I’m less than 20cm under water and I’ve made a rather unusual discovery. I had no idea fish ate fruit, but apparently, they love bananas. And I really mean love! our speedboat has stopped in the calm waters just off Phi Phi Island in Thailand and, equipped with a snorkel, I’m taking the plunge. As a colourful school of fish swims past me, I decide to follow. one of our guides is already treading water ahead and the fish are going nuts for something in his hand.
Seeing an audience, he lets me in on the action, lobbing the mysterious attraction in my direction. I’m surprised to see it’s a banana, unpeeled and with one end cut off. Holding it is much like holding a firework – I’m surrounded by an explosion of sparkling, snapping fish. All too soon, the banana is history and it’s time to get out of the water.
our boat is doing a tour of Phi Phi Ley Island, where the main attraction is the renowned oaya Bay. The trek here became a tourist must-do after Leonardo DiCaprio’s film, The Beach, and every man and his boat can take you there. I lose count of how many times I hear the call, “oaya-Bay-Phi-Phi-Ley-The-Beach-Leo-DiCaprio-I-take-you-yes?”
I have high expectations of the beach that’s billed as a “true slice of heaven” and, luckily, oaya Bay doesn’t disappoint. Towering limestone cliffs rise dramatically out of bright turquoise water. The bay is hidden away, almost entirely circled by the cliffs; the sand is soft and white; and there’s a thick forest of palm trees.
Drifting on my back in the water, looking up at the cliffs, I’ve found my new happy place. All too soon, the island highlights tour is over and I’m back in the van heading towards Phuket’s Hilton Arcadia. As our vehicle hurtles along windy roads, weaving through gaps in the traffic, I find myself pumping a nonexistent brake on more than one occasion!
At the resort’s outer gates we’re subjected to a full vehicle search – they even inspect under the car with mirrors. It’s a welcome change because outside the resort, safety of any kind doesn’t seem to be a priority. While I thought our driver was a bit extreme, I was stunned to see a shoeless, helmet-less man passing us on a motorbike – with a baby under his arm!
Inside the Hilton Arcadia, relaxation is paramount. There’s even a tram for internal transportation. But this isn’t to save lazy holidaymakers from exertion – the tram turns out to be essential for navigating a complex so vast that a walk from reception to your room can take 30 minutes!
Whether you’re a honeymooning couple or a family of five, the Hilton Arcadia has your needs covered. Kids are kept entertained in separate pool areas and a schedule of activities means they’re busy from dawn ’til dusk. For adults, there are plenty of pools, restaurants, gyms, spas and tennis courts, plus tropical gardens for those who fancy a leisurely stroll.
What really amazes me is the attention to detail I see everywhere I look. Thai people may be scary drivers, but they have a lovely artistic side too. If there’s a carrot in your stir-fry, it will be chopped to resemble something pretty like a lotus lower or a bird, and I was impressed to find even the hand towels in my hotel bathroom had been cleverly twisted to look like elephants!
Thailand has all the ingredients for a truly relaxing holiday, and it might sound cliched, but it really does have something to offer everyone. I’m pleasantly surprised at how cheap it is to get around and there are definitely plenty of exciting adventures to be had.
