6 May

Up at 07h00, we want to see the Big Buddha before having to return the scooter at 09h00. We drove around quite a bit before finding the island where it was located, strange how not even the locals could direct us. The Big Buddha is a 12 m high statue which is gold plated, in essence it looks exactly the same as all other Buddha statues, but it's the biggest attraction of the island. We were harassed by a black dog following us around and jumping on us the whole time. Not wanting to smack it, lest we attract the attention of a Buddhist monk we hastened down the many steps. Lucky for us two other travelers were heading up and the dog soon followed them.

Along the way we stopped and asked a local how much the ticket to Koh Phangan was, his response was 1700 Baht. I almost lost it with him, but drove on to the pier where it cost 250 Baht each. The fact that every local wants to make money out of you really starts working on my nerves and you can almost never trust them with advice when money is involved. We bought the tickets and returned the motorcycle along the way.

Back at the guest house we enjoyed a last swim, before collecting our things and heading to the road where we were to be picked up by a taxi to the ferry.

Arriving on Koh Phangan we are again surrounded by people wanting us to go to their guesthouses, Leanne and I split up weighing the options and trying to find the cheapest and cleanest option. The photo's of one of them looks nice and we both decide to go there. He first calls to check that there is a room, but unfortunately its only for the night. We decide to go there anyway and then look for other lodging. He was even able to get us half price for the Sangwa to take us there!

At the guest house we look inside the room just to check whether we like it, its smaller than we're used to but its clean and cheap, on a backpacker's budget you can't complain. Unfortunately we have to be out tomorrow seeing as the room has been booked by two other people on their way there. The Full Moon Party attracts people from everywhere in Thailand and the islands prices literally double for that week.

We went for a walk through the town just to orientate ourselves, mostly small restaurants, massage parlors and bars. Back at the guest house we sit to enjoy a meal at their restaurant, the view is picturesque, but upon closer inspection the water is dirty and shallow. The lady informs us later that the guests who would have come had canceled due to one of them having an accident and having to stay in hospital. At least we don't have to look for other lodging for the duration of our stay.

The evening is also not so uneventful, the toilet becomes blocked and I'm handed a suction pump to unblock it. Our walls also have a strange sound almost like insects scratching, but in actual fact its electricity running through thin wires...lets hope there's no short!