 | By Little Wandering Wren It’s pretty quiet these days on Thailand’s magnificent Koh Phi Phi, one of Southeast Asia’s great natural wonders. Gone are the masses of tourists, because of COVID-19, leaving Koh Phi Phi and other islands here more or less empty. Which is perhaps no bad thing since they had become so heavily reliant on overseas tourism that they were beginning to suffer from ‘overtourism’. Leonardo’s ‘The Beach’ in Maya Bay, for example, which used to attract up to 5,000 people daily, remains closed to allow the environment to recover, though there are other beaches and bays to capture your castaway fantasy. |
Now, like so much of Thailand, ‘undertourism’ is the issue with all its consequences. Indeed, it was sad in a way to see how dilapidated and closed-up the island has become.
Despite its depleted population, Koh Phi Phi is still creating waste, and the angry monsoon sea throws up even more.
Fewer residents means fewer helping hands to clear up the mess. In the past, Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi was a vibrant community who did so much to help the island’s clean up. Eighty per cent of participants came from international visitors who loved nature and the island’s wondrous environment.
Nowadays the loyal locals are doing their best to continue with the community work but Trash Hero numbers are seriously depleted.
Nevertheless, Phi Phi Island Conservation and Preservation Team Cleanup still happens on the 10th, 20th & 30th of every month. Everyone is welcome. Just turn up with enthusiasm and a smile to join together cleaning around Koh Phi Phi Island.
In fact, now is a perfect time to visit Koh Phi Phi, if, like us, you had previously stayed away because of the crowds.
At Phi Phi viewpoint I met Khun Noppadol, known locally as Uncle Nopp, a long-standing passionate Trash Hero. He invited 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! https://www.facebook.com/Trash-Hero-Koh-Phi-Phi
Little Wandering Wren is a Bangkok Blogger. More can be found at www.wanderingwren.com and on Instagram and Twitter @littlewanderingwren
Despite its depleted population, Koh Phi Phi is still creating waste, and the angry monsoon sea throws up even more.
Fewer residents means fewer helping hands to clear up the mess. In the past, Trash Hero Koh Phi Phi was a vibrant community who did so much to help the island’s clean up. Eighty per cent of participants came from international visitors who loved nature and the island’s wondrous environment.
Nowadays the loyal locals are doing their best to continue with the community work but Trash Hero numbers are seriously depleted.
Nevertheless, Phi Phi Island Conservation and Preservation Team Cleanup still happens on the 10th, 20th & 30th of every month. Everyone is welcome. Just turn up with enthusiasm and a smile to join together cleaning around Koh Phi Phi Island.
In fact, now is a perfect time to visit Koh Phi Phi, if, like us, you had previously stayed away because of the crowds.
At Phi Phi viewpoint I met Khun Noppadol, known locally as Uncle Nopp, a long-standing passionate Trash Hero. He invited 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! https://www.facebook.com/Trash-Hero-Koh-Phi-Phi
Little Wandering Wren is a Bangkok Blogger. More can be found at www.wanderingwren.com and on Instagram and Twitter @littlewanderingwren
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