Ko Phi Phi is also known as Phi Phi Island. It is one of the most famous places in Southeast Asia. The island is known for its natural beauty. It is well known as a place for celebrations. The beauty of the island remains largely unparalleled. Limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and large distances of trackless forests make Phi Phi a great tropical island.
The island has seen large scale development over the last 20 years. This has been a subject of controversy. Those who wished to conserve its natural beauty went against those who wanted to convert it into a world-class holiday destination. The island was discovered two decades ago by adventurous travelers. They found the island on Ko Phi Phi Don, which was a long sand bar arching between two wonderful islands.
This led to the creation of two serene bays that were ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The cliffs and forests waited to be explored. Previously, only a handful of bungalows were present on the island. They were inhabited by sea-faring gypsies known as Chao Ko or Island People.
The peaceful Ton Sai beach became a port, with vast numbers of boats and debris. A pier was created to accommodate the huge vessels that brought the travelers to shore. The sandy isthmus lies beyond recognition with guesthouses, luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, internet cafés, travel agents, banks, CD shops, jewelry stalls, and clothing boutiques.
Thais and resident foreigners offer diving trips, boats for hire, places to stay, and several bars to drink at. The area is partially a national park. The park is well managed with several walking trails. It seems like a lost paradise. Foreign tourists are not wholly responsible.
In 2004, the Asian tsunami proved tragic for Ko Phi Phi. The balance of power seemed to shift as plans were made to assert governmental control of the island. Local inhabitants saw this as a land grab by several parties in the Thai government. However, the government plans were defeated and private industry rebuilt, reinvested, and expanded the infrastructure of the island. They did so in a fairly short amount of time, considering the task’s enormity. There was also no support from the government. Private development continued its course.
On the bright side, however, the island has been cleaned up to a great extent. A decade ago, widespread construction marred its beauty. In addition, filth covered the beaches. Presently, the sand and waters are fairly clean thanks to widespread awareness of green issues. There are no macadam roads and private cars. There are dozens of saleangs, which are motorcycles with cars. They help in transporting passengers and their luggage to and from the hotel. The modes of transport are limited to push carts, bicycles, and flip-flops.
19. August 2010 at 11:24 am
Although, Ko Phi Phi is a recently discovered island it has all indications of a long discovered island. Although its a small island, its good for a short visit. Boating is a popular activity carried out here.
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