February 10, 2023

Packed up, returned my scooter and walked to the pier. There are a total of 5 passengers and 4 employees on my speedboat to Koh Phi Phi this morning. Phi Phi is the most touristy island in Thailand, but it has some spectacular views I wanted to see.

Koh Phi Phi

Upon arriving at the dock, Burger King and McDonald’s are the first two storefronts I saw. Already glad I’m only going to be here a few hours.

The first thing I needed to do was find someone who would hold my bag for a few hours. I asked one of the boat shopfronts and they said they’d hold it for 50 baht. Sold.

Probably 40 pounds lighter, I went to find the four viewpoints on the island. On the way to the first, I walked past a restaurant called Hello My Mom. I think they’re inferring the food is like mom’s cooking. Sometimes the English translations can be funny.

I found the start of the path to viewpoint one. And I started climbing stairs. Lots and lots of stairs. In the end there were 343 stairs up to the first viewpoint 🥵  I’m starting to realize that anytime there’s a viewpoint in Thailand, it’s up a cliff.

It was ok but I knew it got better. So up I continued until I reached viewpoint two.

By then, me and everyone else I saw was huffing, puffing and sweating like crazy. Thankfully the view is worth the effort!

I rested to eat the fruit I picked up from a stand on my way. I don’t get tired of the delicious fruit!

Eventually I went further up to viewpoint three. Another great view of the entire archipelago, this time also noticing islands to the northwest: Koh Yao Pai and Noi, and a couple others.

There weren’t any signs to viewpoint four and the reviews said it was not worth it, so I decided to go find a beach to cool off. Today I stayed in the shade. No extra sun for me!

Noticed I drank 1.5 liters of water by 1pm

After some time at the beach, I packed up and found some green curry for lunch. Then I grabbed another ice cream bar from 7 Eleven.

The pier was complete chaos. People going every which direction. I couldn’t find a shopfront with my boat operator name, and the coordinates on my ticket suggested it was on the pier itself. I collected my bag and the woman directed me to the shopfront for the boat operator. After checking in he told me to come back in 30 minutes. Since it’s me and my 50 pounds of baggage on this hot afternoon, I found a place close by to wait in the shade.

Speedboat to Koh Yao Noi

There are five passengers and four workers on our speedboat again. I like these trips where our boat is at 8% capacity.

We stopped in Railay Beach on the way to pick up a couple more passengers. I never mind stopping in Railay!

Shortly after that we stopped in Ao Nang to drop a couple others. There must be over 100 boats in this tiny bay. We picked up about 20 passengers and left for my final stop.

Koh Yao Noi

As I stepped foot on this little, not well known island, I could immediately tell it is the perfect place for my last island stay. Only 6 others got off the boat with me, and as I rode around my newest scooter to my accommodations, I passed only two non-Thai people.

Renting a scooter here was more like borrowing one. A man at the pier told me he had scooters for 250 baht/day which I already knew was the standard rate here. So I agreed, handed him the cash and he gave me the scooter. He doesn’t know my name or have any form of ID from me like other rental places operate. And it’s a nice, smooth scooter! It’s obvious tourism is not on the same level here as everywhere else I’ve been. 

As I bounded up the eastern side of the island, the stunning islands in the bay shot out of perfectly calm blue water. My place, Tabeak Viewpoint, is up on a hill so I get a full view of the bay at all times. Sunrise should be amazing.

Pramot copied my passport, and I gave him 6000 baht for the 6 nights of my stay. He said there are many hornbills that fly around the trees here, so I should be on watch. He also said he’d take me to the nearby island by boat, as his gift to anyone who stays more than 5 days. Sounds great to me! He also informed me of others who want to take a boat tour of the archipelago in the east bay. I need to talk to them!