Playing with fire

Feb. 3, 2009

Ko Phi Phi is an island of lethal beauty. Warm water the color and clarity of blue diamonds laps up against soft ivory beaches where bronzed Venuses and Adonises lie out under the southern Thai sun.

In the town, bars advertise cheap drink deals, wet T-shirt contests and Maui Thai boxing. The Kings of Leon's single Sex on Fire is on constant rotation in every other restaurant. Anyone wearing more than a swimsuit is overdressed.

People show their daring by leaping off 65 foot cliffs, or by battling their buddies in the boxing ring to win free vodka buckets. Grown men fight off nausea and tears as they get bamboo tattoos or when they find out through a hungover haze that they spent most of the night before with a ladyboy.

The Ibiza Bar hosts a nightly party on the beach pumping electro and hip hop as people dance and mingle wriggling up to one another under neon lighted palm trees. Poi dancing and Thai Fire Limbo is often on the schedule of activities for the night.

Everyone on this island is playing with fire in one way or another. Leave your inhibitions, hang ups and emotional sensitivities on the mainland. Otherwise you may get burned.