|
 Phi
Phi Ley Island
is
an Island of 6.6 square kilometers. It is mountainous and
rocky. Tall cliffs rise straight up from the sea's surface
and 34 meters is the deepest Spot, at the south end of the
island and others. On the northeast is the famous 'Viking
Cave' so-called from the painting therein, which His Majestry
King Bhumibol was pleased to grant also the name 'Payanak'
meaning 'Serpent Lord', in honour of the villagers who gatter
swallow's nests on the island. Inside,
on the east and south walls of the cave, are paintings from
historical times of an elephant, and boats of various kinds
: Arab prows, junks, sharp-stemmed vessels probably of European
origin, Steam ships, and propeller-driven sailboats. It
is theorized that these are the work of sailors, or perhaps
even of pirates, because the island provides refuge during
the monsoons and lies on the main shipping lane from west
to east. It was thus a place suitable for offloading cargo
and conducting repairs.
Phi
Phi Don Island
covers
a total area of 28 square kilometers : 8 kilometers in length
and 3.5 at its broadest point. At the north end is
Cape Laem Tohng, where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy
village. These sea gypsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh
in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia.
Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent, as it is also at Hua
Rah Ket to the extreme south.
There
are long beaches with rocks scattered about. Two curving
bays are especially beautiful : Ton Sai and Loh Dalam.
This is also where accommodations and tourist services are
found.
Yung Island
lies
to the north of Phi Phi Don. There is a rocky beach
on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold
of the hill. Many beautiful and various corals are
found there.
Pai
Island
lies
also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from Koh Yung.
Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the island.
Broad coral reefs stretch away into the south.
|
