Krabi, Koh Phangnan and the TMKers

So we only had one day to see this wonderful place.  Limestone cliffs, mountains, very nice locals...beautiful beaches.  Sure you want to see the pictures right?  Well let's further the story....

So after finding a small bungalow for the night we strolled along the beach and shops...Krabi (actually we were in a smaller town called Ao Nang). is soooooo nice.  I could live there...but then again Thailand in general is quite attractive.

We met a local bar owner and after some time we were playing pool, surfing the web for free and taking over her music selections.  It was a grand night. 

Morning hit like a brick and we took a 3 hour taxi to the port at Donsak, where we were to take a 3 hour ferry to Koh Phangnan, and island home to the infamous Full Moon Party (search the web on this if ya wanna).  My pal was sick and so I went alone.  Let me just say that it has been a while since I have seen anything larger than your typical dance club and even those (before I came here) were few and far between.

So I got dropped off at the walkway, meandering through shops, most of them selling buckets of liquor and coke or sprite and 9 straws..I suppose to share or obtain herpes from whomever you wish.  I opted for a beer that I demanded I open myself.  Many shops along this path...selling body paint, glow sticks, flashing doodads and well, tourist shit. I bought some paint and got someone to draw spots on my face leopard style so I would blend in...I also ended up with some profanity written up and down my arms...and some star on my chest.

I got to the beach where my view opened up to 3-4000 people.  Most without shirts, many standing in knee deep water urinating in the ocean amongst the strobe light and a confusing brain jarring racket of trance, techno, reggae, rock, rap and thai whatever.  Not a second later I was approached by a drug dealer asking if I would choose between ecstacy, mushrooms, or some other drug...drugs are mai chai(no good) I say and walk on to see how much worse this could get. After sipping some of the local rum and walking around passed out partygoers. live amateur sex shows in the sand, men who thought swinging their penis in circles whilst standing on a coffee table was fun for everyone else too....oh the list goes on... I met some people who shared in the laugh at the raging thumping retards. I felt really old, but atleast I had orange dots on my face.

Let me shed more darkness on the scene:

Sitting at the only table I could find, my eyes catch these 3 dudes, bodybuilders from either Germany or England I guessed..they were spinning their blinking rainbow sticks and kicking up sand as they tried to dance to the techno madness blaring out of the towering speakers.  They were so uncoordinated and then it got worse, they started play fighting, kickboxing...friggin meatheads...I leaned over to my friend and shouted "Techno Meathead Kickboxing" and that became the new title for this monthly party.  So the beach rave party was to go on till the light came up but I had enough and thought before I got stabbed or slipped some drugs I would get the hell out and go back to my bungalow.

I scurried down the beach and eventually found the road back...a few hours later I thought I had a pretty good shot of the orange moon above me and realized my camera slipped out of my trunks at the TMK party. After this and some other stupid arguing with the manager at the hotel I was at, I admitted to myself that eventually a rough time will try to spoil any trip.  This was the time.  We left the next day...this time we took a 3 hour taxi drive from Donsak port back to Phuket. 

The driving in Thailand is worse than Phoenix. It is worse than Paris...it is worse than any driving I have ever seen so far in my life.  I cannot believe I actually drive in it!  But once you do as the locals do, you feel somehow, safe.  Lets not dive to much in to the way they can make a 1 lane road suitable for 3 cars, oncoming traffic, double passing, or just blatant driving on the wrong side of the road.  Or how about going 160km/hr through residential?  Blind curve passing, busses angrily passing scooter riders with inches to spare and not slow at all...I cannot believe I have not seen any accidents yet...many close calls but still!

Yes I, many times, drive on the shoulder/fields/ditches to avoid the scars everyone here has on their shoulders "motorbike" accident fo sho.

My pal left and things are back to normal....whatever that is.  I moved to a new bungalow today and will stay for 2 weeks.  Then I go back to Krabi for a week of climbing and kayaking. 

It will be hard to leave Rawai...I have made some good local friends, friends who have helped me find good deals, safe food and great beaches (not bitches!)

I will buy a new camera today so hang in there pals...