13th June 2007

We got picked up from our hostel in Koh Samui at 11am via air con mini bus. Took 45mins ish to get to the port where we boarded the catamaran at 12.30pm. Took 20-30 mins to reach Ko Phangan where we got on a tuk tuk which took us from the port through Thong Sala, to Sri Thanu for 100 Baht each (2quid) Dropped us off in this remote little village and we stopped by some bungalows. We asked the price as Jenny thought her friend had stayed there cheaply, but they told us 1000 Baht (20 quid), so no chance we were staying there! But there were no taxis passing by which could take us anywhere else! We were soo hot and our rucksacks so heavy, sweating cobs! We just wanted somewhere to flop out! Jenny walked a little further up the road whilst i sat down almost passing out from the heat. Although no success as nobody spoke English and there was nobody on the Tourist Info! Thank the lord a tuk tuk/van passed our way which stopped and picked us up and took us to Haad Yao, further up the beach for just 50B. He dropped us off outside some more bungalows which were priced at 250B - thats more like it! Although no air con - just a fan, no hot water, just a double bed and a single bed and a cold shower in a stilted wendy house/hut type thing which had a small balcony with a hammock, right on the sea front. Put our stuff in the room and headed straight to the sea to cool off. Then had a shower and looked for some place to eat. There doesnt seem to be much going on in this area, only a handful of restaurants along the beach front, and they all close at 10pm. Out on the horizon at sea is a string of boats lit by flood lights fishing for squid. We had tea and I had stirfried chicken and vegetables with cashew nuts in a Soy Thai sauce. It was delicious but quite spicy. Then we walked along the beach looking for somewhere to have a drink, and ended up in a bar that was almost empty, watching the film - Flight Plan. Then came back to our room to discover an ENORMOUS cockroach scurrying about. It was about the length of my middle finger and about the width of 3 fingers!! Our floorboards are wooden with big gaps so must have come through them. Eurgh. As we have a double and a single bed, we put all our bags and belongings on the single bed, to stop things crawling in our bags, and we both slept in the double bed. Didn't get much sleep as it was so hot and i was panicking about the bugs! :(

14th June 2007

Today the heat has been blistering! In the morning and early afternoon the tide is low so its very shallow and almost even impossible to sit in, so instead of lying in the sun with no possible way of cooling down, i headed back to the room and lay in the hammock and started to read a book i borrowed from Reception, and had a little snooze after a crap nights sleep worrying about cockroaches! Then headed back to the beach for a lie in the sun. We stayed there til the sun set over the horizon, which was beautiful. We then had a shower and tea at our restaurant at the huts. I had stirfried vegetables with noodles and Jenny had Pad Thai. it was ok and cheap so no worries. Then had a wander about the site to see if anything was happening although ended up in a Thai local, so had a game of table football and left. This place seems to be surrounded by Geckos, which are the noisiest animals ever! It sounds like a farmyard, they sound more like cows than reptiles! Got back to the room for round 2 with the cockroaches. It chased me as Jenny tried to use the bum hose from the toilet, so yet again another sleepless night!! Tucked up in my sleeping bag liner like a cocoon, sweating my head off with that pathetic fan, lets say im not enjoying this place much!

15th June 2007

Today we hired a motorbike and drove to Haad Rin (south of the island) which took us an hour, as Ko Pha NGan isnt very big! Drove about searching for a new place to stay. The bike was ok. Jenny drove all the way, as my sense of balance isnt too good! (There seemed to be millions more at Hat Rin - shops, bars, restaurants etc. And having driven about a bit we came across 'Friendly Bungalows' which was on Sunset Beach, although nobody uses that beach as its right by the port. But its only a 10 min walk to Sunrise Beach which we had a dip in - lovely smooth sand and gentle sea. Unlike at Hat Yao - very rocky sea bed. Sunrise Beach is where the Full Moon Party is held - but we're not going because A) we're not here when its on, and B) i cant really think of anything worse - an all nighter party of hard house and trance music - THE worst types of music! I went to 7-11 and rang Pete <3 for about 20 mins! It made me so happy to hear his voice, its been a long time since i last heard it in Heathrow Airport! Then headed back spoke to the parents on MSN. Glad its our last night here as Round 3 with the cockroaches was tedious, so looking forward to Haad Rin.

16th June 2007

Up at 7.45am this morning to get packed up and ready as the taxi left at 9.30am. Got to Thong Sala which is where we got dropped off - at the port, then jumped in another "cab" which took us straight to Friendly Bungalows, where we checked in. Then straight to the beach where we stayed all day. It has been quite overcast so was nice to be a little cooler. Went for tea and watched 'Shrek 3' at the restaurant! Then we found another bar that was showing 'Snatch' so watched that - and then Jackass 2! The 'bars' arent busy this time of year so they play films all evening. At least there is actually stuff going on here - unlike Haad Yao (Which had nothing) more shops and places to eat here, and havent come across any cockroaches!!! ..... Yet!

17th June 2007

Today has been overcast so has been a lot cooler, with a breeze that was nice. As when the sun beats down with no breeze, the temp is around mid 30's - which is hot! Lay and read my book, which i accidentally on purpose took from Had Yao! Oops! For tea we sat in a bar and watched The Beach - appropriate as we're in Thailand! I had a curry!!! WOOO! Chicken Tikka Masala, v spicy and v greasy poppadoms. But cant complain it was lush! The mango chutney had a kick to it too, and also no naan bread :( but hey ho. What i have noticed about Ko PhaNgan is that its much quieter than Ko Samui, as in no taxis beeping at you, or people shouting tuk tuk, hassled into restaurants and shops. Although i imagine when the Full Moon Party's on it is rammed with English tourists! But luckily the next one is thw 29th i think! And by that time - We'll be in Singapore!