Thailand’s Islands

The Sea Gypsies that operate the long tail boats in the Andaman sea have made a great life for themselves, ferrying travelers between the hundreds of small dots of land in the turquoise water.

Some of the islands jut straight up out of the water with sheer cliffs topped by lush jungle. They make for great contrast with the surging water that slowly erodes them at their base. Several of the smaller islands have become impossibly mushroom-shaped over time. All of them are dramatic and alluring.

These islands are a famous backdrop for lots of Hollywood fiction, but their beauty is incredibly real. Ko Phi Phi was made famous by “the Beach”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The young twenties travelers have come in droves to experience their own bit of private island party paradise. If you really want to experience the movie beach, you have to boat over to Maya cove on Phi Phi Le. Be prepared to imagine some mountains that were digitally added for the movie.

We went for sunrise and there were still leftover and hungover revelers from last night. There were two other coves that were less inhabited and even more attractive in the morning light. Cool green and shady! Looks like a nice place to paint!

I don’t know how many of the islands we’ll visit, but they all seem incredible from the deck of the long tail boat.