Krabi, Thailand ... Phi Phi Islands

A tour to Phi Phi Islands .... gorgeous, but can still see the effects
of the tsunami on tourism .... hotels have been repaired, torn down,
restored, but far from what they may once have been six and half
years ago. The waters are lovely shades of aquamarine, emerald,
turquoise and cyrstal clear once you leave the mainland and head
out to sea.
Had a jovial group to share the boat with and again, we made up
a veritable United Nations ..... Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium
Canada, Japan, China, Australia, Britain, South Africa and a few Thai tourists!
A great day, enjoying the sea, snorkelling and sunning ... a delicious lunch on Phi Phi Don
completed the day......time to chug along back Ao Nang Pier only to end up
well beached a short distance from the pier. The tide was rather low, to say the least! ....
and the boat was going nowhere fast until high tide the next morning!
..... hmmm, we ended up wading in murky water and mud flats to
make our way back ..... may I say the water near the mainland is anything
but clean ..... that raw sewage is dumped in these oceans came to mind as I plunged in,
noting all manner of garbage, rusty nails, pails, plastic, fish guts, wrappers, old clothing,
...... in fact it was quite disgusting to see just how much garbage is evident when the tide is
out! It was a time to bare up, grit your teeth, pinch your nostrils, plunge in and make our
way through the sludge .... little choice here! Nothing a good hot shower,
antibacterial soap and a bath wouldn't fix!

Young Korean honeymooners, Stacey & Jungho .... we

met later the next day in Ao Nang to share a coffee and

a milkshake!