A battle with the elements

Trip Start Jul 07, 2009

Trip End Aug 10, 2009

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Where I stayed

PP Princess Resort Ko Phi Phi Don

(Ko Phi Phi Don hotels)

Flag of Thailand Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
Thursday, July 30, 2009

This was an interesting day. On waking up very early in preparation for our scuba dive, we were very excited. Our chosen dive company were in conjunction with our resort (princess divers) so it was all very easy and we were on the boat by 8 am. After offering around travel sickness pills with the warning of rocky waters (which I bravely refused) we set off to our first dive site, Bida Nok, which was just south of Phi phi lay. I've dived before and have my PADI qualification (but was a bit rusty) and Fi had never dived before so we decided to dive together so that the instructor could refresh me and teach Fi and so we could have a joint experience. Fi was noticably nervous and I wasn't too bad for once, something which, as a rule, had been the other way round for the entire trip! We got in the water and after a briefing and teaching, Fi settled her nerves and got into it and I remebered what I was doing so we began to enjoy. Unlike my most recent diving experience in Scotland (a serious no-no) I was blown away by what we saw

Thai hospital & fi

. Turtles, barracuda, Nemo, blow fish, box fish and angel fish a plenty. This was all complemented by the warm water and being able to share it with Fi. On returning to the surface we got back on the boat for lunch. Shortly after lunch we moved to our next site, Table coral reef, which consisted of an artificial coral reef which had been built after the Tsunami. I dont know whether it was more for tourist divers or for the wildlife but it seemed to do the trick as it was adorned with all kinds of creatures and we were happy to look at them! Fi settled into the diving even more so it was great and we returned to land happy divers, Fi having got the taste for it I think.

In the evening we were on a diving high (the metaphorical one) and so decided to sample the Phi phi nightlife. After a visit to tom yum, we set off for the beach to see where the noise which had kept us up the night before was coming from. We soon reached 'Slinky bar', a garishly decorated bar with speakers pumping. Soon, a fire show began and we watched talented locals whizzing firey sticks etc around and around. they didnt seem to need a qualification as they kept dropping them and letting them go just at the wrong time, but we weren't in the firing line (pun - haha) so it was ok. After a couple of drinks, the fire show changed from 'eyes on' to 'hands on'and Fi quickly worked up the courage to join in the firey dutch skipping rope game. This consisted of running in, jumping a couple of times as two men swung it and then run out. All ok and anyone who got hit by the rope didn't seem to be too bothered by it. I must admit I was too chicken to do this one, my rationale being that I had never done non-firey dutch skipping, or not since i was 5, and didnt really want to get it wrong.
This quickly turned into hoop jumping, whereby the locals lit up a man-size peace sign and then cut the middle bits out to leave a burning hoop

Hot rope jump

. Both fi and I gathered up the courage to give this one a go and with egging on by the surrounding people, we gave it a go and it was pretty easy really, I didn't really want to do it again though. We soon moved over to the neighbouring bar where the crowds were substantailly larger and the hoop higher off the ground. I decided to stay away from this one but Fi, being Fi, gave it a go with some crowd cheering. On approaching the hoop she spotted a previous jumper who was injured at the side. this came just at teh wrong time and she misjudged the height of the hoop. I was sitting at the side feeling quite sorry for myself that I was too scared to do it when I saw Fi trip and get up. I was worried but (thinking I was being too mumsy anyway) didn't worry too much when she didn't come back. After 15 minutes of looking for her, however, I was a bit worried and then I heard my name (famous!!) on the Tannoy and a lady that we had met earlier on the beach found me and took me to where Fi was sitting with her leg and arm in ice. Fi's medic knowledge had come in very useful and she had run straight into the sea (on fire!!) to cool the burn immediately before demanding ice off the useless locals. She was taken to hospital on the back of a police bike and I walked with someone from the party who was kindly helping us.
The Thai hospital left a litttle to be desired but when I arrived, Fi was sufficiently bandaged and had been given some cream. Although it wasn't the best treatment ever, it wasn't too bad. I guess they are used to this kind of injury on the island!! We returned home where we got a little sleep, at least the beach base noise was not on our minds!!

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