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Published: June 29th 2008
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Hello everybody,
I spent another night at the Paradise bungalows on Sunrise beach after writing last. I briefly mentioned before that Ko Pha Ngan is know for its Full Moon Parties which go on all night on the Sunrise beach. The last one was about two weeks ago. What I didn't know though was that the 26th is the night of a half moon, which also has a party. This party (more like rave actually) is only about a thousand people though and is in the middle of the jungle. There were people all over Sunrise offering taxis the party so I jumped on to go (its basically two benches on the back of a covered pickup). Right as I was leaving three Swedes jumped on as well. They had been on the islands for about three weeks at this point. We got along well on the ride and ended up drinking and conversing more at the party. They told me they had just spent a week on the other side of the island at Haad Yao beach and loved it. There is a resortish place called "The High Life" on the cliffs that overlooks the beach that they said
Sunrise Beach
Taken on route to Yuan Beach is the best place they've stayed so far. You can get a bungalow for 350 Baht/night (~$12) and the staff is great. The big draw to the place is the pool which looks as if it ends on the cliff. At the party we met two couples who are also staying there who highly recommended it as well. Get this, you don't order drinks there either. You just grab them out of a fridge then write down what you took in a book. When you check out you just pay what the total is. Its completely on the honor system.
By two o'clock in the morning I was feeling like it was time to leave the party at got on a taxi back to my bungalow. On the ride home I met these three girls from Manchester who were going back to their huts since one of them was, um, not in a condition to stand up anymore. One of the sober ones said she was travelling around the world for two and a half years. Suddenly my six weeks in Asia just sounds wimpy.
After a slow start in the morning (I guess I don't need to
Longboat to Yuan beach
This is a shot on my way from Sunrise beach to Yuan beach. explain that one), I swam on Sunrise beach and got some sun. In the afternoon I jumped on a longboat to get around to another beach, Yuan Beach. That place was amazing. There are bungalows on stilts all around the cove and is the best swimming beach I've been to so far. Its absolutely beautiful. All in all just a great afternoon. I crashed at my Paradise bungalow for one more night then taxied over to the High Life Resort, on the other side of the island.
I got a cheap bungalow which is way better than my Paradise bungalow. The view really is just incredible. Unfortunately my batteries died in my camara so I haven't been able to take any pictures. All the stores around here just sell regular batteries too, not the ones necessary for digital camaras. After swimming in the pool for awhile I thought I'd walk to Haad Salad beach, which I figured was just a mile or two north. Terrible idea. It was two o'clock and the sun was beating down like I've never felt. Also, I'm extremely burnt from Sunrise and Yuan beach and my bag didn't exactly feel great on my shoulders
Yuan Beach
North side of the beautiful Yuan beach. for the long walk. After 45 minutes I drank all my water I had with me but made it to the beach which isn't even that great. I then grabbed a taxi to Haad Mae Haad, another beach just north of Salad. That beach was also just so so when I was there. I taxied back to High Life after a few hours and a with a t-shirt that smelled to high heaven.
At night I ate at a seafood restaurant under the stars that is literally on the beach. Absolutely delicious food. Speaking of food, I'm yet to have a bad meal in Thailand. Everything tastes great. At night I went back to High life and went night swimming in the pool under a full sky of stars.
Well, its noon and I have to rent a scooter (waaaay cheaper than the taxis) to hit some more beaches. I just bought some more batteries that said they work for digital camaras but unfortunately, they don't. This will really suck to not have any pictures from this place. Tomorrow I'm off to Ko Tao, a smaller island north of Pha Ngan, that is world renowed for is scuba
Yuan beach
South side of the beautiful Yuan beach. diving. Too bad I don't scuba dive. Oh well.
Lesson I've learned over the last few days: I should have saved the islands for the end of my trip.
Take care all.
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smmiller49
Steve Miller
Here's the place
http://www.phangan.info/highlife/