Save Will

There’s a condition that afflicts many innocent, hard-working people around the world every day. Its victims suffer from light sensitivity, disorientation, lethargy, sleep deprivation, and depression. There is no cure, but some drugs temporarily alleviate its symptoms. Many people manage to live somewhat normal lives through proper treatment. I’m referring, of course, to waking up before 9 a.m., which I had to do all this week and expect to continue doing until my body gives out. Please donate to my relief fund.

Posts tagged ko phi phi

Feb 6

Friday, January 27, 2012

Got up early and had the showers to myself. Walked to the travel agency where I’d booked the boat tour and bought some bananas on the way. Was led to the boat tour company office, then to the pier, then to the boat itself and boarded. The tour wasn’t organized as well as the Angthong Marine Park one, so we didn’t really know where the next stop was, or how they would signal us that the boat was leaving when everyone was snorkeling. And no free Cokes. They did take us to all the places they promised, and it was all beautiful, and we had great weather. I saw Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh, better known as the beach from the movie The Beach. It was literally overrun with bodies, just totally ruined. It might be worth it to camp there overnight just so you can get the beach mostly to yourself. Actually, in the movie it looks much more secluded because they used graphics or something to make the bay opening look much narrower than it actually is. We went to Monkey Beach and I saw several tiny monkeys eating sugar packets and small fruits and attacking unwitting girls that weren’t paying attention. They were really cute and funny (because I wasn’t attacked). I ended up getting burned a little on my upper back and shoulders despite heaps of sunscreen because I switched from SPF 50 to 20 that day. The burns felt hot for several days after, but it wasn’t too bad. I met a Scottish girl about my age who was also going it alone and a nice couple from Austin. I can’t remember the names of all the beaches we saw, but there were about seven or eight of them. By the end, I could feel the burn on my back, and didn’t go out into the sun anymore. We returned to the Ko Phi Phi Don pier, and I showered, ate, bought a ferry ticket to Krabi, and then bought a beer and walked the beach a little, but there weren’t any fire dancers at the time, so I called it an early night again.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Rode a minibus to a nearby pier and boarded a ferry bound for Ko Phi Phi. Was a little worried about my pack — as I usually am — after I stowed it on the deck like everyone else, but it was soon buried under a bunch of packs. Safety in numbers. Got off the boat without trouble a couple hours later. Wandered the streets of Tonsai Village for over an hour in the burning sun, sweat running down to my chin and in my eyes, looking for a dorm bed somewhere. The first three or four places I went to were full. I found a hotel room for 800 baht, but wasn’t ready to pay that just yet. I made another round of the streets and managed to find a dorm I had missed before and got a bed there for 300 baht. I wouldn’t call it a hostel; it was just a tattoo parlor with a dorm and showers attached. The dorm was open to the air, no air con, several fans, “mattresses” were hard as boards, and my torso was covered in small, red bites by the end. Showers were challenging. But it was cheap. Laid down my stuff, cooled off in a 7-11, then ate lunch. Returned to the dorm, changed into my swimsuit, and hung out at the nearby beach for a couple hours reading a book until the light faded. The tide was low and the water had gross bits floating in it. Booked a boat tour of the Ko Phi Phi islands. Bought a few Chang beers and wandered around town and up and down the beach watching the fire dancers and fire breathers. Called it an early night.