P A R T Y...Why? Coz i gotta!

Our arrival at Koh Phangan was earlier than anticipated due to the scaremongering amongst backpackers regarding accommodation on the island close to full moon. As the majority of us were not overly enamoured with Samui we agreed to get the party island early, get accommodation and be able to relax once there. Plus it gave us a base for longer than 3days which was a nice change - in fact we were there for a week! That was a perfect length of time, not too long, not too short. Our accommodation was really nice and a pleasure to stay there in relative luxury for a week. We had a few plans as for our adventures upon the island yet not all came to fruition. Our initial evening was spent searching around for a decent place to eat and little did we know at the time that there is only one place to eat in Hat Rin...but that's more at 2am and later. Anyway, we found that most of the restaurants played films or re-runs of the simpsons, or friendsor more friends....or yes, more friends! Those of you who have been to Koh Phangan can vouch for the amount of friends played in the area. So, dinner wasn't as much find the cheapest place as much as it was a "hmmmmm, what shall we watch this evening?" We already had a few inclings as to the goings on in Koh Phangan and had also heard some horrendous stories regarding the police and tourists with drugs so we were a bit perplexed as to what to do...follow the masses or play it safe. As it happened after dinner and a show combo we parted ways with myself and Sam coming on here and the hardened alcoholics went to explore the bars. After a useful tip off online Sam and i decided to join Charlie and Ruth on the beach, but not for the alcohol, we headed to the furthest away area on the beach seen as Mountain Bar or something like that and were welcomed with lights on the bars so bright it lit up half the beach! and at the base we were welcomed with signs saying "happy shakes". Our tip off had paid off and after re-assurance from a westerner who had lived in Thailand longer than i have been on the planet, we accepted the "happy" welcome. To be honest, if you are thinking of trying these be aware that they can be extraordinarily strong so try a weak one first even if they do cost a lot! Furthermore, as i noticed afterwards, it isn't just mushrooms as you are led to believe that is in the shakes so now you are warned, i have done my good bit as well as my devilish goading so it's up to you now :o) Sam and i finall found the other girls on the beach as they were abut to head back but due to the concoction within the happy shakes we weren't really tired. Ruth being Ruth was happy to stay up and carry on regardless of whether she was on her last legs and so we all stayed out for a little longer...well, 2hrs. These two hours were spent chilling on the beach chairs and dancing like crazy people possessed on the beach to the music being pounded out of the mahoosive speakers until we finally retired to our reasonably fixed abode (all of a week!). As we had arrived so early we wanted to see what there was to do rather than just sit on our asses (or the beach if the weather would ever perk up) all day so we headed to the backpacker travel place next door (highly recommended if booking to travel anywhere) to see what options we had. After a ponderous day...well half day as it wasn't exactly the crack of dawn when we arose from our pits we had a few ideas for the late afternoon. Ruth decided to try out some yoga, whilst Charlie and I went for the more physical Muay Thai lesson. The lesson was rather simple, yet with the heat and the exhuberent movements it was soon telling with dehydration the main problem. Either way a good time was had and some new moves were learnt. There wasn't anyone else there either so to pass an hour (and a fair bit of r&r after) 200Baht is a steal at Jungle Gym. After that we went to dinner and then got our drink on!Being well prepared for the buckets since Phi Phi we knew what to expect, but seeing the prices and the hundreds of stalls scattered around the streets and beach was somethings unexpected. As still very early (with full moon a week away) we weren't out on a bender...well most of us weren't, and we went to Drop In Bar, which is easily the most happening place on Hat Rin, although the music may not be to everyone's tast, it's the easiest to dance to and have a laugh at. Also they have plenty of entertainment in the form of madmen playing with fire - very good. We had agreed that we were going to have one day on the drink and one day off the drink and alternate as to not kill ourselves with the evil (yet very nice) levels of alcohol per bucket and also so that we could do something during the day. so, this day after the night before became our day of exploration. We had researched into hiring ATV's for the day which were an option, yet a wee bit pricey and then thought of hiring a Landy and split the cost which was fine but there was a problem in the Thai laws. No, it wasn't anything to do with our ages or ability or nationality but there was still a problem. There is no insurance in Thailand, ergo any prang must be paid in full by you. This was not enamouring and nor were the roads so for this reason we opted for a tour starting early the next morning where we did pay a bit more but had our own private taxi chauffering us around for around 5/6hrs. We went to a waterfall where we had a mini trek through forestry and jungle to get there and although the waterfall was a bit...no...very disappointing it was still fun to go and do. Then we moved onto the Chinese temple and had a look round and finished off stumbling to a bar with a great lookout. They were right the view was great! Shame the bloody bar was shut! So after scrambling up this mountain we got to the top to see something and then roll down again. Never mind. The evening was going to prove to be a big one! Coral Bungalows were having a pool party and that was an experience and a half! The water by the end was as clear as a baby's nappy and there was a mixture of activities going on in the pool, none of which i can really repeat. There were a few hundred people there and loads of drink and even more action in the pool until we all were leaving and i found someone had half inched me bleeding flip flops! Guessing it was in a drunken stupor i didn't really mind as i nicked someone elses although they only went and broke before i reached the top of the hill to get in the taxi. The taxis were also ripping people off left, right and centre as they knew there was no other way back home other than a very long walk over unsteady ground, with even unsteadier legs! With my limited Thai i had learnt i decided to bargain with the driver only for him to believe i spoke Thai and run out a blasted speech at me about the prices! Either that or he was swearing at me, calling me a foreign tosser and telling me where to go...yes well...at least i tried. That was one arguement i'd never win (not in Thai anyway). There was a negative side to this eventful day and that was found out the following day. I was in agony through the morning and Sam was in pain too after overdoing it dancing so much, but when i realised i could no longer walk and that my foot throbbed incessantly, i saw the cut i had obtained in the sea in Koh Samui and had seen that it had gotten infected. Now you know how nasty that water in the pool party actually was! Sam kindly went to the Pharmacy for anti biotics and as it seems to be the norm here they just passed them happily over the counter. The next day was a quiet one for obvious reasons, with me not even leaving the room. The girls were so kind they albut gave me room service and that was on the eve of the full moon party! NOOOOOO!!!! Full moon had a massive build up which was very gradual and by the time we hit the beach it was heaving! Drop in bar which had all the fire shows and public skipping rope shows (yes on fire for all the drunken idiots) was now so full you couldn't move and that half of the beach was very much the same. After dancing on an infected foot for two hours i gave in. Yes tame, and yes i do regret but at the same time there wasn't a lot more i could have done. Most people left the following day and i can honestly say that Koh Phangan is the best place in Thailand thus far. With a manky foot we leave to head to Surat and split again for a few days as the girls hit Bangkok for 5days and i go up to Chiang Mai for a few days and then back to the girls in Bangkok for final drink up with Ruthie before she heads home.