Hammock

Now I'm in a hammock strung up on some trees with low-running branches at a beach on Phi Phi island, somewhere in the south of Thailand. I'm typing this on a pda lent to me by a student of mine, and sending it by cellphone.

As every travel agency will tell you, Phi Phi island is where the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Beach" was filmed. It was hit hard by the tsunami, and there is still evidence of that. Also the port area is the ugliest piece of tourist pandering nightlife trash you can imagine. But once you get away from that, it's really beautiful.

The snorkelling at this beach is pretty good with amazingly clear water and colorful fish. Tomorrow I'm going to take a day tour around the surrounding islands , get off and stay on one of them, Bamboo Island, a small undeveloped snorkelling paradise, or so I hear. I'll camp there, then catch the following day's tour boat back to Phi Phi. Wish you were here, whoever 'you' might be.