So As eager as ever to get away from the Asian Magaluf that is Khoa San Road in Bangkok we left for the eastern Thai island of Koa Tao which 4 hours of arriving from Cambodia. A 8 hour bus ride, 3 hour wait and 3 hour boat ride was all made istantly worth it when we were greated to emerald waters and white beaches lined with Palm trees. We wanted to head away from the action and catch some relaxation in preparation for the full moon party weekend on the neighbouring island of Ko Phangan. We headed to a small bay on the east of the tiny island (30 mintues to drive anywhere) called Tanote Bay. Now in our travel guide it had very little in way of restaurants,bars,shops so i assumed it was down to the fact there wasnt much to recommend there where as in reality its because there was no shops, bars or restaurants it was just a spotless beach with 4 hotel receptions on the beach front and behind 'bungalows' (shacks) dotted over the hill side. Unbelievably isolated... a little bit of paradise. However everysingle person was in a couple so that made it look like a romantic getaway for me and Bill , perhaps it was..... Surprisingly after a day of snorkeling the crystal clear waters there wasn't a whole to do. Bill even enquired in a very optimistic attempt if he could send a taxi to the nearest shop to gain a bottle of vodka! PICTURE we quickly relized that perhaps this was too quiet even for ur relaxation time before the full moon so we swifty made our way to the main town on the island the next day.
The idea of having a quiet few days evaded us completely that night and courtesy of a bottle of Uncle Toms miscellaneous clear spirit i don't remember past 11.30 ( it was a cross between vodka and rum and didnt state what it was on the bottle. Bathtub moonshine was my bet.). As a result of our achohol induced coma we missed our 9am boat to Ko Phangan, whoops. Eventually on a boat we were told it was an hours journey but over my time here i have learnt do not trust a thai persons timing. you tkae the time you given and multiple it by three! they must work on a different time scale over here cz its not the one we use! We arrived in Ko Phangan and met up with a group of australian girls we met in Chaing Mai (north thailand) for a Elephant Trekking reuion party!
The town of the full moon party is called Haad Rin and they say that the parties on the beach are better on occasion than the actuall moon and although maybe not better theres barely any difference other than a bit less moon and a few less people. ON our Chaing Mai reunion night there was a foam party on the beach and i now no never to mix sand and foam (not should when i would of anyways..) as it quickly turns into quicksand and ruins and clothing your wearing!
After two nights of Partying the full moon party night came around and it consists of about 15,000 people on 1km streach of beach all drinking cheap wiskey and coke out of multicoloired litre buckets. Theres flaming 2 metre skipping ropes, everysingle kind of music, 15 ft high slides, laughing gas, magic mushroom milk shakes. The whole Place is absolutely crazy. Oh and a truck load of UV paint over everyone! All in all an amazing time!
After threes night of wiskey filled, paint encrusted, beach partying the whole island could not wait to leave. It was amusing to watch everyone scramble on to boat at midday hungover begruding dragging along 20 kilos back packs. Actually it wasn't amusing then as i was one of those people! Defiantly something you look back to and thinks funny! Normally the boast are fully booked for three days after the full moon party as every has had more than there fill of partying!
(A mention should definatly go to two woman we met in Chaing Mai who very kindly put us up free of charge for our nights on the iisland in a beachfront resort with a pool, jacuzzi and air con! Thank you!)
From Ko Phangan we were heading for PHiPHi the island from the film the Beach. (i implore you to watch for the sole reason of making you extremely jealous) Before we reached there we had a stop over in Krabi, a town with nothing to offer for story purposes other than this. I went to buy some shower gel and picked up the nearest bottle (/cheapest) came back and showered and squirted it into my hand only to find out it was moisturiser. On closer inspection it was actually whitening lotion. Now if theres a person who doesn't need whiteneing lotions its 100% me. It fasionable in south east asia to be pale and funny opposite to the scores of orange umpa lumpa girls you see on a night out back home.
After THe full moon party our fiancal resources were depeleting and a strict budget has now come into to place for our remaing time in thailand ( 8 days). I've complainign bitterly about it - i travel the world and still find something to comaplain about! Its not hard at all to stick to our 20 pound a day budget until you factor in alcohol haha. So we've obviously comprimised on eating so we can save our drinking habits!
Phi Phi wasnt the relaxtion paradise we envised as its amazing filled with British people ( who we avoid like the plague) It just party party party all over again which isn't awful by any means by were getting tired and my hangovers are horrendous. We did however goin on a tours of teh bays and did some snorkelling which was prety epic as there was fish everywhere and swimming into your googgles to the point where i got fish claustrophia! We then went to the famous Maya Bay (Google it ) Me and bill bunked in on a tours free buffet lunch yday and today didnt get charged at the restaurant as the waitor forgot, and we certainly werent going to remind him!! More money for cheap wiskey buckets right!
Thats all i got for now and im partied out.
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