A few years ago it seemed that all you could buy on Phi Phi was
food, beer and hippy jewelry but in the recent past shopping opportunities
have blossomed and grown on the island.
Tonsai Village
Towards the pier there a number of silverware outlets where handcrafted
necklaces and bracelets as well as earrings are for sale.
In the labyrinth of streets that make up Tonsai Village you will
find batik, secondhand books, sunhats, beachwear, beach toys for
the kids, lots of snacks and drinks and those ever-important items
for a beach holiday in the tropics; sunglasses and sun cream.
Pirate DVDs, CDs & Pharmacies
And yes, there are pirated goods galore, such as DVD's, VCD's and
audio CD's as well as Playstation, Nintendo Wii and a whole gamut
of computer games. Clothes stores often double as impromptu minimarts
while minimarts sell clothes and at the same time book stores masquerade
as bars and coffee shops while coffee shops are the place to find
good books.
It's all a tad confusing for those accustomed to more organised
city life but residents and visitors alike adapt and enjoy themselves
in the hotch-potch that is shopping on Phi Phi. There is even a
blown glass outlet and a leather goods merchant. oh, and should
you feel the need, you can get a tattoo here, too.
In case of emergencies there are several fully-stocked pharmacies
and a medical centre on the Tonsai end of the island has recently
been upgraded to hospital status. |
