Our most recent post ended as we watched The Beach, in eager excitement of our next destination in Thailand, The Phi Phi Islands. This small island of beauty is quite surreal, with only boats and your own two feet as a means of transportation. This is something we really looked forward to, as the cab prices in Thailand are quite steep in comparison to the cheapest option, renting a motorbike. With the crazy driving we have seen on all islands, we figured the extra money spent on cabs was worth our safety. The morning of our ferry ride leaving Koh Phangan, our skepticism was reinsured, as countless bandaged up and broken down backpackers limped onto the ferry beside us, all injured from motorbike accidents. 

The Phi Phi Islands left us smiling all the way to Phuket, until Chris had to head to the airport that is. The clear blue water, white sand, bright green jungle, longtail boats, colorful street shops, and wandering cats are all among the many things we loved about this beautiful island. With five nights, more than most usually choose to stay, we were able to relax, enjoy, and splurge. Our first day we wandered the island and took in the incredible views around us. With nighttime came a high energy night life and a beachfront fire show, where we were both separately pulled on stage as volunteers. I guess sometimes trying to encourage the performers by being the loudest audience members can back fire. With no injuries and a couple entertaining videos, we were ready for the adventures awaiting us the following day, a kayaking excursion. This excursion took us around both Ko Phi Phi Lee, the private National Park, and Ko Phi Phi Don, where all of the tourists turn in at the end of the day. The boat tour finished off our adventure with a sunset dinner on the water, and some final boat jumps before we returned to our island. Tired from a day of kayaking, we headed to our bamboo bungalow for some rest before our second full day of excursions. 

With a 6am wake-up call, we headed to our private hired longtail boat, in hopes of beating the crowd to the infamous Maya Bay, also known as The Beach. One of the first things Chris ever asked me when we met was how I could go to the beach so early, 8am at that time. I guess I’ve rubbed off on him, getting him to the beach first thing! Unfortunately for us however, many tourists had the same idea and we were far from first to arrive. Despite the crowd, Maya Bay was everything we could have imagined, truly breathtaking. As our boat tour continued, we were amazed at the secluded spots our driver took us. With no crowds, we were in paradise. We were able to enjoy some of our best snorkeling at these destinations, away from the people and large boats. Enjoying the sound of the waves and the water splashing on us, we set off for the second largest tourist stop of Phi Phi Islands, Monkey Beach. This beach had hundreds of monkeys following tourists, even jumping up on their heads and arms. We found it interesting that the monkeys were drawn to water bottles, and did not hesitate to grab them from tourists and drink like humans. Worried that the poor monkeys were thirsty, we considered buying an inflatable pool and a couple gallons of water to kayak over the following day. Unfortunately, for the monkeys, our plan did not follow through. However, the stray cats of the island got lucky as Chris and I spent an entire evening walking the streets and alleys with cat food, feeding several hungry cats. 

I’ve now spent the past five days on my own in Phuket, with Chris back in LA for his Fire Department interview. Although traveling on your own is a great experience and something many travelers choose to do, I was ready to have Chris back as soon as I dropped him off at the airport. It has been a good week however, filled with massages, hot yoga, shopping, and relaxing days on the beach. That said, time apart really shows you how compatible you are, even with the stresses that come with traveling, and being in foreign countries, Chris manages to keep our trip positive, stress free and purely enjoyable. That said, I cannot wait to pick him up from the airport in the morning and continue on with our unforgettable adventure!