A SUMMER STORY THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN: FULL MOON PARTY
Chaos
and one hell of a party. That is the
very impression I get on what we are about to experience at the Haad Rin Beach
of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand one summer. This was actually a one-year in the making plan, which
started from drinking spree conversations proposed by Jerik back in Manila. Backed-up by supportive
airlines providing seat sales, here we come to the infamous Full Moon Party.
Lessons
learned from travellers and friends who went ahead of us served as our
guide. Drugs, sex, thievery, harassment
and all sort of vices came as a warning.
But we made it through in a fun and clean excursion.
Just
when I thought I have already graduated from the rave parties (wild I should
say), this one is too hard to resist especially that I’m with my favorite and
trusted travel buddies. And this one
makes the difference why we all went home safe and filled with memories to
cherish.
EN ROUTE
Kirk,
Elal, Darwin and I spent a night at Kuala Lumpur from Manila to meet
Marx. From there, we’ll be meeting other
friends the following day at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport - Christian
and Carla whom I was with at Langkawi, Malaysia weeks before this trip and
Rodel from Singapore.
For one hour and 30 minutes, we took the Kuala-Lumpur to Surat Thani flight. Surat Thani is the largest southern province
of Thailand. This is my second time to
be in Thailand and it feels good that I don’t have to worry about school
examinations, as the first one was in Bangkok and I was a student back then,
traveling in the middle of my final exams.
At
the Surat Thani airport, there are ticket kiosks at the ground floor opposite
the exit. We chose the most convenient
ferry company, offering both the bus and boat tickets at approximately 500THB. We took the bus in a 1 hour and 30 minutes travel
time to Donsak where the ferry terminal is located. From Donsak to Thong Sala Pier (Koh Pangan’s
main port town) the travel time was approximately 3 hours.
We
were not able to anticipate such a long journey which made me so hungry and
eager to rest at our transient home in Haad Rin Beach.
PANTHIP MARKET
Upon
arrival at Thong Sala, we went direct to its night market to feed ourselves for
dinner from that long journey. Known as
the Panthip Market, there are a variety to choose from and of course authentic
Thai cuisine in the likes of curries, noodle soup, fried chicken and sticky
rice, barbequed pork on sticks, spring rolls and more as options. Western style food are likewise available.
From
Thong Sala is our last transport leading to our destination – the Haad Rin
beach. There are taxis and pick-up
trucks waiting to take passengers around the island holding up placards and
signages with destinations. Price is
fixed to Haad Rin Beach at around 100-150 baht (I forgot the exact but on that
range).
WHERE WE STAYED
Since
we only had one intention why we are at the Haad Rin Beach, that is, to
experience the Full Moon Party, I highly recommend the Funny Moon Hostel. It is just across the police station and a
clinic surrounded by convenience stores, eateries and beside a souvenir shop,
not to mention a walking distance to the beach – nearly beachfront, where the
Full Moon Party will take place.
As
we came in large group, we occupied almost the whole room with double-deck
beds, air-conditioned and with a common bathroom and toilet. Security issues were nil in our case. The owner/caretaker is kind as well which
makes the stay truly accommodating and secure.
PRE-FULL MOON PARTY
The
Sunrise Beach is where the Full Moon Party takes place. We dropped by one of the original beach bars
in the long stretch of the beach – Drop-In Bar – the night before the
anticipated beach party. A fire dancing
show took place which drew a number of crowd including ourselves. Jumping ropes of fire were part of the
entertainment, which some of my friends tried.
It
was a whole night of dancing and drinking beer on the side. For whatever happened that night, I can just
smile and keep it within us.
SUNRISE BEACH
As
if nothing happened, the crowd disappeared the following day. It was the usual
tropical beach scene. But with topless
women and tourists from all over the world lounging on the sea shores and for
us, having an afternoon drinking spree.
The
Sunrise Beach has been featured in films like the famed The Beach.
FULL-MOON PARTY
By the strike of twelve midnight, we all woke up. It was a feeling as if we’ve awakened to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. Water-based paints were provided by the hostel owner. Friends exhibited their skills in doing body paints with the Philippine flag as the prominent design.
Our
hostel being strategically located to the location of the Full Moon Party, we
could see tourists pass by - both sober and drunk. Some were carried on stretchers and dropped at the
clinic for the ambulance to pick-up.
Our research and stories heard from friends gave us the impression that there is the possibility of being too much intoxicated and drugged because of the buckets of alcohol sold on stalls at the vicinity of the beach party. With that, we ordered alcoholic drinks from a nearby convenience store and consumed the same at our hostel and some on our way to a portion of the beach where the original Full Moon Party took place – the Paradise Bungalows. Neon colors for the night.
It was one hell of a party.
The crowd goes
wild coming from different parts of the world, some even raising their flags,
as if there is a summit with national delegates in attendance. The difference is – no suits or corporate attires
but naked and sweating all over. We had
the best vantage point then. A rave
party it is. The ledge of the Paradise hotel
became our dance floor and other tourists came to join us.
Until
we went on our own directions, partied until the wee hours and the sad part is
– converge again to pack our things to catch the first ferry going to
Krabi. Whatever happened to each one in
the group, one thing is certain, everyone has a story to tell for this summer
affair.
THE END
Tourists lying on the sidewalks. Highly intoxicated. Others floating and still in dreamland. But us – we have to move on, leave the island and board on the ferry together with other tourists wearing blank faces, asking in silence, "What the hell just happened?".
They say no two experiences are the same. Our full moon experience is something I will never forget. The benchmark of a beach party has definitely been raised after this.
This is one summer story which experience will never happen again - difficult to duplicate.
1 comments
That sounds like a scene from the Hangover movie Haha
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