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| The weather takes a turn over Phi Phi Ley. Taken from Long Beach. |
From the moment you step onto the pier at Ton Sai on Thailand's tourist mecca Koh Phi Phi Island you can tell this place is made for couples and groups. Not only do they dominate and roam the long, brown sugar coloured beaches but they get things cheaper than a serial singleton like myself.
Phi Phi is an island east of Phuket which draws in divers and snorkellers from all around the world and has been a tourist hotspot since ages ago.
I was staying at Long Beach at what I thought was a backpackers which was about a 10 minute long tail boat ride which cost me 200B ($8NZD) one way from Ton Sai - 100B each for 2 or more people. I had booked to stay in a six bed dorm at the Long Beach Hotel. It had no reviews on Hostelworld, but I assumed this was because it was pretty new and I booked because it was a reasonable price (600B/ night. About $30NZD/ night). When I eventually got to the hotel I was told I couldn't book a 6 bed dorm for myself ("the eff?"). Instead I was offered a little bungalow with a mosquito net, a fan and a super hard mattress for slightly cheaper price than I would have paid for the dorm for the inconvenience. Win, I guess.
The hotel also runs 1/2 and full day tours around Phi Phi and the surrounding islands including Phi Phi Ley where Leo DiCaprio once sat on a beach in a movie fittingly entitled "The Beach". The 1/2 day tour to Phi Phi Ley costs $1200B per person for two people, but I managed to get it at that price too - either because of the earlier inconvenience or because the guy was taking pity on me for being on my own. Either way - win.
Some helpful advice: If you decide to stay on Phi Phi (they also run day trips from Phuket and other places too) and you're on your own either find someone to go with or stay in Ton Sai which is where the majority of shops, bars and accommodation is. There's more of a chance to meet people and save some Baht not making the 200B+ trip to other parts of the island. Plus there's more to do unless you like lying on a beach - in which case it doesn't really matter.
Now, before you take pity on me (if you haven't already) I actually had an alright time. I probably didn't do as much as I could have though, although diving and snorkelling aren't really my scene. It probably would have just been better with more people. Funnily enough, I did know two people who were staying in Phi Phi for the two nights I was there, but I wasn't able to meet up with them for various reasons.
But, if you're an eternal optimist (well, mostly) like me than I suppose the upside was that I got to catch up on some sleep. The downside was the bad Pad Thai (Bad Thai - lolz) I had which had me feeling a bit ill the next day - when I had to spend more than an hour on a ferry in sometimes choppy waters.
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