The island of Koh Phi Phi became very popular after the release of Danny Boyle's 'The Beach'. Suddenly young people wanted to follow in its footsteps and find the perfect paradise, where anything goes.
Even if the 2004 tsunami put a temporary stop to all that, it has and will always be a magnet for backpackers on vacation in Thailand. And that has had a negative impact on the locals, as well as some tourists. Residents have to put up with an island that is becoming overrun by hotels, bars and hordes of party animals; for tourists, they find themselves meeting locals who are not the 'sunny', smiling people they expect and who can be unfriendly (unless they are trying to scam you).
But if you can get away from this side of things, then you'll find that the island is still a dream destination. It's got to be said the island is beautiful and I was like an excited kid the first time I arrived on its mythical shores. This was why I went there - to force my way through the jungle to reach the isolated, untouched beaches on the other side; a perfect paradise.
I have visited Ko Phi Phi twice, the first time in 2005, a year after the catastrophic tsunami which hit the region, the second time in 2013. Suffice to say that I had the impression I had seen two completely different places.
I love the cool, relaxed atmosphere, the possibility of finding an inexpensive, small bungalow facing the sea and in a quiet place. In 2013 I was, quite frankly, shocked by the change in appearance of the island, excessive tarmac and a multitude of hotels have spoilt the waterfront.
Of course, Ko Phi Phi offers magnificent beaches when one wants to deviate a little and countless possibilities of activities, especially diving. Equally, we must not forget the well known Maya Beach, made famous by the film "The Beach", but in all honesty it would have taken all my imagination to imagine myself diving like Leonardo and Virginie Ledoyen in an isolated lagoon. To take a photo of the beach you must find a good angle without the armada of boats and groups of tourists spoiling the view.
I had thus considered it sufficient to spend just one day at Ko Phi Phi and not stay any longer, really because Thailand has so many other islands, it would have seemed a shame to deprive me from seeing the real scenery.