I spent all day Xmas day on the island of Koh Tao, which is the smallest of the 3 islands off the coast of South East Thailand. The island is renowned for it's cheap diving certificates and diving spots. However, diving was the last thing on my mind. I had got back early Xmas day morning from Koh Phangan after celebrating Xmas Eve at the Full Moon Party, where i had drunk and danced all night to the morning.

However, i was soon feeling the effect of my extravagance. I slept from 8am to about 8pm but it wasn't great sleep, i kept waking up constantly as my throat was killing me. There was a stinging pain in my throat, tonsils and ear and to add to this it seemed like i was getting a fever. I got up in the evening had plenty of orange juice and a tuna sandwich, for some strange reason i thought this, water and plenty more rest would cure me. I was wrong. The next day on Boxing day i was still feeling the same, so i woke up early and went to the local Medical Centre. They informed me i had a Throat Infection, the first thing the Nurse asked me was, "Full Moon Party?". I embarrassingly nodded my head. She gave me an injection for some strange reason and some antibiotics and painkillers for the fever and the infection. I was waiting for the bill expecting to get stung, but it only worked out to be about 5 pounds, so i wasn't too bothered, i spent way more then that sorting out my sunburn in Australia - so this was cool.

That day the guys decided to go to a beach just off the island that looked really nice, but i was in no position to go frolicking around on beaches, so i stayed at the apartment all day watching Star Movies (no Mum not the Indian Star Movies, but the English / American one). As soon as the evening came, everyone went to the local pub to go and watch the Spurs vs Fulham game and then the Liverpool vs Derby game. I obviously declined and instead watched the new Will Smith movie - "I am Legend" on Beanz IPOD.

I was still however, feeling the same despite the drugs and taking it as the nurse instructed me. Half way during the film, i started to sweat, I'm talking dripping down, despite the fan being on and it was evening, i didn't understand what was going on. Along with this sweating i had a tight pain in my chest, but mostly my gut, which felt like it was burning hotter then a stove. I stopped the movie half way through and decided that was a sign for me to go to bed early. But, as soon as the sweating stopped, the shivers started whilst at the same time the gut pain remaining. I was violently shaking and trembling, i could not believe this i was in Koh Tao, bloody Thailand and i was shivering and in pain. The shivering was so bad, after 5 minutes or so of trembling, my body would just stop and lay still and i would catch my breath back, and after 30 seconds or so and then the aggressive trembling would start again. It seemed that i had no control whatsoever of my own body. This lasted for an hour or so, until it eventually died down. By, this stage i was exhausted and still in pain. I looked at the time and the guys wouldn't be back for another 3 hours or so.

My only options was to try and go to sleep and hope it will pass when i wake up, wait for the guys and ask them to get some medicine for me, or get myself out of bed and go to the clinic and find out what was wrong with me. The decision to get out of bed, get changed and walk to the Health Clinic (which was probably only a 5-10 minute walk) was quite possibly one of the most difficult decisions that i had to make. It took me about 1 hour to make my move. I kept telling myself to get up but i just couldn't move. I don't know where the strength eventually came from, but i managed to crawl myself to the Hospital. On the way i was constantly being pestered by people to go to their bar. The last bloodclart thing i needed right now was another cold beer.

I got to the clinic at about 11pm and it was really lucky that i did, because the resident Doctor was just about to leave. Instead he stayed back and had a look at me. After doing a check he concluded that i was having a bad reaction to the Antibiotics that was given to me earlier, he gave me some new Anti-B's and a new hefty bill. A total of 25 pounds, damn, should have just stayed in bed. I spent the following day restricted to my room once again. The Doctor's instruction's were no spicy food, no cold drink, plenty of rest and no alcohol. Guess that means I'm on a detox. Later that evening we left Koh Tao island to head for Krabi, having seen absolutely none of the island i was glad to leave, it was the scene of my pain, and the further i got away from this place, the better.

As for the Full Moon Party, the reason to all this torture, if I had the opportunity to go back to the evening of the full moon party and change my actions and hence the consequences, i wouldn't change a thing! I guess some experiences good or bad, make your trip and give you memories that you will take away with you forever. I know now for that very reason i will never forget the Full Moon Party or my sick bed!