Further into the interior of the island we came to the area which was used as the "green room" for the cast members waiting to shoot. This is where the water tanks are located and two toilets. However, not long ago, about 200 islanders dismantled this toilet together with the remaing walkway, all of which the forrestry department had wanted to keep. However, the islanders seemed to have approved of the work being done on the dunes (including the fence) as they left all of that alone. They also left a bit of a mess which as yet hasn't been removed. The area which was used as the "green room" won't be restored until the start of the monsoon season in July. By that time most of the grass would have grown back naturally though Ross Palmer, the greensman told us that he would still sow the seeds as planned. He will also visit the island again after the monsoon starts to check on the progress. In the meantime, Thai employees will continue to work daily importing water and making sure everything is running smoothly.
This area just behind the beach was used as the green room for cast members to wait in-between shots. All that remains are some water tanks and a shelter used by forrestry officials. This area will be restored to its original state once the monsoon starts in July.
Forestry officials rest under a shelter on the island. Nearby are the remians of the toilets destroyed by islanders from Phi Phi Don.
A flat-bottomed barge moors around the back of the island in deep water as it off-loads fresh water for the irrigation of plants on the island. The area in the picture on the right floods in high tide. The film crew built a high platform over this so that they could have an area for eating and relaxing.
From what we saw for ourselves, including pictures taken by the production team before they moved in, we are satisfied that they did everything by the book. They are as concerned about the environment as much as we are. In fact, they have left the island in a much better position to face the future than ever before. Once the film-makers finally leave, it will be up to the forestry department to continue the good work started by the production team. They seemed to have got off to a good start by collecting the rubbish left by tourists and the tide. What we want to know is how they are preparing to counter the flood of tourists that will surely come once the film has opened. The Forestry Department gave permission to the film-makers to shoot their movie here as they said it would be good for tourism. Now it is their responsibility that it will also be good for Phi Phi island.
The waters around Phi Phi Le are very beautiful and many visitors come to snorkel and look at the coral and fish.
Richard Barrow, March 1999.
Postscript: We returned to the island again in August 1999, mid-monsoon season, to give you a progress report. Then we went again in February 2000 just as the movie was released and Fox left Phi Phi for the last time. Again, we would like to thank the owners of Sriwittayapaknam School for sponsoring this trip.
