After 5 days on Phi Phi it’s time to leave. It has been good and not as bad as my friend who visited two weeks ago told it would be!!

Stayed in a very cheap hostel up a very steep hill – the Golden Hill Bungalows were booked through HostelBookers and cost only 6 pounds per night to stay in a 4 bed room (2 bunk beds). My room-mates were friendly and good for a beer and  the Golden Hill had a good bar. The downside though was the bed – my back almost gave out and I had to eventually upgrade to a double room with a real bed and good mattress. Cost… a whopping 13 pounds per night. Got a great nights sleep in there after being awake with back painin the dorm. You always get what you pay for!

As I mentioned, The Golden Hill are up a steep hill and the trek up and don each day combined with the 300+ steps to the viewpoint over the island left my calve mussels killing me. Great view from the top and a beautiful garden to admire so it was worth it. Do not try it with a hang over though… I only just survived without one!!

PhiPhi itself has changed dramatically since I was last here in 2002. Development is rife and unstructured to the point where I don’t believe there is an architect or a  spirit level on the island! Maybe it was the rush to get things going again after the Tsunami but they should have taken a little time in planning.

There are lots and lots of bars, dive shops, restaurants, boats, day trips and tourists. Loads of them! Bar prices are expensive if you choose anything than a Thai beer or a bucket of cocktail (yes I did say bucket, a bit like a fishbowl in Greece!) which are both relatively cheap at 1 pound for a beer and average 5 pounds for a bucket. Corona on the other hand was 2 pounds per bottle. 

You have to get out of the main strip to get away from the hordes and sadly the boat trips to Maya Bay (where the film The Beach was filmed) and ever other ‘secluded’ spot are overrun with visitors. If you are looking for a good night spot with loads of young people (average age around 25) then Phi Phi is perfect. If you want deserted island paradise look elsewhere.

Now I am on my way to the ferry to visit Railay bay and paddle through the mangroves and explore the hidden karst lagoons…