Phi Phi set to party
Tsunami battered island laments lack of attention from fellow Thais
Story and photos by PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT
A couple enjoy a quiet corner on Phi Phi Island now in the middle of a construction boom. |
Children of sea gypsies enjoying a swim near Laem Tong. |
'Are you Thai?" asked the kid, a sea gypsy, during my recent foray to Laem Tong on Phi Phi, the paradise island swept by killer waves two years ago. The island it seemed has substantially recovered, given the number of tourists I saw there, but the question rankled me.
Phi Phi is abuzz once again. Most owners are back at their shops and business is brisk, although not on par with the pre-tsunami level, and the places of businesspersons who failed to return for some reason have had their places taken over by new operators looking for quick cash.
Resorts, Internet cafes, convenience stores, dive shops, travel agencies, laundry shops, guesthouses, bars and food vendors pack the road at Ao Ton Sai.
Also at Ao Ton Sai, barges unload several tons of construction material daily. The construction materials are then transported to the nearby Ao Lo Dalam where tractors and other heavy machinery operate overtime to speed up work that is well behind schedule. Noise from piling fills the air.
Watching the goings-on from the fourth floor of the Phi Phi Hotel, I told myself it won't be long before life on this island is back to normal as the bars, beaches and restaurants are busy again.
And by logical extension, the slums should also return because all the talk about town planning, zoning of business, residential and entertainment areas that were spoken of in earnest tones in the aftermath of the tsunami have failed miserably, not to mention housing for the poor and construction of a new pier.
Foreign tourists pack a busy section of Phi Phi street. |
"Meetings between public and private sectors bore no fruit. Besides, there are rumours that the island may be closed to tourists. Unlike Khao Lak in Phangna, politicians don't own any resorts here, so, we don't get their attention and sympathy," said Veerapat Jantharo, the general manager of Phi Phi Hotel.
"We owe our turnaround to foreign volunteer workers who paid their way to this island, and once here they footed their own meal and accommodation bills and helped in the reconstruction of Phi Phi. And before returning home they made it known to their foreign friends that the island was a paradise once again."
Probably, the news of Phi Phi's revival never reached Thai people. According to Veerapat, 98 percent of his guests - and that probably also holds true for the rest of the island - were from Western Europe and the rest from China and South Korea.
I roamed around and spotted very few Thai tourists that day. Even at attractions such as Nui Bay, Monkey Bay and Maya Beach. Foreign tourists easily outnumbered Thais.
So when the gypsy boy asked me, "Are you Thai?" it wasn't surprising at all. In fact, it begged asking because very few Thai tourists or volunteers have helped to rehabilitate and reconstruct the island.
Could I blame the kid for mistaking me for a foreigner?
foray
a short journey to find a particular thing or to visit a new place
swept
moved or pushed quickly over
rankled
caused to feel upset or angry
abuzz
busy
brisk
quick; busy
on par with
equal to
cash
money
piling
drilling concrete poles into the ground to serve as building supports
logical extension
taking the idea or argument one logical step further
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zoning
dividing areas of land so that they can be used for authorised purposes
earnest tones
sounding very serious
aftermath
the situation after an important and usually unpleasant event
miserably
depressingly; very badly
pier
a long structure built out into the sea used by boats to allow passengers to get on and off
bore no fruit
was unsuccessful
rumours
information that is talked about but which is probably not true
turnaround
a situation is which something changes from bad to good
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volunteer workers
people who work willingly for no pay
accommodation bills
payments for a place to stay
revival
an improvement in the condition or strength of something
roamed
walked or travelled around an area without any aim or direction
spotted
saw or noticed
begged asking
(of a question) that which is needed to be or should have been asked
rehabilitation
returning land or a building to its previous good condition
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