A Reunion Amidst the Islands: Varun’s Phi Phi Island Escape with Thrillophilia
It had been over a decade since I last saw my friend, Parvej.
We were inseparable as kids - cycling through narrow alleys, playing cricket till the streetlights came on, and sharing secrets over Kulfi at the corner shop. Then life scattered us across cities, careers, and time zones.
But one evening, out of the blue, he messaged me.
“Phi Phi Islands. This May. Just us. Like old times?”
I stared at the screen for a moment and typed back: “Deal.”
We had become adults in calendars and years, but something about that message pulled me back to who I was.
The Reunion at Phuket
The reunion happened at Chalong Pier in Phuket under a bright blue sky and beside a roaring speedboat that looked ready to carry us back in time.
“Varun, you have not aged a day,” Parvej joked while pulling me into a hug.
“You clearly need glasses,” I replied, laughing.
And just like that, the years fell away.
We boarded the speedboat with a small group, and the moment the engine started, I felt the rush of the wind and the salt in the air.
As the boat bounced over the Andaman Sea, Parvej leaned over and said, “You remember when we used to draw treasure maps and dream about lost islands?”
I nodded. “Feels like we are finally chasing one.”
The Silent Shores of Maya Bay
When we reached Maya Bay, I could not believe my eyes. The cliffs hugged the beach, and the water shimmered like glass.
“This… is unreal,” Parvej whispered.
We stood still for a moment and let the place soak into us. Then, we kicked off our flip-flops and ran into the water while laughing at nothing and everything.
There were two boys standing ankle-deep in a dream, surrounded by the sound of waves and memories.
“I am glad it is you I am sharing this with,” I said quietly.
He nodded, with his eyes on the horizon. “Me too, buddy. Me too.”
Caves, Cliffs, and Underwater Worlds
The next stop was the Viking Cave, a shadowy attraction situated beneath tall limestone cliffs. Our guide spoke of ancient paintings and swiftlet nests that once brought people here for reasons far beyond tourism.
Parvej stood staring at the faded drawings.
“Even they left something behind,” he said thoughtfully. “Makes you think about legacy.”
We did not speak much after that, just floated with our thoughts until we reached Pileh Lagoon, a turquoise oasis surrounded by cliffs.
Without a word, we dove in.
We floated and laughed. Parvej splashed me like he used to at the local pool when we were kids. At that moment, we were reliving our childhood and rewriting it.
Snorkels and Monkeys
At Sama Bay, we strapped on our snorkelling gear and dipped into a whole different world. Coral reefs spread out below us like underwater cities, and fish of every colour moved past.
I surfaced and found Parvej beside me, smiling. “I feel ten years younger,” he said.
We both knew it was not the sea doing that, but this friendship.
Next, we cruised to Monkey Beach. Here, the monkeys jumped along rocks and trees (clearly the rulers of their domain). One bold little guy snatched a juice bottle from someone and took off like a furry bandit.
“Reminds me of your cousin Bilal,” I joked. Parvej cracked up. “He still steals samosas from the kitchen, by the way.”
Flavours of Friendship at Phi Phi Don
By noon, hunger brought us to Phi Phi Don, the largest island in the archipelago. A beachside restaurant welcomed us with soft sand, shady palms, and the mouthwatering aroma of Thai spices.
We feasted on Pad Thai, green curry, fresh fruit, and fried rice served in pineapples.
Sitting there barefoot in the sand and watching the sea sparkle, we talked about the trip and life. Careers, heartbreaks, regrets, and growth. Everything we had never said over texts or short calls.
“Have you ever thought about what would have happened if we had not drifted?” I asked.
“We did not drift,” Parvej replied. “We just paused. And now we are playing again.”
Our Goodbye at Khai Nai Island
Our last stop was Khai Nai Island, which was a gentle and peaceful place with soft white sand and crystal-clear water.
We did not snorkel this time. We just lay under a palm tree and watched the sky shift colours.
“Next trip to Bali?” Parvej said, half-joking.
I looked at him. “Let us not wait another ten years.”
He smiled. “Deal.”
As the boat took us back to Phuket, the sun dipped low and cast everything in gold. We sat in silence and enjoyed the beauty.
Anchored in Memory
Back in our hotel, with sand still stuck between my toes and salt in my hair, I realised something:
This trip reminded us that no matter how far we move, some bonds never really break.
Parvej and I may have taken different roads in life, but the same tide brought us back together, if only for a few days.
And that was enough.
Here is to childhood friends.
To journeys that pick up where they left off.
And to islands that remind us where it all began.
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