Koh Phi Phi

This post is updated and now hosted on http://www.nomadsblogs.com/koh-phi-phi-thailand/ go there for the latest version. Or head to Nomadsblogs.com for travel info and news.

So your looking for a picture perfect beach to relax on with cool water. Unfortunately Koh Phi Phi Don is no longer the greatest spot for this, there are some nice beaches at Long Beach (15 min walk from the main area) but the main beach is shallow, filled with rubbish and sewerage.

We did find a nice secluded beach just before long beach that had clear water, and plenty of corals that were still alive.

If you do an island hopping trip then you will find some amazing beaches, snorkel with sharks (small harmless reef sharks), see coral, caves, and incredible sunsets.

Incredible fish and sharks can be found at some of the islands.

As can incredible beaches:

If you came for the party's then you are definitely in the right spot, this place has everything, fancy fighting a friend or random drunk person in the Reggae bar for a free bucket of booze, Phi Phi has that.

Maybe dancing drinking and smoking all night at one of many beach bars, or relaxing with a smoke at Banana Bar's rooftop lounge area (great by day and night).

We stayed at Flower Hostel in the dorm room for 300THB per night, the crowd in this hostel was incredible with cheap beers at the hostel we made some great friends here and partied all night.
Thailand also has easy access to prescription drugs which have been known to be used to increase your energy for those who really want to take partying to the next level, of course drugs are dangerous so I do not recommend you take them.

Buckets start at around 200THB, up to 400 depending on what and where you buy them. Beers are 40 for a small Chang and 65 for a large. Tiger and Singa are about 20THB more.

Kuta Lombok

I imagine Kuta Bali would have been very similar to Kuta Lombok 20-30 years ago, the main attraction is surfing, or relaxing on the beach, its also a hot spot for domestic tourists and you can see why, white powder beaches:

Surrounded by lush green mountains and rice fields:

and even more greenery facing away from the beach:

The local sarong (50,000RP) salespeople, kids selling bracelets (10,000RP) and domestic tourists wanting to pose for a photo were the biggest concern and they were by no means a problem, "Tidak terima kasih" (No thankyou) was usually enough to get them to move on if you are not in the mood for buying anything.

We stayed at Ketapang Home Stay (100,000RP), which was basic but clean, the bathrooms had no basin and the water in the town was not very useful for cleaning anything but bottled water was 5000RP for a large cold bottle.

Ketapang is right on the beach but if you want to go surfing or enjoy some soft white sand you can rent a scooter (moto) for 50,000RP per day ($5) petrol is 5000RP a litre.

An incredible meal at Warung Bule (Foreigners Restaurant) is from 30,000-400,000 and is highly recommended. It's on the main road with signage at the T junction out of town, and is some of the best local food I have had (and an amazing chocolate milkshake).

Mushrooms here are cheaper than on Gili T at 20,000 per packet (currently in season) and can be found at some bars or the local bracelet selling children can get them for you, they are more expensive in a shake but obviously taste better.

$1-$2 for small Bintangs (local beer)

Gili T

Gili T is a chilled out island where backpackers and domestic tourists come to SCUBA dive, lay on the beach, snorkel, and party, no cars or motorbikes are allowed on the island so transport is by horse drawn carriage or bicycle, there are no police on any of the Gili Islands either.

"Magic" mushrooms are legal in Indonesia and are readily available, 2 packets of shrooms (10-15 per packet) in a pot of tea were $6 and tasted immensely better than shakes I've had previously. Weed is also readily available on Gilli T but is illegal and punishments are harsh.

The high wasn't as intense as Thai shrooms the euphoria was there but the enhanced visual experience wasn't.

A few quotes from the night:
"If there was a professor of flashing lights, it would be me"
"Pat the horse it's so furry, I wonder if they are all like this.... Let's find out"
"Do you think the staff are trained to screw with people on shrooms?"

Update: If you have more shrooms they are just as good as Thailand if not better.

Here is an amazing sunrise on Gili Trawangan:

Other available items $20
Dinner at food market $5.5 water, fried chicken, fried noodle, spicy chicken curry, two satay sticks.
Lunch at a restaurant coffee, water, nasi goreng $6
Bike hire $3 for the day
Shrooms $6
Beers, spirits, etc (enough to be happily drunk) $23

Tools of the trade

This is an old post that has been updated on www.nomadsblogs.com

1 month till I leave, and here is a list of items that I will be taking:


New Trent IMP120D Portable battery

For charging phones/tablets/etc can charge my phone 5 times, or tablet once with this.

$100

Canon 60D SLR Camera, with a 18-135mm lens.
The lens has a wide range so sould handle everything and not require lens changing.
 $1600

 Samsung Galaxy S3.
For music and emergencies.
$600

CamelBack Rim Runner 25 Day Pack

Enough space for some food, wet weather gear, camera, and has a 3L hydration bladder built in.

$125

One Planet MacMillan Backpack

These are huge, waterproof, and built to last. 

$500

Jawbone Jambox portable speaker

This is tiny, has 14 hour battery life, and is loud enough to relax listen to when travelling around

 $250

Hennessy Hammock

This is more than a hammock can be set up in minutes, is waterproof, has a built in mosquito net, and weights 1.5kg 

 $200

Asus Transformer TF300

This has a 14 hour battery, is for updating this blog, and listening to music.

$550

Go Pro HD Hero 3

Awesome camera, waterproof, and shoots amazing video.

$550

Other items:

• Sunglasses (the ones you can buy cheap in Asia do not protect your eyes)
• Travel adapter and a 4 plug power board (easier than buying 4 adapters) $30
• Skins compression clothes for hiking or keeping warm $300
• Gortex japara for wet weather (free ex army issue)
• Compression stuff sacks for keeping things dry (if my bag leaks) and keeping dirty/clean clothes separate $120