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We're not going to lie. We've had a few drinks on this trip. Some, like our endearing parents, may think we've had a few too many, but we think we're doing ok. Whether our livers agree with us is another story and we don't feel like reading that book just yet. We guess that drinking is part of travelling. Whether you're trying the new, different and exotics drinks of each new place that you visit or sitting in a hostel bar having that ice-breaking beer with other backpackers, it's quite likely that you'll be doing a fair bit of drinking when travelling. It's a part of the experience, it's a part of the requirement and it's a part of the enjoyment. There are certain events, like Oktoberfest, that you choose specifically for their alchohol and there are other events where the alchohol chooses you. One of these such events is the famous monthly full moon party on Haadrin Beach in Koh Phangan, Thailand and the drink that chooses you is the famous, notorious, memory maker and the one we'd sometimes rather forget drink that comes as one part Sang Som whiskey, one part Thai Red Bull and one part coke all mixed over ice in a bright coloured beach bucket that's aptly named: a bucket.

Our journey to the full moon party took us off of the logical route for travelling South East Asia as we detoured back to Thailand from Vietnam instead of heading into Cambodia as most travelers would do. Even though we have both previously been to full moon parties, it was still on our list of events we'd like to get to on our trek. When we were looking for our accommodation we noticed that all the hotels near the beach tie you into booking about five nights over full moon and new year periods and charge massively inflated rates. We weren't too keen on this and considered the alternative of staying in Koh Samui and ferrying in and out for the party. Eventually we gave in, though, and booked to stay directly on Haadrin beach in the heart of the madness. This is definitely the best way of doing the party as you don't have to worry about your possessions which you can just leave in your room (in your drunken state they could get lost, pick pocketed or land up in the sea if you go in the water and forget you have them on you), you can come and go to and from your room whenever you want, you have a bed to go to when you're ready and you don't have to sit through a long ferry back when you eventually leave the party. There can be concerns over the safety of the rooms in the hotels on the beach during the party but we think that if the hotel is decent enough then this shouldn't be a problem.

Turns out the date didn't detract from its expected chaos and Haadrin beach was filled with thousands of people dancing, jumping through fire, relieving themselves in the sea, cooling off in the same sea, eating and, of course, drinking buckets. It's a massive party that starts from whenever you ready during the day and runs till after sunrise the next morning. If that's not enough for you, or if the red bull is still in your veins, then there are even after parties. No party would be complete without a stumble over to Mama's Chicken at some point for that alcholol sucker upper and famously delicious chicken schnitzel baguette - as good whether you're on or off the booze. There is something for everyone at this party unless you're looking for a relaxing, quiet night.

In an almost poetic downer to the high of the full moon party, our next four days in Koh Phangan were completely rained out. You never want this kind of weather in Thailand, especially in Koh Phangan where there's absolutely nothing to do if it's raining, but at least it gave a chance to get some much needed downtime and literally slept, woke up to eat and watched tv for the those four days.

We next spent a few days in Koh Samui, the much more developed island that we flew into and out of. This was also a pretty chilled time where we finally got some Thai sunshine and fish barbeques on the beach. We even hit up a couple of nights at the well known Green Mango night club. We chose our hotel, Arkbar Hotel, specifically because they have a good party bar on the beach but unfortunately the island wasn't busy enough to carry both Green Mango and Arkbar and the former won the crowds.

So Thailand turned out to be a lot more chilled than expected thanks to some unfortunate weather. The full moon party, though, was a great success and definitely worth the trip off the path.

Trek on…Brett and Darren

P.S. Keep up to speed with where we've been staying and how we've been getting around in our blog posts from Johannesburg