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Published: April 11th 2007
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Haad Rin
Good place to do bugger all After over twenty-four hours of traveling (tuk-tuk-->airplane-->taxi-->VIP-bus-->tuk-tuk-->ferry-->tuk-tuk-->feet) from the Laos capital city of Vientianne to the island of Koh Phangan in Southern Thailand, I'm finally arrived at a place with sparkling ocean and blue skies (the skies in the north are filled with smoke from burning rice paddies and slash and burning forests). The sound of the ocean has never sounded like such a good sound as the sound I heard when I got to the beach (no time for edits, sorry). Way better than the violating sound I heard in my four hours I was in Bangkok (not to mention the metallic sewerage smell of the sprawling city, as soon as you get to Bangkok it feels as if a wet-swamp dog that rolled in curry starts humping your leg).
The first two days of my time in Koh Phangan were spent in the 100 meter area around my guesthouse due to a bad case of the shits. I mostly slept all day and occationally ventured out for fried rice and banana shakes. It wasn't bad though, it was nice to just stay put for a little while. I'm also by myself now so I didn't have to
Flametwirler
These guys are freakin amazing meet people to go do this or that or smalltalk about stuff I could really care less about (although I have had good conversations at times). It also gave me time to finish Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins, an awesome book about a guy that figures out how to live 1000 years. I really recommend it, but what do I know, I think I can count all the books I've ever read on two hands.
After feeling better and ready to experience what this island lifestyle is all about, I hit the beach with my new book choice, The Alchemist (the most cliche book that could possibly be read while backpacking). I ran into an English guy named Luke I met on the pier when I first arrived and since we are both traveling alone we met up to share a tuk-tuk to the Half Moon Party (in the jungle, not the beach to my disappointment). When I was sitting waiting for him that night a Swedish girl named Sanna that was also traveling alone started talking to me, so the three of us drank a bucket and took off to find out what this lunar celebration was all
Sweden!
Me: "I'm Swedish!"
Swedish person: "No, you are American." about.
I've never seen more blacklights than at this dirty alcohol stenched gathering of Euro-trash and undercover Thai police. I'm not sure what everyone was on but they were either dancing like they were having an exorcism performed on them or walking around with the worst glowing body paint jobs possible as if they just woke up from a coma and trying to figure out where the hell they were. I couldn't really talk to anyone either because it was almost all Israelis and they aren't very willing to talk to you unless you know Hebrew or whatever it is they speak. And the music was shit, I've gotten an earful of psy-trance music from the hippies I hung out with in Australia and grown to appreciate some of it, I've even got some I play on my iPod quite frequently now, but this was hard-house euro-techno shit. Fortunately there's always alcohol, so after another bucket I was dancing on platforms like this was my favorite hangout. When the sun came out and I realized I didn't have my sunglasses and Luke and Sanna were long gone (together, I suspect) I figured it was a good time to head
Half Moon Party
I guess it wasn't all bad back to town and spend the day sleeping on the beach. So if you are thinking of going to this island for the half moon party, my guess is the full moon party would be better since it's on the beach and not out in some dirt pit.
That gets me to today, the day I spent sleeping on the beach, waking only to eat a Hawaii burger (I suspended being vegetarian on this trip, but as soon as I get back on American soil it's back on) and rallye a superfast jetski I rented for 20 minutes of full throttle excitement.
Tomorrow I'm going to do some yoga on the beach under a big tree I saw a flyer for, and then trek up the island to some bungalows on a beach you can only get to by foot or boat. Should be a nice serene little break.
P.S. My camera freakin broke, the shutter button fell off so I can't take any pictures. I'll get a disposable I guess, but no more pics for the travelblog right now.
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The White Witch
Hannah Montana
half moon days....
Hi Andrew, Glad to hear you take care of yourself. Rest while traveling is important too. Thanks for your eye view of the places you are in. It is so different than here and so fascinating, I LOVE the pics. Sorry the camera broke, but take reg pics and bring them home. We miss you and will be happy to see you and hear first hand about your travels. Loren leaves for Australia this evening. He is excited to see his kids. I am sure they are excited too...take care honey, enjoy and stay in touch. Love Lots and Always, Auntie