Ruby in the Sky

After the rollercoaster of boring Phuket, peaceful Khao Sok and trashy Patong, I was not sure what my next stop would hold in store for me. A place known for both partying and beautiful, beautiful beaches: Ko Phi Phi.

Upon arrival on the island, everyone has to pay a 30 baht “ticket” for entrance – this is supposed to cover the costs of keeping this stunning place clear of your trash. A great effort to try and sustain the environment, I think!

After Patong I was a bit hesitant about this place, as it was known as a party island, much like Patong is known for its partying. But as soon as I walked onto the yellow brick road (yup, that’s an actual thing!) – completely car free, like the rest of the island – I knew it was going to be okay. The atmosphere was so relaxed, the people were helpful, and the sun was smiling at me. Phi Phi and I were going to be good friends!

When I arrived at my (cheap, but overpriced) hostel, they turned out to be overbooked. I had to move to the hostel next door, along with another Dutch girl and a British guy. Luckily, that created a bond of some kind, and soon the girl, her friend from another hostel and I were off to dinner.

We had dinner in a restaurant that had been restored thanks to crowdfunding after the Tsunami in 2006, and served delicious food from a variety of cuisines. After dinner, we were off to the beach. On the island, this is where the party happens: the beach is lined with clubs, usually with a fire show happening in front of them and the music of each so loud it bleeds into the next.

The music wasn’t great, but I had a good night and went to bed satisfied with my first day on the island. The next day, after a lazy morning, it was time for me to explore the island a bit more. As the island is quite small, before too long I found myself walking along the sand and sitting down in a nice, slightly shaded place, looking out over the most gorgeous bay. While I love swimming, it usually takes quite some push to get me started. Here however, I found myself irresistibly pulled towards the water and before I knew it, I was all in. It was the most amazing feeling: the water almost lukewarm, the sun shining on my hair and me, floating on the clear blue, slow waves.

After a while, I felt like it was time to move on. So I put on my shirt and headed back in the direction of my hostel. On my way there, however, I got the idea into my head that I could go and climb the hill overlooking the island. So I did. On my flip-flops. The walk was a little bit longer than expected, but doable. And oh my, was the view worth it! I stayed around at the top for a little while, taking a few pictures and enjoying the wonderful nature I was surrounded by and looking out on. It was magical.

That night I took it slow, going with the relaxed vibe of the island itself. My expectations of this place were nowhere near the reality of its beauty and amazing atmosphere, and I feel so grateful to have been able to experience it, especially after the mishap that was Patong. With mixed emotions I left the next morning, to move on to the last new place I would visit in Thailand before heading back to Bangkok: Krabi.

What pulls you most towards a location?

Love, Ruby