I’m sadly writing this one update late (maybe two) but wanted to keep the friends and family in the know. After Singapore, the merry men of J, A, and I set off from the couple to Koh Phangan. Koh Phangan is probably very well known for their beautiful stretching beaches and secluded bungalows. Somehow over the years it has also taken the claim of a very unique attribute, The Full Moon Party. It is one of those hardly heard of but often spoken off unique events of the summer traveler. A gathering of vacationers and sybarites of the world culminating in a never ending fest of pulsating beats, sunny pure beaches, buckets of drinks, and a moon lit party that will absolutely blow away your conceptions of a beach bon fire get together.
A very merry crowd filled into two categories of those that were there to party their brains off and those there to have a good time and watch those other crazy lunatics. I was happily in the later and had an amazing time taking in the show. Pictures won’t ever be able to do it justice, but imagine your typical mile long stretch of perfect beach and shove as many people in the space as physically possible. Every inch of beach real facing real estate is a club and every one has their stereo cranked with just as many speakers on and facing the beach as inside. The drink of choice is a literal bucket that is filled with the flask and mixer of your choice and is yours to go from scene to scene up and down the beach. One of those happily once in a lifetime sights, where I can check my box and move on from the craziness now behind us.
I’m keeping this brief as possible, not filling in too much about the midnight speed boat ride, the carrying our bags over our heads through the same party the night before, or neon body paint that may never be scrubbed off some of the lucky canvasses. However, I do feel like it would be an injustice to not describe the mission must take to get to our hotel, Pariya Haad Yuan, which I highly recommend you do if you happen to find yourself on that side of the world.
First, you would get yourself to the Bangkok airport. This usually includes a stop over and a multiple of long flights totaling close to 24 hours of travel time, step one. Next, jump aboard my new favorite airline, Bangkok Airlines to a small far off island of Koh Samui. A stunning island with a collection of it’s own amazing resorts, and the single nicest airport I have ever seen. Only Bangkok Air flies in our out, and they have made it their personal show piece, nice work guys. Excellent, you’ve taken the short one hour flight into Koh Samui, now find a ride over to “Big Buddha” and jump on a ferry, you can also make the trip by speed boat adding to the James Bondness of the adventure. Now take that 30 minute boat ride to a smaller and even more far off island of Koh Phangan. A likely lovely and relaxing island that shows it’s teeth around full moon time in the summer. You’ll get dropped off at the dock where you can grab a tuk tuk, across the island to get yourself to Haad Rin, the site of the party and the “downtown” of the island. Final steps, negotiate your fair with a long-tail boat to take you just around the bend 10 minutes to a beach that is only accessible by small boat on a far off island off of a far off island, Haad Yuan. Smile and relax, you’ve earned it, or in our case drop off your bags and take the long tail boat right back over to Haad Rin and get ready for the time of your life.
