June 2005  

pv  Thailand Phi Phi Islands, famous for the location in the movie

-By Lee Young-chun, correspondent in Bangkok, Thailand

When I think of the Phi Phi Islands, struck by the tsunami last December, it tears up my heart. Tsunami struck the beautiful tourist destination, Andaman, causing huge damage and a high number of casualties. Whenever I see TV footages showing the devastated island, I get confused as my happy memories in the island overlap the sad images.

Phi Phi Islands became widely popular after the movie, "The Beach" starring Leonardo Di Caprio in 2000, was shot in the islands. Before all the hype took place, PhiPhi Islands was just another small cluster of islands where young backpackers, tired of Phuket or Krabi, roamed about. In other words, Phuket and Krabi were the last destination for many of the tourists.

However, after the release of the movie, the beautiful Phuket and Krabi became a quick stop-over for those eager to venture on the deserted paradise, the Phi Phi Islands, and the islands soon gained enormous popularity. Phi Phi Islands emerged as the essential destination for tourists visiting Thailand. This shows the sheer influence a single movie may exert.

Phi Phi Islands is an untainted and a very beautiful place. Often it is the case when the locations for the movies are actually not as beautiful as they have been portrayed. However, I believe the beauty of the Phi Phi Islands portrayed in the movie can easily be confirmed once anyone steps into the islands. 

The release of the movie prompted the popular Phi Phi Islands to build facilities without any concrete plan. The facilities have now become alump of ash due to the earthquake and tidal waves. I wonder if nature has given us, humans, a punishment for developing the beautiful island in a reckless manner.

After tsunami devastated the Phi Phi Islands, the Thai government and global aid organizations are trying hard to rebuild the island and promote this rebuilding process. Whether it is "Invisible Waves" that started filming in April or "Round Five" from the producers of "Lord of the Rings", all of us who deeply love the Phi Phi Islands, wish any two movies will take the place as the successor for the movie, "The Beach" in promoting the beauty of the islands.