Koh Phi Phi

Embarrassingly, I walked around Thailand misusing and mispronouncing Thai words left and right. I used the word “cab” as thank you for days until someone laughingly informed me that men say “cab” and women say “kaa.” I called Phuket “Foo-ket” and Koh Phi Phi “Koh Fee Fee” until after we’d left, at which time I was informed that the “ph” sound in Thai is simply pronounced “p.” Whoops.

The beach in front of our hostel at Koh Phi Phi

After almost a week in Chiang Mai, I thought I was going to melt. I loved the city, but it was hot, humid and, in the evenings, the sky would open up and a deluge- literally- would ensue, often washing away my appetite because I couldn’t face the rain to go out and get my dinner!

Koh Phi Phi offered a complete change in scenery, with (thankfully) sun drenched, sandy shores flanked by lush green mountains.

We stayed at Blanco Beach Bar, a hostel about 3 steps from the water (I kid you not). Although we’d had a little warning from Trip Advisor, we didn’t realize just how noisy this hostel, and the others along the beach, would be. Don’t get me wrong: the view was awesome, proximity to the beach amazing and food delicious, but if you want any sleep, do NOT stay at Blanco! Techno renditions of everything from Ke$ha to Johnny Cash are going until about 4am every day. Not exactly the most restful accommodation ever.

Still, I never let a little lack of sleep deprive me of working hard.

The view I had while I worked in Phi Phi!

…or playing hard!

Reigning Jenga champion at Blanco!

…although V tried too!

In between, we made sure to take advantage of the beautiful Phi Phi islands (there are actually a few) by taking a day tour that included snorkeling, a stop at Maya Bay (where the Beach was filmed, if you’ve seen the movie) and swimming with bioluminescent phytoplankton. This may have been one of my favorite parts of the trip, simply because it was breathtakingly beautiful everywhere we went on the tour, in and out of the water.