Thailand's most famous island Koh Phi Phi, known for being the backdrop to the movie The Beach, has been restored to a tropical paradise after the damage it sustained during the tsunami
One of the most high profile places to be hit by the tragic Asian tsunami in December 2004 was Koh Phi Phi, one of Thailand's most spectacular island paradises. Made famous as the backdrop for the movie The Beach starring Leo DiCaprio, Koh Phi Phi became a backpacker's mecca with stunning limestone scenery, beautiful beaches and crystal clear seas. Eighteen months after being heavily damaged by the tsunami wave, Koh Phi Phi has been restored to its former glory, thanks in large part to the efforts of thousands of volunteers who came to the island during 2005 to help clean up the island and the reefs. There are over 250 businesses open and waiting for tourists to return, along with numerous Koh Phi Phi hotels too. There's a vibrant party scene already on the island and a sense of rediscovery as people go back and find that Koh Phi Phi is again a paradise island.
I wrote an in-depth article about the Koh Phi Phi Post-Tsunami Clean Up operation for Asian Diver magazine, focusing on the efforts of the thousands of scuba divers who restored the reefs. You can read the Koh Phi Phi Post Tsunami article on my other website Divehappy.com, which is all about scuba diving in Thailand and South East Asia.
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