From Phi Phi Fireshow

Just posted some fireshow pictures to Love Phi Phi blog

Intersting experience, but sadly no photos, the police and army were very efficient, came around a few minutes before to check and request no photos, not even from phones. Also asked to have phones switched off. Everyone was asked to sit on the ground Thai style, those standing were asked to move and sit in allocated places.
The procession was 10 golf carts, The Princess was in the second, looking understated and friendly with a warm smile.
Quite different from a similiar event in other parts of the world, everyone was quiet, no cheering, no clapping, just the calm and silence of little flags being waved and people wai-ing.
Now we wait one hour for the return journey back from the school.

The Princess arrives tomorrow 27th May around 1.30pm by helicopter. Click here for a bigger slideshow of these photos. I will update the pictures as more photo opportunties arise.

Phi Phi is busy making preparations for the special visitor on 27th of this month. The Prince of Thailand will be visiting to officially open the new school building. Everyone is busy cleaning and tidying and planting flowers and trees along the small beach road of Tonsai Bay.
Today out came the flags - Thailand loves its flags and brings them out for every special occasion.
I've taken some pictures here of the flag planting operation - as you can see its a pretty serious affair :)

Phi Phi school has been busy building and improving the facilities for the children on Phi Phi Island. On May 27th 2010 the Crown Prince of Thailand will visit the Island to officically open the new school building.
Even though the planned trip is very short (just a few hours) the locals are working very hard to make Phi Phi look its best for the occassion.
This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for the locals of Phi Phi to see and possibly meet one of their Royal family.
This is a big event for Phi Phi and i expect as usual that the Thai will make the most of it and make it a very special day for everyone that's here.
More on this story as it unfolds...

The quieter low season this year on Phi Phi has encouraged many businesses to get creative. On nearly every street you can see a business closed and busy renovating. Maybe it's because last year saw a lot of new building completed post tsunami and now the ones that were trading before want to have the same new finish.
Change is always scary, will it turn the paradise island into something commercial and ugly or will it be good?
Change - it's not always a bad thing - when the new materials are natural or when change provides new or improved facilities - change can be a necessary evil.
One change that has been lovely to watch is the gradual movement of locals from the post tsuanmi corrugated metal shacks, happily these are slowly being replaced, but still there are far too many locals living and doing business in something half the size of a european garage.
What hasn't changed is the pride of the locals in their paradise environment; considering the numbers of tourists arriving on Phi Phi everyday its amazingly clean. The beaches are still beautiful, the views breathetaking and the trend to be better continues in the right direction.

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Just stroll along any beach on Phi Phi and you'll see longtails lined up ready to transport you to even more beautiful and remote beaches on and around Phi Phi Island.
The ribbons and flowers around the boats are for good luck. Many of the boat men have been driving boats in these waters since they were children, so you don't have to go on organised trips you can talk, ask for something different, your own adventure!

see here for latest news on the politial situation in thailand.

Phi Phi Island remains unaffected by the situation except for a reduced number of tourists. If you fly via Kuala Lumpar or Singapore you can fly direct to Krabi or Phuket and take a 1.5 hr ferry to Phi Phi from either of these places and you don't need to go anywhere near Bangkok or other troubled areas.

On Phi Phi most of the larger resorts will take credit cards for your room bookings, but for most of the smaller ones and definitely for purchases around the island, restaurants, drinks etc cash is king. But not to worry because there are lots of ATM's around the island avialable 24hrs. You should check with your bank what the charges are, the Thai charges for cash are small but often your bank or credit card company back home will apply a charge for foreign transactions. As a rule of thumb it works out cheaper to take out the maximum rather than small amounts as charges tend to work out less.