A group holiday is always fun. More so, if the bunch of people knows how to have fun themselves. I am for sure, starting to be a fan of group holiday especially the last one I had was more than seven years ago.
Krabi and Koh Phi Phi are the two destinations chosen. The journey to Koh Phi Phi was made right after our arrival into Krabi International Airport. This airport reminds me of being in a Scandinavian country. The design is simple yet contemporary and with the intelligent usage of natural sunlight as internal lightings. Yes, it's very green, to a point where the lift does not have sufficient energy to carry more than an average person and a trolley! Perhaps, it was raining that day...
After some ground arrangements being taken care of, our pimped van carried all nine of us to the pier. Then another 1.5 hours boat ride to the once isolated island called Phi Phi. It was a real beauty, people said, before the tsunami. We joined the hundreds of tourists into this island and it seemed easy enough to find a decent accommodation there and then. After having a feel of the pricing and location, we finally made our decision for PP Princess, the once most famous hotel which is just right next to Loh Dalum. The rest of the island seems like under reconstruction with warning of tsunami signs and high grounds visible enough. Like any other famous tourist destination, street vendors selling souvenirs, accessories, clothing are abundant. Likewise, the restaurants and massage parlours seem bustling too.
What made an impression is the bamboo tattooing parlour. Almost every young and hip person wants to have a tattoo, permanently scarring their body. I supposed it is cool to do so. To reflect a sense of individualism or whatever you wish to call it.
I tried the local pancake. I had banana and chocolate. No points for guessing why such combination. It is just marvellous! Then I think I had too much of seafood, almost every meal of mine was laden with tonnes of cuttlefish,squids and prawns (more like shrimps) in my tom yams, pat thais and fried rice. Of course, all to be washed down with either Singha, vodka, whiskey or yummy tequila ( which I suspect to have caused my face to be half-swollen after drinking shots of it while chilling by the pool). Perhaps, I was being punished for coming out of my comfort zone of cutting down on meat and alcohol!
Oops, I think I have reached Sunda Resort, Krabi, after two nights and three days of hanging out, drinking, watching fire dance show, massage, chilling by the beach, window shopping, island hoping, snorkelling and spending some time in the legendary Maya Bay.
At Sunda, the resort is just perfect as a honeymoon resort, until I saw a lady complaining about an old man bringing in a very young Thai girl to the Muslim reception who speaks perfect Malay. She just smile and nod.
The tuk tuk ride was fun and it's amazing to see so many of us fitting into one. Well, we actually had two tuk tuks to carry us to Krabi Town. There are lots of local artists and they do portraits as well as abstract paintings. I was in awe to see the many profiles of the calming Buddha portraits. I didn't buy any as the price is too high and I simply hate to bargain.
Any good things will come to an end and this group holiday is an eye-opening as well as to test how comfortable I am around people especially around new people. I think I did ok and my verdict is, it is recommended for all real buddies/relatives and not so, if you're interested in exploring the place alone because you'll never have the chance. You'll be constantly in a gang, where your comfort zone is, to many people.
