After not a lot of sleep I was feeling pretty crappy this morning and ready to leave Phuket.
And just as the rain started and it was looking very bleak the 4 American girls we had met in Ao Nang rocked up to our hostel. A really nice suprise and some more people to hang out with on New Years Eve.
I then skyped my Mum and Dad which was great and brought the mood up even further so maybe today might be a good day.
The plan is still to leave early and make my way to Bangkok and hopefully arrive New Years day.
We all headed out at about 8pm making our way to the beach where the two events were happening. The paid event was fenced off with sheet metal but the ginormous floating stage and music could be heard a mile away. We decided to start our own little party on the other side of the fence and danced with a bunch of locals for the next 2 hours.
Patong was crazy millions of people and to be honest not that many drunk people but I couldn't help but feel vulnerable and unsafe. Some people were however getting crazy and there was literally no police presence so anything could happen. None of the girls drink so that was easy for me not to drink however by this point the Aussie lads were well drunk and on about there 4th or 5th buckets. The rest of the night up until the countdown we spent trying to get them moving down to the beach where the free event was happening.
The free event on the beach was amazing, people setting off fireworks, lanterns and a really good Dj set happening - I am guessing around 10,000 people at least!
At midnight more fireworks and more music started - but by this point I was sick of drunk people pushing me and needed some space. All I really wanted was to talk with my family or be with them - I guess the years of getting drunk and partying New Years Eve away are behind me! After stopping for a feed of boiled eggs we headed home at about 2:30am.