Day 28 - Travel to Koh Tao

After sleeping in the gorgeous Phi Phi Natural Resort I was surprised and a little dismayed to wake up in the tiny hostel bed at 10:30am with a size-able hangover.

There was some confusion when I couldn't find my shoes (they were locked up in the main hostel area for the night) we caught a bumpy cab to the ferry terminal, where we waited and had lunch, feeling sick sick sick.  What we didn't know is that the stomach churning ferry would be stopping twice before arriving on the island of Koh Tao, once at party-central Koh Phagnan and the small isle of Nangyuan, right next to Koh Tao.

The saving grace of the day was that there was actually someone waiting at the ferry terminal with a sign with our names on it - HURRAY!  I think one of the worst parts of traveling is when you first arrive, confused and tired (and hungover), there are all these people shouting at you and offering you taxis/rides...etc.

We checked in and after changing into our bathing suits we high-tailed it down to the beach.  Only minutes after Ty had jumped in it started raining really hard so I hid out with my book at the nearby restaurant, making friends with the local cats.

Ty making friends in the rainy ocean

Koh Tao Regal Resort pool

It kept raining and after dinner we went to much needed bed.

Day 23 - Heaven on Phi Phi

Our first full day on Phi Phi Don island, at the Phi Phi Natural Resort.
We woke up feeling so refreshed after a crazy couple of travel days.  Our breakfast was included in our $40/night hotel (which everyone kept calling expensive) and it was the very typical fried rice, cold cereal, fruit, and eggs made to order.  The resort seemed really empty and at breakfast we only saw two other couples.  

After changing into our bathing suits (I had a small panic when I thought I forgot mine in Chiang Mai) we walked the 200 feet to our private beach and it was completely empty!  

Yahoo!

It was all worth it!

After my dip in the ocean I struck up a conversation with one of the other couples at the nearby pool, and they said the resort had been empty the whole time they had been there and that it was absolutely amazing.  I agree!

We spent the morning reading in the shade, applying and re-applying SPF 50.  The pool side restaurant wanted 250-300 baht for a burger so we decided to explore our beach a little.  We must have walked 1 km but eventually found a "local" place up 10 rickety stairs that was cheaper.  There were two groups of Italians drinking there so we considered it fair game, despite the rustic conditions.  We had a friendly almost-chat with the chef/owner, a nummy red curry with rice and pad thai for 150 baht (including 2 drinks) and then did the pool again.

The night life on our beach was almost non-existant but there was a older Thai gentleman singing Elvis and other oldies with a karaoke type of set-up on the beach.  We were in bed by 10pm!

Here's a Map of Koh Phi Phi Don - we were staying at the Laem Tong Beach, in the most northern resort on the beach.