Ko Pha-Ngan Oct 20th - Oct 23rd 2006

What a day! We left Koh Phi Phi for our mammout boat-cattle truck-bus-bus-boat-rollercoaster ride journey to Koh Pha-Ngan.

The journey started with Jen and Rebecca frying themselves on the deck of the boat in the cloud and rain. We met Roland and Nev on the bus - team Thailand had grown to 5 again.

We were abandoned in the rain by one bus to wait for another. Rebecca paid 5Baht to use the mens toilet!! Roland taught us a new card game - something like Ding Dang Dong. Our stupidity convinced them not to seek any medical advice from 3 so-called professional pharmacists. Weve already forgotten the rules. Roland - if you read this please put the correct name and the rules of this game on our message board.

Sat in the V.I.P area of the boat (no different to anywhere else on the boat), played cards, drank Chang beer and ate seaweed crisps. Arrived 5hours later than promised in Koh Pha-Ngan to find a bingo hall at the port. Random!

Roland and Nev (stupidly) followed us to the accomodation we had already booked. More bug infested ricketty shacks. Yay!

Another chill out day followed the next day. We went shopping to try and find a perfect outfit for Rebecca's big birthday night out, but just came home with aloe vera for Jen and Rebecca's sunburn. Dolled ourselves up (yes, the GHD's made an appearance) and went out for tea with Nev (who was re-named Saeed due to him looking like the bloke from lost) and Roland (from now on called Sinbad, as his new outfit made him resemble the sailor). More buckets that night and we soon realised how potent they were when combining them with Roland's drinking games (the thai redbull/shark amphetamine is not to be messed with). Bus ride anyone? Top tip - never let Saeed drive the bus. It could prove fatal!

Met up with Suzi T, who Cathryn worked with at Leeds. Small world..... turns out she went to uni with Jen! Fortunately Cathryn recognised the face through the crowds and the bucket induced fog. Cathryn got off the bus and was promptly indroduced to some Aussie men, and then even more men! She had definitely arrived at her stop! There was a pattern emerging from the friends Suzi T had already made in Ko Pha-Ngan.

Rebecca, Jen, Sinbad and Saeed carried on the bus to the dark moon party (Cathryn hoped to catch the later bus). It was a trance-tastic party where they got painted with UV paint and Jen proved that two people can fit in one pair of the one pound fisherman's trousers that all the traveller's wear here.

Sunrise made the perfect end for Rebecca's birthday night of madness.

Settled our stomach's the next day with our deluxe free breakfast at the hostel. We upgraded our room to a luxury pad in honour of Rebecca's birthday celebrations. Saeed and Sinbad again had the stupid idea of following us and were given the keys to the adjoining bungalow to ours. We had air con, massive walk in baths with waterfall for taps, living room and no bugs!

We treated Rebecca to a special birthday massage, whilst Cathryn and Jen had a budget massage, which was more of a butchering than a massage at times. We then returned to our deluxe bungalow and received a special birthday invite to the bungalow next door for a 'party'. The bathroom had been converted into a spa by Sinbad and Saeed. We were all treated to malibu and ice filled coconuts, with asia MTV power ballads playing in the background, and candles to complete the scene. If that wasn't enough, the staff at the hostel then gave Rebecca a big chocolate brownie birthday cake complete with more candles.

The three girls then went out for a birthday tea and had the perfect meal - with Dirty Dancing being played on a big screen in the bar. How will Jen top the celebrations for Cathryn's birthday??