The most pleasant place on the island. From the village I began the hike up the mountainside to the aptly named "View Point". After a wrong turn into a local village and a broken English "get out of here" or was it "go that way", I encountered cement steps steeply paving the way up through lush jungle, coconut palms, pineapple fields, and screaming secadas. Perspiration began to appear on my generic gray T-shirt and my coral scraped leg began to ache. I stopped for a view of azul blue water and Phi Phi Don's neighboring island through towering palms.
Now at the top with flies attacking and locals peering over my shoulder (like they've never seen a journal before) I sit on the highest rock with 180 degrees and half the island before me. The "View Point" offers blooming gardens , a mandatory food stand (with lovely discarded oil cans behind it), and a dramatic view. Phi Phi Don really should be two islands divided by a coral shelf, but over the centuries white sand has built up between the two mountainous islands creating a sandy bridge now filled with trees, bungalows, and a tourist village. Loh Dalum Bay and Loh Dalum Beach lie directly below. If I looked hard I could probably spot my simple bungalow and beach front as the white sand meets the water in an emerald green blend before giving way to deep blue water. This seems like a good place to watch the sunset. This, my last night on the island will provide a last chance to see the sunset... Let's see how I do. If a sunset picture follows I did well, if not I'll make up some excuse.
PS - The weather turned stormy blocking the sun out and saving me from having to hike to the "View Point" a second time.
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