Phi Phi

Enjoyed Ko Lanta. Good beach, accommodation was okay. In a good location.
The last few nights a bird of unknown species has woken us up with it's raspy call which sounds like "fuk ewe, fuk ewe". Every time we investigate it shuts up, lol.

Off to Phi Phi for a couple of days hard partying. Mike says okay, as long as we are in bed by 10 pm....

Arrived in Phi Phi after an hour on the ferry. All white devils have to pay 20 baht 'rubbish' tax to enter the island. 
Doesn't seem to have worked very well... Unless the tax is there to put out more rubbish.

After the tsunami in 2004 the Thai's had a chance to rebuild with a bit of sympathy and style, however it turned out 'same same but different'. The difference was that it became four times as big, and 10 times more commercialised. Very crowded, very loud, very over developed. 
So infrastructure not quite up to it, smell of drains/sewers quite noticeable in places. Reminded us of India.

One positive thing is no cars and motor bikes, (except official ones, e.g police bikes, dumper trucks and bulldozers). 
Had one night to indulge the party scene. Didn't go for the buckets, (think sand castle building bucket's). These are filled with very cheap rum, vodka, brandy along with a couple of mixers, and a straw. Some people drank theirs too quickly, and are soon out of it. Littering the beach, draped over low hanging branches, sleeping it off in the bottom of monsoon drains!!  Buckets of spew here and there. 
We did have a couple of shorts and beers, but were in bed by 1.30 am. 
Its a mad place at night, and like a ghost town in the morning. 
However, both thought one night was enough. Leave it to the youngsters...
So, caught the boat to Krabi, and then Ao Nang for 3 nights, before we catch the plane to Bangkok.

Just a quick aside...if possible avoid having Americans as neighbours, or standing near them in queue's. If on a bus, then catch the next one!! They do not talk so much as broadcast. One gentleman was explaining how he suffered terribly from asthma/shortness of breath. 
Not sure if he was talking to/at one person, or the whole damn queue!!
We thought he might be exaggerating as he talked, loudly, for 2 minutes without a breath, (might have been an advanced breathing technique) and non stop for 25 minutes. This was in a queue, no escape. 
Another was in a room next to ours. Male, very loud voice. Talked/shouted for 2 hours, non stop. We knew he had a partner in the room, but only heard the occasional grunt from her. Could have been worse. He might have been on his own. Or she might have been gagged..
Just our luck, sleeping in the room next to a serial killer!!
Had to ask him to lower his voice. Worked for a while, but was soon back to a loud, nasal, drone. At least he wasn't sharpening his knife...
One, who actually stuck up a conversation with a two way flow, admitted that Europeans seem to find the Americans irritating. We whispered they must find many Europeans to be quiet and reserved...
Find them nice enough people, just very loud.

Leave you with some photographs. Long boat; Party night; cleaning up bodies and buckets; getting ready for another fun night; sunset.