{"id":2045,"date":"2011-03-21T05:14:20","date_gmt":"2011-03-21T04:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/petitesbullesdailleurs\/?p=2045"},"modified":"2024-10-17T00:24:22","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T22:24:22","slug":"phi-phi-leh-lile-belle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/en\/phi-phi-leh-lile-belle-20110321\/","title":{"rendered":"Phi Phi Leh, the beautiful island"},"content":{"rendered":"

Koh Phi Phi (pronounced pi-pi) is in fact two islands<\/a>. The biggest, Koh Phi Phi Don, where we live. And the smallest, Koh Phi Phi Leh, uninhabited. Which keeps, in spite of the cargos of tourists to unload there, allures of island with the treasure, of island of cinema. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Excursion in long-tail boat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let's be clear: it's not an \"adventure\" at all. All the tourists worthy of the name make the stroll in Phi Phi Leh (tourists of which we are obviously part, my travel companion and me, what we totally assume during this mini Thai stay of 2011).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The excursion is not an expedition. In short or long version, in speed-boat or long-tail boat, chartered or private, in the morning or in the afternoon, it is sold by all the agencies, hotels and guesthouses of the island...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless. I love this landscape of spectacular karst cliffs...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When, after having skirted the cliffs of Phi Phi Don, we see Phi Phi Leh approaching, in the axis of the bow of the long-tail boat,<\/em> one has the impression of discovering a mysterious island, inaccessible, lost in the ocean... An illusion that I savor with delight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Excursion<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Excursion<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So beautiful on the horizon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And she is beautiful, Phi Phi Leh. Even from afar. Before as after the excursion, I never tire of photographing its so singular silhouette, which appears on the blue, from the beaches of Phi Phi Don.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beaches not so crowded, moreover, contrary to what I feared. It is rather a good surprise. Even on those accessible by foot from Tonsai, the tourist \"village\" of Koh Phi Phi Don, you can still find quiet corners, take pictures without fearing the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Long-tail<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ploufs in the emerald water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So yes, I am very happy to have done it again, the walk in Koh Phi Phi Leh. To have bathed again in the emerald water of its creeks and beaches dominated by stunning cliffs. To have been able to observe some fish, already, in flippers-mask-tuba. And to have been able to see a lot more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rocky walls plunging almost sheer into the water are vertiginous. Their sight always gives me the same euphoric feeling, a little exhilarating. I have seen them many times on previous trips, it is not a discovery. But I notice with pleasure that I am not blas\u00e9. The sensation does not dull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we are not alone. Of course, we are startled when a group of Asian tourists, a few meters away, starts shouting from their speedboat<\/em> at the time of the photo-souvenir. Of course, we find it a bit ridiculous, to have to go wading in the water all at the same time, at the same places, on order of the boatman<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Now, swimming and snorkeling. Fifteen minutes. One, five. \u00bb<\/em> He wouldn't want his pronunciation to make us confuse 15 minutes with 50 minutes. We'd just have to extend our watery frolics! Apart from that, he's not a talkative or jovial guy. Well, it's true that he's working... And walking tourists, that can't be a fun job every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Phi<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Phi<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Koh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maya Bay, the beach neither secret nor deserted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The last stop, before the sunset, is Maya Bay<\/strong>, aka THE Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, this is the famous beach where the film was shot. The beach<\/em><\/a> by Danny Boyle, released in 2000, with Leonardo Di Caprio, Virginie Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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