So Phi Phi turned out nicely, we ended up spending two nights there on the little beach that was very quiet. On one of the days, we decided to take a hike over the island to Tonsai beach and via the picture postcard viewpoint. Interestingly they we’re selling DVDs of photos from he Tsunami that wiped the place out a few years ago.

We sweated out way to Tonsia beach an immediately found a dive centre, we were excited to get the last two places on there trip the next day to two famous dice sites, but then found out that the places had already been filled by the main shop (this was an offshoot). Dejectedly we said we might pop back the following day.

We ate lunch at a node little backstreet food place frequented by locals, one of which brought her per monkey…

I had never tried fried chicken who rice Thai style before, and it was lovely — I could eat it right now, my mouth is watering thinking of it!

We went to find a boat back around to Runtee bay, but we’re shocked to find that the tai drivers on the main pier were charging 800b for the 1-2km ride. Ludicrous. So we hiked it back over the hill in the heat, via the viewpoint.

On top of he hill after the viewpoint, just before the steep climb back down to the bay, there was a little shack, swilling beers and softdrinks, Laura was sitting on an old bench, so I sat down next for her. With a loud crunch, the seat snapped at one end (my end) and I ended up on my arse. A few seconds later, laughing and apologies started coming from the hut, and we were invited to watch Thai boxing with the local occupants.

The evenings in runtee bay were quiet, it’s low season and there weren’t many people around. Also, it rained a bit which quashed any party atmosphere.. Early nights for us!

The mornings heralded money’s coming down from the trees to look for food, and muck about with stuff. Laura fund herself face to face with one who decided to sit on our balcony. I missed it, but got a photo of one later on. The staff fed them in the canteen!! I suppose not much difference between them and tourists really!

We left Phi Phi having not explored the tourist town much, but only a slight pang of regret for not making the major of the amazing scenery. Diving would have been fun had we found the combination of a decent price, good dive site and good timing.

We hopped on a taxi boat back to the main pier (150b/pp) and then onto Koh Lanta via fast boat (350b/pp).