Tag:Thailand
I guess you could get to the Phi Phi Islands by sea plane but boat is the norm. And that’s the normal way to leave too. I took this image as the ferry carried me back to Phuket. The sea was relatively calm but the occasionally the boat would crash through the swell as captured here as I watched the island disappear in the wake of the boat.
On the way back to Koh Phi Phi Don from Koh Phi Phi Ley, having cruised by one of the caves from which the locals harvest swifts’ nests for birds nest soup, we got some up-close views of the base of the limestone cliffs. The cave action is clearly undercutting the rock over the course of the years.
This overhang in the limestone rack face was a significant swift nesting site. Out of harvesting season, there was no one working on this day. Bird’s nest harvesting is a regulated industry and there were signs above the jetty here warning trespassers off. All the bamboo poles you can see here are used by the harvesters to reach the rock ceiling where the swifts build their nests.
The ferry also stops by some of the local attractions on it’s way into the islands. Here it’s pulling up to the limestone cliffs so the passengers can see some caves where locals gather swift nests for birds nest soup. Quite why a soup made from bird spit is so sought after I don’t know. I’ve never tasted it myself. But I’m left wondering…
Back in the late 80’s when I made this trip, I couldn’t swim. It would be another couple of months before I learned – spurred on in part by not being able to go snorkeling or diving in these waters. It seemed everyone was having so much fun! As a toddler, I almost drowned and had to be rescued by me father. If it hadn’t been for my brother who was three at the time who ran off to tell my father that I’d fallen into the water tank, I’d probably have drowned.
I’m going to go out on a limb with the name of this photo. I’m about 80% sure it’s somewhere on Koh Phi Phi Ley and not Koh Phi Phi Don. I didn’t note the distinction on the notes on my slide label on this one. I’m also going to guess that I took this from a boat, by virtue of the deeper blue at the bottom of the frame. The shallow water is that lovely aqua color while the deeper water is a colder blue.
