Koh Phi Phi

Our next stop was Koh Phi Phi. This island is essentially two different islands that are joined by a beach where the town is built. The town was wiped out by the tsunami in 2004 killing over 2000 people, so many places are under construction as the are still rebuilding. We stayed on the back side of the island so to get to town we had to take a boat around or hike about an hour up and over the island. The picture below is from the highest point of our hike to town, so you can see that we were definitely breaking a sweat getting to town. When we left, we went over the top with all of our bags and when we made it down into town out legs were literally shaking. 

We had two full days here and we made the best of them. Our first day we took a half day trip to Phi Phi Leh which was a breathtakingly beautiful island, albeit saturated with day trippers. We rode out there on the longtail boats. Ours is the one on the left below. 

The driver took us around to 3 different spots on the island to do some snorkeling. There  are some pretty interesting things in the water over here to say the least. 

That night Arwyn and I stayed in town to watch some Muy Thai fighting. This bar was pretty amazing. They recruit people out of the audience to fight so you definitely saw some entertaining things. I am still upset with myself that I didn't get up there. They were to pair me with a big Russian guy and Arwyn and I had already payed for rock climbing the next day so I passed. The guy went on to pummel some other big Russian guy so maybe I did make the right cal. ...  

The next day we took a rock climbing course. Our guide had trained as a monk for 10 years and was very fun to be with. We had an amazing time, it really was a highlight to our trip. We learned some great techniques and know enough now to go climbing on our own. 

Some monkeys got the better of me. They came along where we were climbing and I grabbed our lunch bag to guard it. They ganged up on me and jumped at me, tore the bag out of my hands and then they were everywhere and our lunch was nowhere. 

Here is Arwyn belaying herself down a 90 foot wall she had climbed. 

In town that night we celebrated our last sunset in Thailand as we started our long slog home the following day.