The Oriental Odyssey
Blue tranquil
waters, breathtaking landscapes, rich flora & fauna along with a rocking
nightlife, Thailand sure offers more than you can ask for!
Famous for
its serene beaches and scintillating party scene, the oriental country has come
up as a favourite holiday spot for all who want to unwind in style.
As Bangkok
and Pattaya remain the ultimate destinations for party people, Phuket and Krabi
are steadily catching up among those who admire natural beauty.
Phuket
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| Landing at Phuket International Airport surrounded by gorgeous waters. |
My friends
had earlier told me that Phuket is worth a visit only if one wants to chill at
its most happening area Patong and explore the glitzy party scenario.
I, however, found Phuket much fascinating than just Patong. With quiet and serene beaches, cultural events and world class shopping experience, it strikes a perfect balance between a peaceful yet hip getaway destination!
My stay at Phuket was too enthralling an experience to be written about in brief. Stay tuned for a separate blog, just on its way :-) For the time being, enjoy the account of our mystical journey to the Phi-Phi...
Phi-Phi Islands tour
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| On our Ferry Sea Angel as we leave for Phi Phi |
We took off
from our hotel Sunset Beach Resort, North Patong, to a day-long trip to this beautiful
cluster of tiny islands. Koh Phi-Phi is a group of six islands located almost
40 kms into deep seas, from Phuket. If you really want to experience the unexplored
magnificent beaches with silvery white sands and exotic marine life, don’t miss
out on Phi-Phi tour.
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| A view from the deck |
One
could choose from an array of speed boats, small & large ferries and really
minute fisher boats to reach Phi-Phi. It all depends on your pocket and your knack
for adventure. There are several agencies in Phuket offering
good deals to tourists. For the first timers, it would be recommended that they
book through their hotel.
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| The mystical Viking Caves |
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| Small fisherman boats |
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| Try speed boats only if you want to reach your destination early than slowly soaking in the beauty around. |
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A large ferry with lots of
passengers on board would allow you to socialise with fellow tourists and learn
interesting things from their experiences. Also, it is a good option if you are
travelling with a large group of friends..
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| Inside our ferry |
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| View of the magnificent mountains standing amidst the sea |
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| Trust
me,the sea route would take one’s breath away
The Phi-Phi though comprises of six islands, however, Phi-Phi Don
and Phi-Phi Leh remain the most visited ones. Infact, Hollywood movie ‘The
Beach’ featuring Leonardo Dicaprio was shot at Maya Bay in Phi-Phi Leh.
A small piece of advice-Those fond of water
activities like diving and snorkeling would find opportunities aplenty on Maya
Bay. However, you must then chose a smaller boat to travel as bigger ferries
like ours would not go too near the beach. You must be a good swimmer to
reach the beach all on your own and participate in sporting activities.
Considering none of us were decent swimmers, we had no choice than to wait back
in the ferry before it proceeds with the journey. Most of the travel agencies
provide snorkeling kits for as less as 100 Baht.
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| Snorkelers' paradise, Maya Bay as seen from our deck. |
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Reaching
Phi-Phi island was delightful. Silvery beaches against stark green hills are stunning.
For
shoppers, a colourful flea market selling stuff like sarongs, dresses, hats,
trinkets, sunglasses on the island could be quite a sight. Don’t forget to
bargain and check the item thoroughly for minor defects before you seal the
deal.
 
Don't forget to click as many pictures as you may of the pretty Phi-Phi beach.
The phi phi is a group of virgin islands with abundant natural beauty and peaceful surroundings to help you unwind.We enjoyed our journey as much as we savored the experience of being on the island.
Things to remember:
1-Carry an extra pair of clothes and
towel if you want to take dips at various beach stops. Sunscreen and
moisturizer are a must.
2- Parents with little ones should be
careful on ferries and also on the beaches. Keep a tab on their activities and ensure
they don’t move around un-escorted.
3- Be cautious of the time during various beach
breaks in the course of the journey. Most ferries provide tourists with a
decent time limit to stroll on the beaches before returning to proceed with the
trip. If you lose the track of time while chilling on the beach, you might find
yourself stranded as ferries don’t wait beyond a point :-/
4- Don't lose the travel token or sticker given to you by ferry /boat management. It identifies passengers of various cruises from one another,for islands buffets,boarding and de-boarding purposes.
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