The birthday edition!

Back on mainland Malaysia, but the travelling was far from over. Total travel time amounted to approximately 32 hours 6 minutes and 43 seconds, involving; a taxi, a plane, a bus, a train, another bus, a boat and another taxi and I reached my desired destination, Koh Samui. This may sound like a horrible journey and it probably would have been if I wasn't outrageously giddy about what was to come and didn't have the company of a Geordie who added sizeable amounts of banter.

My first evening took me to Chaweng Beach, the roudy area of the island where I celebrated my return to Thailand with some toastie action and a Chang or nine! I encountered a torrential downpour, a comical rendition of "like a wirgin" (yes wirgin, huge fan of the Thai accent!) and many other bizarre things with a large and overexcited group of English travellers that could mean only one thing, I was well and truly back in Thailand!

The next day was spent recovering and preparing for what was going to happen next; the arrival of George Walker, Matthew Bell, Andy "the bod" Thompson, Lewy Pratt (all acquaintances made one way or another through uni) and the one and only Andrew Mark Scholey.

I met the boys (all of whom were sporting some savage sun burn and tan lines, as can be seen from the cover photo) at the resort they had pre-booked in to, I managed to blag an extra bed in the bungalow George and Scholey were staying in. The place was far nicer than anywhere else I have stayed on my travels so far, complete with infinity pool, palm trees, beachfront access, an unbelievably impressive complementary breakfast spread and a bath! (something I had not witnessed in 3 and a half months)

The evening (the eve of the full moon) was spent chatting over a few beers and catching up, this quickly descended into carnage once the Hong Thong Whiskey was introduced. We successfully lowered the tone of the resort by monumental proportions (with loud, brash englishness) and I was found wanting during the drinking games. I am yet to discovered the exact antics that went on whilst I had my power nap on the beach but as far as I can tell they revolved around a water buffalo, attempted knife buying (to free said buffalo) and another whiskey run. I forgot what it was like to be in the company of people as random as I am!

The next day brought about a cheeky speed boat trip over to Phangan for the full moon festivities coupled with my birthday celebrations, a daunting prospect to say the least!

We set a start time of 8 o'clock, Changs were in hand by half past 5, I still don't know how this came about but these things just seem to happen. We then spent the early evening drinking a single bar dry as we were stranded there by a downpour that turned the streets into seriously fast moving streams.

The weather cleared up nicely just as we finished our food, UV paint was then purchased and administered with suprising artistic talent (non of which I can take credit for), it was at this stage I felt it was time to make a spectacle of myself on the flaming skipping rope.....again! Someday I hope to learn that fire and significant quantities of alcohol shouldn't be merged!

From now on details and recollections cannot be 100% guaranteed as buckets were introduced in a savage manor, hours of our lives were lost and the shenanigans grew in stature. This is what I can remember/have pieced together....

Somewhere along the line the team was chopped in half, Bell, Lewy and Walker were lost to the beach, Scholes, the bod and I made our way to one of the overcrowded platforms to cut some shapes.......this however, was prematurely and abruptly brought to an end by the collapse of the aforementioned platform (not ideal to say the least!) In the ensuing melae Scholey was also lost to Haad Rin beach.

Unperturbed and determined, the bod and I soldiered on to Mellow Mountain, our pre-determined, designated meeting point. We were earlier than agreed but entertained ourselves more than adequately in the company of some suitably obscure people, with weird and wonderful chat, mine sweeping and a beverage or two that is all but definitely frowned upon in England!

Having all missed the 4am appointment we decided to venture back down to the beach and search for the others, no easy feat considering our levels of inebriation, the darkness, the distractions on offer and the several thousand other people, but against all odds we stumbled upon Lewy and Bell! The team was back up to a respectable number! Mellow mountain was again visited and Scholdog Millionaire appeared spectacularly out of nowhere as it was getting light to partake in our sociable activities....he was in a special special state, complete with sandy eyes and sodden, ripped shorts......the explanation to this is yet to be, and I fear will never be, discovered.

The mandatory walk along the beach to inspect the carnage ensued (never ceases to shock and amaze!) and the search for George began.......

.......The search grew more and more urgent as we had a deadline on our return speed boat......

.......The search was unsuccessful!

The cost of our full moon party experience:
- more money than I care to calculate
- some leg hair
- 2 mobile telephones
- 2 vests (one lost to the beach, one sacrificed for hygiene purposes. I refuse to go into more detail)
- serious amounts of health
- serious amounts of dignity
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of flip flops
- 1 pair of espadrilles
And also
-1 George Walker!!!!

We were all moneyless at this point so decided our only option was to regroup, get back to Samui and try to formulate a game plan from them.

The boat ride back was a very odd affair, on the one hand we were concerned for George's safety, stranded alone on a Thai island, completely unaccounted for with limited money and no possessions other than his phone. On the other hand, we were on a lovely fast speed boat taking us back to our lovely resort and all our things. Oh and I forgot, we were also in possession of George's boat ticket! I put it down to guilt-ridden worried hysteria and our extremely high level of inebriation but it was a very comical boat ride. The situation was far to farcical for us, in the states we were in, to fully comprehend and take seriously.

On our return to the resort the comedy of the situation and our drunkenness was starting to wear off and concern was setting in. Walkers phone wasn't on! What do we do? What happens next?

It was at this point of realisation and panic that our heads turn in unison to witness a clearly still hammered Walker rock through the reception, hands raised in victory, grinning like an idiot with the word France etched across his back in UV paint. His journey through the evening is about as clear as the rest of ours but he definitely spent some time in the sea (his phone casualty explained) and woke up face down in a Phangan bar.

His journey back involved dallying around on a free moto taxi to the port with a few minor detours, a second purchased boat ticket and then temporary employment, upon a bus back to the hostel, as a baggage handler. What the horse!?!

Needless to say another memorable full moon and a pretty special birthday! I don't really know what else I can say about such occurrences. I don't think I would alter much if any of the events given the choice and the cost of the full moon party in hindsight was definitely worth it!

After a day of hibernation we all started to feel remotely human again but far too soon it was time for me to depart. An emotional farewell took place. It was a pleasure boys, stay safe and enjoy the rest of your travels...hopefully together!

As for me it was back to Singapore and onwards to a new continent for the next leg of the adventure. Australia here I come!

Hope you enjoyed the read or at least weren't too horrified by it, all these suspense novels are rubbing off on me I think. My next travel blog will have some actual travelling in it rather than just a blow by blow account of drunken activities.....probably!

Hope this finds you well.

Luke. X