Act 1 Scene 12

It was like a scence from a movie and all I could think was, Wow, This is my life now. I was in a wooden longboat skimming across the turquoise water-bikini clad with shades on- and people back home are in cubicles typing up reports. How fortunate for me. We had a hell of an intinerary planned and even three bottles of Samsong whiskey from the previous night couldn't slow us down...for the most part. Sure we were in rough shape: red-rimmed eyes and wrinkled, slept in clothes, unbalanced walking and a queasiness that came in waves, but by God we were on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Ko Phi Phi!
The island itself has 2 parts: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. One bigger than the other and both connected by a thin beach and village, water visible on both sides. With most of the area a Marine Park, natural beauty is bountiful. Myself and four others arrived on a tour I saw in a brochure, 'Only 1,100- Baht.' Food, snacks, snorkeling, sight seeing and-gasp-transportation to and from your hotel. The cab fare that it would have cost to get to the pier equaled the price of the trip.
The day started off grey. It was a little cloudy, but it soon burned off as we neared Phi Phi (pronounced P. P.), an hour later. We pulled into the dock and dropped some people off but where instructed, because of our little green stickers, to stay aboard. We motored to the bay and were given snorkel and mask, a lovely bright yellow and black, and were let loose among the coral. Being afraid of water-ocean more so- it took me some time to warm up to the activity. I finally got it and orchestrated my breathing. Once I calmed down enough to actually stay underwater I was amazed by the scope of color and variety of marine life: Parrot-fish, their chubby blimp like bodies and electric colors each a little different from the other, Angel fish, clown fish, and all kinds of flashy bright fish whom I have no idea on the names. It was amazing. At one point I was completely encompassed by a school of stripped blue, black, and yellow mini fish. I could feel their little bodies whirl past me. Holding out my hand I tried to catch some, but they are fast little devils! It was hard not to smile as they danced in front of your mask, almost teasing you to try. After an hour of snorkeling, of which my friends and I were the first in and last out (got my money's worth!), we had fresh fruit on the boat as we cruised on a sight-seeing tour of the island and all of its lagoony, cliff wonder.
Phi Phi explodes out of the crystal teal water in completely steep vertical shoots. The walls of which are a geology lesson in itself. Krabi, the province that Phi Phi belongs to, is known for it's limestone cliffs and ultimate rock climbing, but I am not sure if these were in fact limestone. These rock walls were more grey with orange clay like color mixed in. It was like peanut brittle ridged and flaky, covered by green little shrubs, palms, and trees. The root systems of which blend into the stone turning grey as it connects making intricate sprawling lines in spots. The cliffs let to white sand beaches in spots creating coves of pristine, picture-postcard perfect mini heavens where green meets grey meets white meets turquoise: Kodak moment. Nestled in the cliffs are a series of coves. One being the "Viking Cave" from years past. Others are higher up in the cliffs and many have locals living in them- a small bungalow and dishes inside.
The whole was moving, mind blowing and spiritual. As we docked for lunch we all had an urge to stay, and I voiced it:
"Let's stay!"
"You want to? I'm down."
"Yeah, let's get a bungalow."
"Dude, if we can get a cheap one, I'm in."
"Let's check it out. We can find the cheapest one."
"Really?"
"Totally!"
We sat down to the buffet style meal: Tom Yam seafood soup, rice, sweet and sour fish with vegetables, spaghetti and sauce, stewed local veggies, fried fish squares, fresh pineapple and watermelon and more. The flavors created a delicious mix and I had to stop myself from going for a third helping.
We found a reasonable bungalow and set up camp. It was time to explore...Which led us right to the beach as our bodies overheated and begged for salt water relief.
By four it was happy hour and nothing says happy like Samsong buckets. By buckets, I mean children's beach pails filled with ice, a bottle of whiskey, red bull, and cola. It was two for one. So we went for it. Splitting it four ways as one of our companions had gotten really ill and had to go back to the room.

The next morning was filled with "Do you remembers" and pointed fingers teamed with fits of laughter. It was seven a.m. and we were ready to roll, chowing food and figuring out what to do with our day. The streets are lined with various shops boosting, Tours, Scuba, Sights, and Sales! But the way to go is to hire a local in one of their Longboats. Longboats are long, wooden boats with a small tarp for shade in the middle and a large propeller controlled by the local in the back for steering. After some barter we sloshed out to it and hopped in. Donning the normal blessings of flowers and sashes on the front, our boat was ready to voyage. We checked out the caves up close and personal first. That is when we realized the residency. After that we scooted into crystal clear water in a small cove. It was too much and we had our driver stop so that we could jump out into the water and swim around. It was unbelievable. Surrounded by jutting green cliffs I floated on my back and took it all in, the water warm and the scenery amazing. We then went to a snorkeling spot (but you didn't even have to snorkel. The water was so clear that you could see the fish right from the boat!), and our driver showed us a secret way to get to Maya Bay.
We swam from the boat to the side of the cliffs. The waves pushed us to a little cave opening, and entrance to the valley. We each floated through the small hole and it opened up to a grassy mini beach with a trail. We followed the trail through the woods and as it turned from packed dirt to white loose sand, we emerged from the white flowered field and into Maya Bay. With stalactites hanging from the cliffs rimming one side of the white sand beach, we swam. Almost fully enclosed with a small outlet to the sea where boats access it, it truly was a small paradise.
We walked back- more to do- but I veered off and followed another path for curiosity sake.
As I was walking my eye caught a small movement and a butterfly, the size of one of my hands, fluttered in front of me. As I was watching its black and iridescent blue wings beat the fragrant air, heavy with the dense smell of forest and wet dirt, another, larger, butterfly joined it. This one with orange and red accents and dew drop bottom wings. Together they danced around me, and I swore that they were doing it just for me. I held out my right pointer finger for a landing post and they twirled around it delicately moving around it, up my arm, and around my body. I gasped with the sheer beauty of it-magical- and they flew off into the palms. I hurried back to my group and met them as they slipped back through the cave.
After, we went cliff jumping and to "Monkey Island" but unfortunately we saw no monkey. A big let down for me as I'm dying to see some monkeys and have yet to. We also went to "Shark Point" to swim with sharks (his broken English reassuring me that they wouldn't bite, "Just small baby.") But alas, no sharks either.
The rest of the day was filled with sunshine, salt water, and curried dishes on rice topped with a fried egg. But we all departed with the memory of paradise, and a promise to return.