Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi

Welcome to the tropical islands of Koh Phi Phi in Southern Thailand. Now is a perfect time to visit for Thailand residents if, like us, you had previously stayed away because of the crowds.

GETTING TO KOH PHI PHI

We took an early flight from Bangkok to Krabi, followed by a 90-minute ferry ride to Koh Phi Phi Don. The airport transfer and ferry we organised on arrival at Krabi airport, however, be prepared for some hanging around, as there is a limited ferry schedule at present.

BEWARE OF THE MONKEYS!

We had fun and games from the moment we arrived in the pouring rain even surviving a monkey ambush, walking to our hotel. But, in the process, l lost a large brightly coloured packet of nuts which I’d just bought in 7-11!

Monkey 1 Tourist 0.

I tell you this to shine a light on the great work of Trash Hero on Koh Phi Phi. I’m afraid my nut packaging disappeared up a tree and will have added to the rubbish woes we saw there. If you have not come across Trash Hero I urge you to look them up, they are a global organisation who started in Thailand. 

The Trash Hero mission is to bring communities together to clean and reduce waste.

Have you visited Koh Phi Phi recently? It is really rather sad in some respects yet utterly wonderful in others. 

MAYA BAY

Long gone are the days when Leonardo’s “The Beach” in Maya Bay, attracted up to 5,000 people daily. Maya Bay beach remains closed as the ecology recovers but there are other beaches and bays to capture your castaway fantasy.  Despite a handful of Phi Phi tours from Krabi and Phuket we largely had the place to ourselves.

These islands that were once so reliant on overseas tourism, suffered from “over-tourism.”  Now like so much of Thailand, “under tourism” is the issue with all its consequences. It was sad to see the dilapidated, closed-up island. 

This is now the same picture that I’ve seen across Thailand – Chiang Mai, Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, Phuket. You really wonder if some of these boarded-up businesses have closed never to reopen. On Koh Phi Phi apart from the monkeys, the only community doing well were the cats – we couldn’t get over how many well-fed cats are lazing around the streets. One lady told me she was now looking after 30 cats, as the people left, they left me their cats she tells me.

With a dwindled population Koh Phi Phi is creating less of its own waste, however, the angry monsoon sea still spews and spits out its trash.

Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi was once a vibrant community who did so much to help the island clean up. Eighty per cent of participants came from international visitors who loved nature and this wondrous environment. Nowadays the loyal locals are doing their best to continue with the community work but Trash Hero numbers are seriously depleted.

At Phi Phi viewpoint I met Uncle Nopp, a long-standing passionate Trash Hero. He invites us all to appreciate the beauty of Koh Phi Phi and join him and others in their wonderful work.

Anyone can become a cleanup Trash Hero, at any age. They are about educating the kids, reducing our own waste, making a difference in the world and having fun!

COME JOIN TRASH HERO KOH PHI PHI

For those in Thailand, the Phi Phi Island Conservation and Preservation Team Cleanup is on the 10th, 20th & 30th of every month. Everyone is welcome. Just turn up with the enthusiasm and a smile to join together cleaning around Koh Phi Phi Island.

Koh Phi Phi Trash Hero Facebook Page has all the details:

https://www.facebook.com/Trash-Hero-Koh-Phi-Phi-208332002976761/

THE BIG CHILLI MAGAZINE

This post has been featured here in The Big Chilli Magazine:  Join Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi

I hope you have enjoyed this wander around Koh Phi Phi today. Do you have Trash Hero or similar organisation where you live? Do tell me all about it, if you do.

Linking with thanks to Angie at Mosaic Monday and all the hosts at Our World Tuesday