After my time meditating and three days of very little talking I was in need of some good company to chat away with no worries in the world to. And I found just that! Steph from the Uk became my savior and together we made our way down to Koch Phangan- Home to the biggest beach party in the world aka. Full Moon Party!
The trip down was 15 hours involving a bus and ferry but well worth it as we checked in to Laid Back Bungalows and knew for the next two weeks all we would have to think about was which side to tan first, what will we order for dinner and how many alcoholic drinks we would have that night. (Of course the last one I have never been any good at choosing appropriately, luckily Steph was a tad more mature and kept me grounded.) The few days leading up to Full Moon Party involved exactly as we imagined tanning, reading, a few walks in town and simply just enjoying life. A couple of nights before the big party we had a mini trial run and tested out the strength on the alcoholic buckets that everyone drinks here (ok their strong), meet loads of cool people, sussed out the dancing, music and most importantly the selection of hot foreign boys (ok once again maybe that was just on my part). Great atmosphere on the island as people where arriving by the ferry loads. Enjoyed the girly dress up with Steph on the actual night of FMP and headed for our pre- buckets next door. By the way buckets include one flask of your fav. Liqueur, one bottle of red bull and one can of soft drink. Surprisingly they go down very well, (maybe a little too well). FMP was crazy and eventful. In one sentence I would basically just say thousands of people from around the world drink way too much and dance the night away. Definitely a cool experience that all should try out but I won't rush back too quickly as I think you only need one FMP in your life.
After zero sleep me and Steph boarded the 11:30 am ferry and headed for Koh Toa. It was lucky we did this as we beat the crowds and Steph was able to book into a good Scuba diving place (what the island is known for). My plans for the island… hmmmm… good question. I didn't actually have any. But after spending a week here I do know this. I loved the island and every part of it; it is one of those magical places in the world you want no one else to know about. So shhhh don't tell anyone.
I want you to close your eyes and picture a beautiful beach with white sand and clear water, now imagine stunning sunsets with nothing in the world to do but enjoy these things. Add great food, wicked people and plenty of alcohol and you have found yourself paradise. Better known as Koh Toa! I had around one week on the island and I could easily tell how so many people come here planning to stay 3 days and have yet to leave. It is scuba heaven with many backpackers spending their days out in the big ocean getting the PADI. For those who could not afford it (that's me) you could either choose to spend your days at the beach, beach or BEACH. There's no where else in the world you would rather be- trust me. The people here where great and all out to have a good time. It did not take long for me to suss out the nightlife and soon I became Queen of the Nightlife- knowing all the good places and bars.
The daytime hangovers did not even bother me as I would laze about in the sun relaxing and swimming. I immersed myself in the local fire dancing culture and after one too many buckets decided I could be the star of the show and attempted to skip the fire rope. (Literally a rope on fire). Typically it didn't go as I had imagined and I ended tripping and making a complete fool of myself but I did give it a go, and that no other girl did. Met a boy from every country on the planet  and basically just experienced all Koh Toa had to offer. Well apart from the main attraction - Scuba Diving, but I did snorkel. I will miss this place like crazy. But more importantly I will miss the amazing people I met here. You all know who you are- And I will always remember my time spent with you here. That's the thing with traveling just when you become such good friends with a person, someone always has to leave.
Me, Steph and Sarah (our new friend) along with one very bad bad hangover headed back to that bustling, busy, polluted and so not paradise of a city, Bangkok. I suppose that's the way it goes when finding heaven, the real world always ruins the party and comes crashing down and this I did not enjoy at all. As sad as I was to leave Koh Toa (a few tears where had) I did know I was in need of some culture and that it was time to head back to more traditional Thailand.
hat's what made me board the overnight train and head to Northeast Thailand a place called Ubon Ratchathani near the border of Laos. Once again I went from one extreme to another and now I am about to enter a school of 3000 Thai students many of whom have never met a westerner, I will be staying in the home of one of the teachers and i guess living exactly as the local Thai's live. Call me crazy I know but in the words of Win Borden- "If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."