And just when we thought our bus journeys couldn't get any longer, we signed ourselves up for an 18hr combi bus-boat to Koh Phangan! The added advantage of this one (or so we thought) was that at least it was on a VIP all singing all dancing bus - wrong again! What we actually boarded was a rather funkily decorated double decker, with some rather odd curtains and lighting. Not so bad we thought, at least they're going to show English films - wrong again. The speakers for the tv didn't work, so off that went just 1hr into our journey - worse still, the lights shortly followed, and all at the grand time of 7.30pm - "but I'm not tired yet?!?!?" Tough! So on we went, with a rather harsh stop at middnight for dinner and again at 5.30am to change buses!

Eventually we arrived in Koh Phangan, the object of our mission - the full moon party! Luckily we had booked our accomodation beforehand so got collected from the harbour - bypassing the touts and taxis - and taken to our beachside bungalow at Cookies. Although not right on the beach we had a lovely bamboo bungalow, and best of all it came with 2 hammocks!!! We proceeded to crash out for the rest of the afternoon in preparation for the night ahead!

The fun began with our ride to Haad Rin. The island's taxis are in fact pick-up trucks and they will literally squeeze as many of you into the back as possible. So 12 people later we headed off on quite literally a white knuckle ride of a car rollercoaster! Amazingly we all arrived unharmed, but in definite need of a drink. Luckily this was readily available, and in the form of a bucket!!! And so we were welcomed to the Thai whiskey, Sangsom. And basically that's all I remember......... only kidding! The party itself is spread throughout the beaches and bars of Haad Rin and is absolutely packed everywhere you go. There are endless stalls selling alcohol, food and neon henna tattoos. It's a complete carnival atmosphere with everyone drinking, dancing and drinking some more! We stayed to watch the sunrise, and have one last bucket, before heading back for an early morning swim in the sea - bliss.

Unfortunately that's where the fun stopped for a while. We'd thought that the swim and breakfast before bed might ease the hangover a little - oh no, how wrong we were. We proceeded to cower in our bungalow, making brief dashes to the sea to cool down. Needless to say it was a less than productive day and meant we ended up staying on the island an extra day. Hey ho, that's the joy of backpacking!!!!!!!

Next stop Koh Tao to do something productive with our time - diving........