Phi Phi Don

We leave Ronnie to ride to Koh Lanta and find a place to stay while we head off to Phi Phi Island for a look see and do a couple of dives.

Arriving at the Island of Phi Phi Dhon

The Island is about half the size of Saltspring but there are no roads on it so other than a couple of scooters most of the locals travel by bicycle. We took a very hot and sweaty walk down to long beach one of the nicer beaches on the Island were we had a swim and a couple of beers then we got a Long Tail back to our Hut. I wouldn't say Phi Phi Island was a destination for me but after all the talk we just had to go and see for our selfs. 

Our humble but expensive accommodation on the Island
($35.00 per night) 

Main Street Phi Phi 

Tide out! nice beach

Long Beach from our Long Tail boat

This Island was quite different after the Tsunami.

Watching the sun go down is a great thing to do

We go for a dive the water is so warm that we don't
even need a wet suit

I don't mind the water temp here

The diving on Phi Phi is very popular and it is supposed to be on of the worlds best dive sites but after diving the Blue Hole in Egypt and some of the places in Mexico and the Caribbean I think I am just spoiled

Shit I need to add more weight
 as I wont stay down!!

Lets play follow the leader

We leave Mum up top with the camera

Very busy dive sites

There are 20 + dive stores on the Island and they all charge
 the same for a 2  tank dive trip

Quality time with the family
One small bucket with Rum, Coke and Red Bull

The drinking and partying on the Island is easy to do you just get your self a BUCKET or two and you will soon be dancing.

Yes and even Mum gets in on the action

Visa Run to Myanmar

The visa run is done by many thousands of visitors to Thailand every year. When you land from an over seas flight you get a 30 day visa which isn't long enough for most people. When you arive by land you get a 15 day visa so for us it was just not going to work either.

Our Resort for two nights 

We leave the bikes and head to Burma

We got picked up at 9 am by the Kiwi guest house transport and were driven to the dock where we cleared out of Thailand and jumped into a long tail boat with two other young backpackers from the UK and a couple of Thai's (I think they were just going shopping)

Kids are great 

Girls are alway shy

The busy crossing by long tail to Burma

The trip across was about 30 mins and the boat had to stop on a small Island with a very official looking building that we were told NO PHOTOS as we pulled up along side (see photo below)

The entry point into Burma (no photo please)

One of the crew took our passports and climbed up the steps to the office, returning two minutes later and we pushed of for the last five minute run to the mainland.

No rain but lots of sunshine

The skipper of Our Long Boat

Umbrella sales are good here

Shorts and T Shirt OK

Arrival point into Burma

When we arrived at the mainland we had to clamber over the other boats to get to shore were we where escorted to an other very official building with three guys inside stamping passports and taking money. We handed over our $10.00 US each which was inspected very closely for defects then our passports were stamped in and out and we were good to go back to Thailand to stay for a further 15 days.

Buddha is here also

We took and extra 15 mins to walk around the small town looking for something to remind us of the experience but found nothing that we fancied, so we loaded back onto the boat for the ride back.

Lots of Signs in town like this one

Back to Thailand with and extra 15 days

The ride on these long tail boats is a very noisy one as they have no muffler or air intake filter so after the one hour plus ride we were all pleased to get back to Thailand and get our fifteen day extension.

When you see how many people are doing this visa run to Myanmar one has to wonder why the Thai government don't change the system and make the $10.00  themselves??

Back to the Mainland

After three great days on the island just hanging around in hammocks and laying on the beach burning to a crisp we decide it is time to do our Visa run so we leave Phil with his friends from Saltspring to go visit

 Ko Samui.

The Ferry back to Don Sak

The rusty ferry leaves the Island at 11am and we are there in our full riding gear in 32+ c temperatures early as we need to get tickets, after a 30 min wait we are loaded and on our way back to Don sak on the mainland two and a half hours later we ride of and back track our route to Ranong where we will make a quick trip to Burma (Myanmar)

Just like a trip to Saltspring Island

In this heat we sure drink our share of water.

Its a short ride and we stop to get gas for the Big Fella have a cold drink and a quick bite then push on arriving at Rangong around 3.30pm.

I guess this guy is lost!!

A lot of little piggy's going to market!

Just another great ride

The Kiwi Guest house were we planed to
stay to make our Visa Run

After checking in with the Kiwi Guest house and organizing our Visa run we decide it is a little to basic for us to stay !! No problem she says so we arrange for her to pick us up at 9am he following day then she takes us around the corner to a very nice place with a pool were we decide to stay for two days.

Ko Phangan

A very happening Island off the east coast of Thailand

Before we board the Ferry we have been warned!!
But we never saw the Skipper to ask for one.

On the Ferry we park at the front I hope it isn't
 to bumpy as we cant fine any chocks

After a very hot 515 km ride the ice cream
goes down fast

The Ferry terminal at Donsak

Our beach hut with Big Red parked out side
500 Thbt per night or $15.00

Phil found us a great place to stay

We found the beach to be a little bit over
crowded :-)

The view of the palm trees from our spot
 on the beach

The end of a perfect day

No Phil is not riding Big Red he rented a scooter
 and we went for a spin on it

On the beach at Hatrin were the Full moon party is held
Glad we missed that one!!

I am so LUCKY :-)

Some Thai Tim Bits

You can eat on the market for less than $3.00 per
meal and there is lots of choice

Ronnie finds a hammock to finish his book

Phil meets some of his Saltspring Buddy's
Derek and Crystal
(such a small world)

Crystal wants a drink with an umbrella in it
Now that will be a challenge for Chenty

In the pool next door cooling off

I suggest Chenty gets a job so we can stay longer