No Brett honestly... hand me the life vest!

So today is our third day on Ko Phi Phi, which is an Island that is approximately a 90 minute ferry ride from Phuket. Since we've been planning our trip, the ONLY thing I've HAD to do in Ko Phi Phi is visit it's sister Island Ko Phi Phi Ley to see Maya Bay (where they filmed "The Beach" with Leonardo DeCaprio) and Monkey Beach. As a bit of background, Brett is def more the type that would just like to chill and read his book on the beach with the local Singha beer and I tend to enjoy going going going and doing doing doing - so I've been begging him EVER since we got here three days ago to do this tour - today he finally gave in.

Last night when we went to bed the weather began to get a bit tumultuous. Today, a bit overcast, we woke up and and asked the locals if it was safe to go. Laughing behind our back, they told us it was SAFE to go. Ko Phi Phi Ley is about a couple miles off shore. We decided to take a private tour on a long tail boat which is pretty much a row boat with a car engine strapped on the back and a drive shaft in the water connected to a propellor INSTEAD of a speed boat (my choice).

As SOON as we get out of our safe little bay seven foot waves began coming in endless sets. Brett and I both got quiet occassionally attempting to distract ourselves with "Wow that limestone cliff looks pretty... " or "we're halfway there..." That was nothing... the ride back was death by longtail boat.

Half way through the return trip, I started looking for a life vest I honest to God thought we were going to capsize and never be seen again. Honest to God, Brett was gripping the rusty Hepatitis B cage that was handmade connected to the longtail boat and I was shaking so much, but it could have been the vibrations from the car engine strapped to the back of the boat. At one point, "The Captain" had Brett and I shift our weight to the other side of the boat so we wouldn't get crushed by the next set of waves. Before we know it, we look up and we're about 10 yards from a GIANT LIMESTONE CLIFF that any second, another huge set of waves would crush us into. "The Captain" masterfully hit the nas and goosed it out of danger. Somewhere in there I started grabbing life vests... why we didn't have them on during the voyage there or returning God only knows...

Later we pulled up to Monkey Beach and there were no Monkeys. But thank goodness we snokeled in Maya Bay and it was amazing - just like being in a aquarium! At least we got good laughs out of it and our lives were spared.

Tomorrow we are off to Krabi for Christmas then to Ko Samui... then our journey home!