New years on Koh Phang-an

December 30th 2012 started out like any other travellers morning, an early start ready for our transfer to what we thought would be a coach, which would take us across the country to the ferry port so we could get the high speed catamaran to Koh Phang-an. We were excited to start the new years countdown; Duty free vodka and rum at the ready. We did not expect that morning to experience the most terrifying journey of our lives. Travelling through South East Asia using public transport never really feels that safe, there's always a slight fear factor. However we did not expect to be put in a mini van with four other people for 3 hours with the driver asleep at the wheel!!! We realised within the first few minutes our driver looked liked he hadn't slept for days but we hoped we would be transferred to a coach soon enough but no that wasn't the case. The police stopped us and he must of slipped him some baht as he let him drive on. Soon after the driver stopped for some sticky rice and chicken and necked a bottle of red bill syrup to keep him going. It didn't work very well as he would drift off again swerving across lanes. If I could see his hands eating I felt calmer as I knew he was awake but then he would drift off again. He had a bottle of scent stuck up his nose to keep him awake, sniffing regularly but it didn't work for long. The Kiwi couple behind us were in just as much as a panic, not really knowing what to do we tried to talk loudly and clap every time he would drift off. It got worse when it started to heavily rain and the visibility out if the front window was difficult for me and i was wide awake with fear. It was the most terrifying drive of our lives and we were glad the road was one straight road or I don't think we would of made it to 2013!

It rained heavily once we were at the ferry port and getting on the boat was slightly chaotic but once in our seats we could chill with a Chang and thank God we were alive. The catamaran stopped at Koh Samui first and the Koh Phang-an were the sun was shinning. The next part of our adventure was to hope Dom would show up and we had accommodation as there wasn't any left on the island. Luckily the boy had done good, well he'd missed the boat but he'd sent us the address and confirmation and let us know he'd meet us there. We had some lunch and another Chang and got a 200baht taxi to a longboat. The longboat wanted 500baht or he wouldn't go as the waves were to big or we had to wait got more people. Luckily another couple came with us and we paid 300 baht: 200 for the boat extra 100 for the waves. We doubted this wave money but realised he meant it as we came across huge waves that felt like the would engulf us in his boat. Our bags sat in the front getting drenched, the boat started to fill with water and child boat boy started bucketing the water out. The boatman would turn the engine off as a large wave calm towards us. We were getting hit from both sides with seawater. Drenched and for the second time being happy to have survived we dragged our bags off the boat and found Smile Bungalows at the very end of the beach. We had made it to our new home till 4th January, Bottle Beach, a secluded beach in the north of Koh Phangan.

The bungalow was pretty basic, double and wet room with shower and toilet. The staff at Smile Bungalow were adorable, Sam the owner, Pong and Bee the cutest little Thai man who spoke very little English other than "sorry sorry sorry" and "yeahhh", he would run back and forth from the kitchen with orders and plates of food.
9 times out of 10 putting the food on the wrong tables but he worked so hard and he was so cute.

Dom turned up much later that night but we didn't see him until the next day. He came with Rhys (kiwi) and Chris (south african) both lovely guys. Chris got the boat into town a lot earlier while the rest of us prepared for the New Year Countdown Party. Rhys dressed in a biggie t-shirt and clown mask and Dom dressed as a sailor.

Sam arranged pick up and drop off to the party which was brilliant as we were an hour away from the party beach Haad Rin. We pre drinked with some punch and got the pick up truck in. The boys in the back got drenched. I was soaked once I got out of the car the rain was so heavy. The streets were lined with vendors selling UV paint, t-shirts and the famous buckets. It was mental. We made it onto the beach where there were thousands of people but still a good amount as the beach wasn't too packed. Vendors selling food and buckets sat along the beach between the bars. By midnight the beach was rammed! Thousands of westerners on this beach getting smashed. We spent the majority of the time dancing in the drum n bass bar with the UK MC counting us down to 2013 "big up to my UK people!...isit happening? Oh my gosh I think this is it!" The fireworks were insane, watching them like a tennis match from one end of the beach to the next! Loved it! So many people still having a great time and then others flayed out along the paths. We drunkenly danced with some Thai people in the street and found a bar to chill out in before being picked up at 4am. 11 people in the back of a pick up truck was described as a "gang rape" as we drive through bumpy roads. We drunkenly discussed the best boy bands Backstreet boys, East 17, Westlife, five, N-Sync, Boys II Men, take that, boyzone but no one had heard of the greatest British black boy band in the world Damage (upsetting) which then turned into a best girl band discussion and so we spent the hour journey home singing their tunes.

The party would go on and Rhys didn't make it back till the next afternoon and Dom got back the following day. The first day of the new year was a day of recovery.

On the night of the 1st Rhys and Dom's friends Janine and Dean showed up and told us about their memorable last few days in Bangkok. They were a crazy couple of people with some crazy stories.

We heard later that a 22 year old English guy from London got shot dead. It was a case of wrong place wrong time as the argument was between two Thai gang members and the bullet hit the wrong guy.

Bottle Beach was very chilled and we spent the next few days relaxing and eating. We watched Rhys get a bucket bamboo tattooed to his finger which was pretty cool. We'd had a relaxing few days but I was excited to be moving on. Next stop Koh Tao.