First stop: Paradise

We arrived in Phuket at 9:30 in the morning and took a minivan into town. The ride from the airport always proves to be one of the most interesting since it's a first glimpse into the new world you have just entered. First impressions: reminiscent of India - dirt roads, retail "stalls" with metal roofs spotted by an occasional car dealership and scooters zipping past. Locals spoke very little English and upon arrival I already had that feeling that everyone was trying to take advantage of us. It was a rough start, but then we got into town and found a local restaurant that served AMAZING thai noodles with seafood for only $2. All of a sudden we were in heaven!
We took a ferry that afternoon to the famous island of Ko Phi Phi (where the 2004 Tsunami did a great deal of damage) where we planned to stay for the next 2-3 days. We checked into our hotel and spent the afternoon enjoying Singhas at the beachfront bar - Carpe Diem. Sadly, jet lag got the best of us and we fell asleep at 8 PM that night. We woke up at 5:30 AM the next day (Thursday Dec 21) and decided to explore the island and watch the sun rise. Most of the town was still asleep but we did see several people who were still up partying from the night before. It took us half a day to realize that Ko Phi Phi was a haven for 20-something backpackers (from all over the world) in search of a great party on the beach. Needless to say, we found a few favorite spots and indulged in island faves such as fresh fruit shakes, rotis (Thai pancakes as they call them) filled with everything from cheese to nutella and banana, Thai massages, pineapple on a stick, fire shows on the beach and of course Pad Thai! We discovered beautiful serene beaches, hillside villas, lush tropical gardens, and amazing limestone formations. Much of the island was still recovering from the Tsunami (construction was going on everywhere). Our last day was spent on a Sunset Cruise on which we kayaked to nearby Maya beach (where the movie "The Beach" was filmed), saw monkeys and caves, snorkeled in crystal clear tropical water and watched the sunset. The cruise ended with a delicious Thai meal of green curry over rice and fresh watermelon and pineapple! Ko Phi Phi definitely lived up to all of the hype. Next stop - Au Nang...