We checked into our hotel on the 11th and were relieved to find that it was really nice and right on the edge of the beach. It was still raining but I was so knackered that I didn't care. We had arrived in the late afternoon and so had a nap and head out in the evening for some dinner.
We met up with Pinder, Jane's Kind of Boyfriend and spent the night chatting away and catching up. After one of the nicest Thai Red currys that I had ever had we popped into the Bob Marley bar for a few cocktails and to explain to Pinder the rules of "Shithead" the card game that had dominated our travels so far. The bar itself was awesome bean bags, hannocks and cushions all over the place. The Mojitos were amazing but the barman was clearly stoned and so it look him about ten minutes to make the drinks and bring them over to us. It was probably for the best as it ensured that we did not get too drunk and saved ourselves for the Moon party the following day.
We woke up at 9:30 - just in time for breakfast. I opened the curtains to see something that I had not seen in a while. Sunshine! Not knowing how long it would last we siezed the opportunity and lay ourselves out by the pool to soak up the sun. Now this is what I had in mind! After four hours of continuous sunshine the clouds started to form in the sky and we decided to cut our losses and head it. It was just as well because poor Vicky had managed to burn her entire body! The sun was very hot and very strong and I was lucky that my time in Australia had helped me build up a bit of a resistance to the sun.
We decided to spend the afternoon looking for the exact location of the Moon party so that when slaughted later that night we knew exactly how to get back. Our hotel was in the perfect location as it over looked the Sun Set beach which was the next beach along from the party (located on the Sun rise beach) the walk to the beach was about ten minutes max. On our way back to the hotel we bought some florecent paints and I bought a little blue dress to wear - figuring that if it got ruined it was no big deal.
we got ready and I spent about an hour painting little stars and hearts on Vicky and Kirsty. As my dress was backless I asked for the girls to paint a massive sun on my back - symbolising the outbreak of sunshine that day. We all looked great and were in such a good mood from the sun that day that we were all in the mood for a massive party.
It was raining slightly and so we head out at about 9pm and found a little restaurant near the Sun rise beach to eat in. I decided to eat as much as possible to ensure that my tummy was well lined! It was just as well. We sat in the restaurant and made a start on the buckets. Think back to when you were a kid and toddled off to the sea side with a bucket and spade to build sand castles. Now throw the spade away and fill the bucket with a small bottle of vodka, redbull and lemonade and you have my drink of choice for the rest of the party.
We played a few games of cards and danced on our chairs to the funky house music that was being blarred out of the stereo. The lady who worked at the restaurant had set up a stall on the balcony selling all the buckets and we took it upon ourselves to help her sell a couple buckets by screaming at men (and a few girls) as they passed us by. There was an amazing atmosphere around the beach, everyone was here for one reason and one reason only. The Party and everyone here was in the party mood. There was a serious carnival atmosphere as literally everyone had covered themselves from head to toe in flourecent paint.
The rain stopped at 11pm and the sky cleared. There was a magical feeling about the place. The timing of the weather had been just perfect and it felt as though everything was going our way. By the time we left the little restaurant/ bar we had sold a handful of buckets and filled all the seats in the restaurant with people eating and drinking. Who needs a beach party?!
We grabbed a couple of buckets - for the road and head to the beach. The beach was electric and just filled with people dancing, sitting and aimlessly wandering around. You could not walk far until you bumped into some people and got talking to them. Progress down the beach was going to be slow. We started talking to a group of lads from the UK who were clearly wasted. One lad lay down on the floor and promptly started throwing up - which at 11pm was in my opinion a pretty poor show!
Further on down the beach we started chatting to one guy who claimed to be a pro baseball player in the States. Vicky bluntly told him he looked like a tramp. I had to agree. Unfortunately for me his "bodyguard" a very large man with boobs bigger than mine and a gut to accompany it seemed to take a bit of a fancy to me. He did offer to buy me a drink though also wanted to point out to me that he was usually only interested in Thai girls and that I should be flattered... Flattered I was not. Flattened I was, as he promptly threw his arm around my neck and kept jambing my head into his pecks... For fear that I might loose my head Kirsty rescued me my proclaiming that she wanted to run into the sea. An excellent diversion!
We did not run into the sea as it seemed that the reason the toilets were kept so clean was that the sea was being used as a sustitute urinal for most guys. The music was amazing and I took great delight in prancing around the beach like an idiot with my bucket in my hand, hugging everyone that came in my view. We danced around a lot and managed to climb up onto many platforms so that we had a view of the whole beach. A massive sign that read "Full Moon Party" was set on fire and loads of people set -up limbo games under poles of fire. Fire seemed to be a big theme at the party. There were loads of fire lanterns that had been light and loads of flame throwers and Poi artists spinning fire around on the end of string round and above their heads. I figured I had had a few too many buckets to be attempting things like that and so decided to stick to the dancing!
We sat down on a massive rug and chatted to everyone around us. People from all over the world had come to this party and everyone wanted to hear everyone's story and wish them a wicked full moon.
Vicky took a bit of a funny turn and the buckets went to her head and tummy. She was sick on the beach and was not in the best state. Pinder and Kirty moved her up the beach and I ran along behing clutching a plastic chair that I had stolen from a stall. We placed her down and let her set the vodka out of her system whilst Kirsty and I pretended to drive buses around her and danced like idiots. I managed to find some water, a hot dog and a perculiar flavoured bacardi brezzer. I gave Vix the water and obviously kept the drink for myself. Vix took one bite of the hot dog and gave it back to me. So I ate it... It was the coldest hot dog I had ever had... Good though.
Full Moon Buckets seemed to affect everyone differently. Vicky was sick, Jane and Pinder seemed to fall in love all over again. Kirsty seemed to loose all her inabitious and danced like she was in a stage audition all night and I suddenly felt euphoric and overly sentimental and reflective. I spent thirty quid on my phone texting people different messages and letting them know how much I loved them and how much of a great time I was having. (Would like to take this opportunity to thank Mum and Aunty Karen again for all their support this year - love you loads).
With all the love in the world we danced on the beach till 5am and at this point Vicky who was still slumped in the chair started to come round. I felt extremely defensive of Vicky and was determined to look after her. She was the perfect patient and told us that she just wanted to sit. I was worried that people were going to look at her and notice how drunk she was but my fears were in vain. Next to us a guy had slumped down on the ground in a star fish and lay there for about tow hours straight without moving. I checked for a pulse a couple of times don't worry - and also took a few photos and took delight in painting him with some of my illuminous paint.
At 6am the sun started to rise and god if I thought I was happy before I was literally estatic when I saw the sun peaking over the mountains and lighting up our beach dance floor. The tide was coming in and lapping around our ankles. I jumped up and down, danced round and round and sent a few more texts messages to people. Taking a million and one photos of everyone I asked one guy to take a picture of the five of us who had all partied throughout the night till the sun rose. I played in the sea - which I had forgotten used to be a public toilet and sang at the top of my voice. Although my birthday was not until the 14th I proclaimed this to be the best Birthday of my life. Everyone wants to turn a year older whilst having a massive party on a beach right?
The beach was still packed by the time we left but a flux of people were starting to leave and make their way back to their hotels. Just as we turned to grab the last glimpse of our sun rise we felt the rain start to trickle down smudging all of my pant down my legs and face. We strolled back to the hotel - waving at the lady in the bar/ restaurant that we had sat in a few hours ago.
Back at the hotel we washed the paint from our face and head down for breakfast. I polished off a stack of pancakes and scrambled egg on toast. We then head off to bed and I slept for the entire day (and night!)
I can totally understand why people travel far and wide to head to a full moon party and would love to come back. Although the parties happen every month I felt as though I had experienced a once in a lifetime event and felt totally blessed as a result. My whole travelling experience has totally blown me away and I guess what I was trying to say to everyone in my rambling text messages was that I am very grateful to have you all around me, supporting me and encouraging me to get out and do things like this. Thank you guys xxx 😊
Upon turning 25 I decided to do the responsible thing and leave the country and get myself into a mass load of debt. I see this trip as a quick stab of freedom before I grow up and get myself a morrgage.
The company that I work for as allowed me three months off and so I have booked to jet off to Hong Kong, Sydney and East Coast Australia, Melbourne and Perth and then onto Vietnam, Thailand and down to Singapore.
I'll do my best to keep this blog as up to date as possible but will ensure that I am back in the UK in time for ... full info
Jackie
non-member comment
great
what a brilliant description of a FMP. Really enjoyed reading it.