed. I have to say i was a little non plussed.
We made our way to some shallow waters and I snorkeled for a short while. On exiting the water I became aware id been stung several times by jelly fish. It was an annoyance - but no worse than a nettle sting.
Next it was off to Phi Phi Don.
We made our way to some shallow waters and I snorkeled for a short while. On exiting the water I became aware id been stung several times by jelly fish. It was an annoyance - but no worse than a nettle sting.
Next it was off to Phi Phi Don.
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