This was our weekend at Koh Phangan Island. I will do my best to share our crazy experience.
Since being in Bangkok me and Brooke have made 2 best friends thus far= Kyle & Kevin.
They are staying at the Amarin Mansion (along with all of the other international students) and ever since they responded to our facebook invite to Koh Samet island, we have all been inseparable.
Thus the reason why you haven't heard me mention them is because we are always with them.
Ironically I have to experience the stories in order to write a blog about traveling...
So we basically all INSTANTLY because "The New* four best friends"
Wolf Pack. Players Club. Polyamorous Marriage
that sums up our relationship. This trip we all saw sides of each other that we didn't even know existed!
Since I was on my death bed earlier this week and Kevin was in class, we left the transportation planning up to Kyle and Brooke.
Nothing like waiting till the last minute to start planning our trip to one of the most popular places in Thailand!
No surprise: the TRAINS WERE FULL.
Plan B= 10 hour bus ride, reclining seats, 7PM then another 2 hour fairy to the island.
Mind you all 4 of us are extremely A.D.D.
sitting for any long period of time... NO thank you
We all had one thing in common: sleeping pills.
Friday: after class me and Brooke started getting our stuff ready for the weekend...
1 Packback, 3 bathing suits, alcohol, NyQuil, baht and bug spray.
Did I mention we didn't have a place to stay; everything was fully booked.
Our plan was to pack light, make friends and sleep on the beach: FAIL
The boys came over around 5 to go to PATA mall (it is like a thai walmart, right by our place) to get alcohol and food.
Since the only thing on my mind was the 5th day of my Z pack... I decided not to fully* kill my liver.
We found the Thailand's "pop-off" vodka and this is what it looks like:
Don't know why they call it Black Cock but we yoked that joke all weekend.
It was finally time to go:
In our lobby waiting to for a taxi
We ended up with the whole bottom VIP floor of the bus ironically with our friends from our last trip (Koh Samet), so stoked!
Kyle (left), Kfed (right), Zuzanna (right), Moroccan friend (left), me (left)
Oh, before leaving Kfed dropped a black cock on our floor and it spilt everywhere, COOL!
On our bus ride Kyle and Brooke decided they wanted to start the celebration early... One Singha down, Kyle popped open the Black Cock right in front of Moroccan Oil (the girl that came with us to Koh Samet) She doesn't drink, doesn't eat breakfast because she is doing Ramada, some Morocco fast/detox religion tradition.. like lent. Being American, we asked her if she losses weight while doing it and if she gets hungry... she said, "no I am pretty use to people eating in front of me and I actually gain weight cause when the sun goes down= I stuff my face."
No wonder she finished off all of our snacks on the way there...don't worry, we like girls that can eat ;)
9pm and we are all ready for our sleeping pills, unfortunately the VIP section is located right next to the SMELLY bathroom which of course has NO toilet paper (like every bathroom in Thailand) and had a broken door with the light switch outside/behind the door. (you can imagine how many times we had to tell people how to use the restroom)
They don't mention that in the description; "10 hour bus ride to Kho Phangan, VIP section, AC, Bathroom regulation, Broken door, talkative travelers and to top it off, we will kick you off the bus extremely early at a port where you will have to wait another 3 hours for a boat.... only 2,000 BAHT"
Sounds great right?
After we took our sleeping pills, we decided to play some games which involved: "Never have I ever" and a contest of who could stay awake the longest.
At this point, the trip got real entertaining!
Kyle's liquor and ambien began to kick in... (don't worry they locked the bus door so the only place he could go was upstairs where the rest of the travelers were sleeping and whatnot)and of course Kyle insisted that he up and visit to make sure that we really are getting the VIP treatment. (ps we really didn't pay for VIP it was just the first seats we grabbed)
Brooke began to get alittle delusional as well. For some reason she wanted some lovin' and kept asking to hold my hand-being a good friend, I gave in.
PIcture this: Kyle upstairs insisting that we all stay seated while he makes sure the upstairs is alright, Kfed laughing and observing, Moroccan Oil eating her white oreos, probably thinking to herself: "wow these people are druggies and alcoholics, what am I dong here" Zuzanna yawning, observing and a bit concerned about Kyles behavior, Brooke plugged in, holding my hand laughing at the situation and me... wishing I had my camera to document all of this.
Kyle came back downstairs, falling over,"You guys don't worry, it's nothing that we want. How's everyone doing down here? everyone good? ok good. Welp, looks like im the only one partying."
We later find out (by someone who stopped us after we got off the bus) when Kyle went upstairs he made an impression, they said, "Dude I remember seeing you come upstairs, you were so funny.... you came up to check on us and then laid in the aisle and everyone was laughing at you but you didn't care."
Yep, that sounds like Kyle.
3:45AM: (angry thai bus driver screaming) WAKE UP, WE ARE HERE... GET UP, GET OUT!!!
So happy
All we wanted was for someone to tell us we were dreaming. Nope, we had to get out and the only open spots to wait for the fairy were outside. I slept on the top of a table with my Sarong over my head, the rest of the group took the bench seats. Miserable...
7AM the sun began to rise and at this point I couldn't sleep anyone so I decided to go watch the sunrise. We all took the camera over and saw a beautiful scene. We tried doing yoga poses to set the mood but it was more graceful in our imagination than the pictures.
FINALLY... After waiting for all the Kho Tao people to get on the fairy first, they finally let us on...we sat near the snack stand and I was stoked because the AC was right next to me... The seats were made of plastic, I sware there was a gasolin leak in the AC vent, and we all smelt like dirt.
Just FYI we all like the idea of not complaining but its almost as hard as not recognizing when something is really great you say how much you love it... we reminded eachother frequently how much we hated our decision to take the bus/fairy.
We didn't leave till 8AM.. .I don't know if we were hungry or angry... but me and Brooke decided to get the only thing on the menu; a sandwhich.. Brooke being a new* vegitarian got everything but ham and mayo... me being a new vegitarian got no mayo and a peice of ham hah. common' you can't just go cold turkey**
After 3 hours I was about to loose my cool, and my lungs from the gasolin poison. Brooke and Kyle went to the front deck outside to get fresh air. Man do I wish I did that earlier... It was so refreshing. Sticking our feet off the side of the boat watching the water hit the boat. SOOOO romantic.
But really, It was really beautiful to be in the middle of the ocean with nothing besides blue skies and water for miles. I was having a "moment". Me and Brooke looked at eachother and in that "moment" we both realized how truly lucky we are to be experiences this together.
Everyone has dreams, goals and passions... but only few people actually pursue theirs. Although me and Brooke are different in so many ways, we are also alike in our passion for traveling. Traveling to us is living. For me, It makes me FEEL alive, apart of something that is bigger than me. In that "moment" no photograph, video or words can describe the happiness that filled my heart. Sounds sooo cheesy but its the truth.
I share this with you because I want to inspire you to find something that makes your heart smile. If you don't feel like their is a will or a way; You are wrong. You are stubborn and you are ignorant.
If you want something bad enough you will make it happen. No doubt in my mind. Yes, it may be a challenge and yes it will take effort but the payoff is better than unhappiness and depression.
So I'm rambling. We dropped the first group off at Kho Tao... Beautiful Island, looked like a sticker. I will go back.
Marocin oil and suzanna were staying there for 2 days and then taking a fairy to the full moon party..We will meet again ;)
From word of mouth I would conclude that Kho Tao is not as "swag" as Kho Phagan... It is known for its Scuba diving claasses/certification. It is the elite version of Kho Phagan.. classier and I would bet a few more stars on accomidation if you looked it up on travelosity or lonelyplanet.
But our group wasn't looking for a relaxing vacation...we were looking for the Full moon experience. We wanted turn in our V-card and say we have been there, done that.
Which we did.
We got to the island, extremely egger to find a room and ditch the idea of saving money and sleeping on the beach. The things we woulda done for a shower were scary.
The first accomidation promoter on the dock captured our attention. surprise surprise... our patiences disappeared with the lack of sleep.
We decided on a plan: We all take a taxi down to the full moon beach and the girls go to the hotels to ask whats avaliable and what the prices are. 3 day House shopping!
Our taxi... A truck with an Indian Jones trunk where we cramped in with 4 other guys, I remember 2 things from the guys we shared the ride with... One was a Maui Thai Fighter who was wrapped up in white gause. He was training to fight but on his last trip him and his friends had alittle too much fun (and whiskey) on their scooter renting adventure. He said "ya we had alittle too much fun with the locals and I ended up taking a fall... I couldn't train so we decided to come to the full moon party to extend our vacation until I recover" His wraps were gnarly. But let me tell you, this wrap look became EXTREMELY common and started looking like a fashion trend like tatoos. Another traveler made a comment when I turned on my "party music" Dubstep remix of a Flux song: "Good Feeling"... He said, "What is that.... Is that your music or are the speakers broken? sounds like Motion sickness.
They got dropped off a few minute later so we all got to rock out to the sea sick music :)
After visiting around 4 different hotels (most of which were recommended by others) we got hooked by one of the taxi scooter guys "Hey you girls looking for a place to stay for the full moon party? I have a place: 4 beds, on the beach, 500 baht a night" mind you I told brooke "When in Thailand, act as though you aren't interested in anything... Pretend you are car shopping: Poker face baby!"
We couldn't hold back a smile. We toured it.... Room C3, 2 rolls of toilet paper, but wash, 4 single beds, a trash can, and a shower. "We'll take it."
Pay now, play later. We were advised to NOT GET PAINT ON ANYTHING and DON'T LOSS THE ROOM KEYS. (500 baht deposit per key,2)
So we are at 2,000 baht+ (500x3baht)= $112 US dollars. (+around 150 baht on snacks/blackcock.. $5)
Yep We GO BIG.
I love you Bahts. When we got to our room it was around 3PM. BEACH TIME! Excited and ready to vacat... we brought a bottle of black cock down to the sand and laid out our sarons, speakers and accessories.
I'm not going to lie.. we all said, "Why is everyone drinking water and why is no one partying??? I was expecting spring break not granny pannies? where are the pasties and spedos?" Because everyone there was really dirnking water and or in granny pannies. I'm not being judgmental or arrogant... Just honest. It wasn't what we expected. Not like the pictures.
Oh so right after we got comfortable it started raining :) Yepp... The moment we get to paradise... everyone starts running away from us. WHAT DO WE GOT TO DO TO MAKE SOME FRIENDS AROUND HERE!?!?
We refused to let the rain affect our vacation. 20 minute later, Buzz going we had sunshine, smiles and a great time.
We made friends too! Our first friends; Will his friend (I will refer to him as Grace because they had a bromance) and Katy & Jane. Drinking water... Shocked at our ability to start partying at 4pm.
Will and Grace, Chainy Katty, Pinky Jane (she is from Ireland and has extremely senstive skin, any sun exposure causes a burn pretty much).. At first we didn't know how long they would keep up with our outspoken, inappropriate and crazy personalities. But to be honest, when us 4 are together.. we don't filter/hide or change the way we talk because there is other people around.. Take it or leave it, I think that was the only thing they liked about us... Our blunt honesty.
So Brooke was pretty much blacked out, on accident..... she doesn't remember meeting them the first day. So mid convo so wanted to leave and go to our room. Of course I went with her but insisted that we get food before because I was starving. WHAT A DATE!
Brooke had her head down sleeping while I waited patiently for our pizza. Pretty sure if I was a guy people would think I roofied her. But for us, this is normal. I know that when the pizza comes she will be up and present once more. In the meantime, she needed sleep.
Pizza and Brooke came to the table at the same time and when it was gone; in 2 minutes, we went to take a "power" nap so that we could go to the pool party.
8:30 PM All of us are in our beds but since our new friends invited us to their preparty pow wow on the beach with face and body paint we couldn't resist.
Our Bathroom in the room consist of 2 walls that don't attach to the ceiling so when someone is using it, your literally in the same room as them. When I said we became best friends over this trip I wasn't being sarcastic...I believe it was this night when me and brooke where in the bathroom and the butwash hosecap flew off and water was spraying everywhere.. (second time this has happen to us, once in our apartment) in Thailand bathrooms, the majority of the time there is a drain in the middle of the floor, a shower with a hose-like shower head, no tp, and a butwash. Now it all makes sense to me... You can literally go to the bathroom and shower at the same time. I'm just sayin'
So the butwash wouldn't stop so we sent one of the guys outside to try to find some maintance people who could help.
The guy came in and put a new butwash hose on and everything was fine. (we were all betting they were gonna charge us 500 baht for that)
You know those friends of yours that are like, "Omg turn on the sink, I can't pee in front of you, I'm "blattershy" hhahah!!!! like what does that even mean? if you gotta go you gotta go.
Well none of us are blattershy so that wasn't a problem. for us this is how it went:
"Yo, turn on some tunes I gotta drop my kids off at the pool" and that was that. The only time it was a problem was when fricken Kyle left his kids to play. like come on... leaving the toilet seat up is one thing..
The TP was gone after the first night and ya.... that was it.
Enough bathroom talk. We got ready aka put on a suit and I threw on a black crosha top... Walked down our spot where are new friends were waiting eggerly to hang out with us :) (ya right)
Of course we brought our Black cock and yellow gatorade. HELLO we are college students, we are on a budget and If we wanted to get roofed we don't need to put it in a bucket with 10 straws and a bottle of smirnoff.
The PowWows were always a good time. Felt like an episode of "that 70's show"... youth, good times, drinks, facepaint and just good conversation.
Me and Brooke took an intermission during the preparty to go back to our room and pretty much have a heart to heart. Ya, its what girls do... They drink and then they spill there hearts out. Its not just a rumor, it really does happen.
We talked about how we are living the life and how there is a time and place for everything and this is where we are meant to be. This is our life.....pinch me. She told me that she wrote down some of her goals and that really did make me so happy. Thanks to the people I met; Marci, Molly, Chalene and Brian Tracy... I have been inspired to set goals, believe in myself, inspire and help others. If you ask Brooke how many self-help books/inspiration quotes and crap I have in my room and on my phone... She would start laughing... Because its so true. I told her, Brooke... I could have asked anyone of our friends to come on this trip and or I could have come alone (not sounding like spoiled or supieror) but I wanted you to come. And to this day I am so happy she is here with me. She is my best friend and the fact that I get to experience all of this greatness with her is unreal. I know whatever goals she wrote down on that peice of paper, she will achieve if she wants to.
After we had our talk we were ready to go celebrate! Celebrate life and living and friendship.
We said goodbye to our new friends because they went to the pool party the night before and wanted to stay on the beach some more.. We told them to come later, they did :)
There is a free bus service that says " FREE RIDE TO THE POOL PARTY" and its not a joke. Like really? I love you Thailand.
Pool Party in one word: MTV Music Video.
It was Epic... Normal size pool, foreigners for days, Chicken fights, on the beach, Loud music, Singha, Leo, Chang, Tiger, Buckets, Dancing on tables, it was great.
The four of us split up for the majority of the night and made new friends. The place wasn't that big so we literally ran into one another every few minutes. Me and Brooke didn't bring money out..Thank god! and I don't think the boys did either.
I met up with this guy that I had met like a week before at Kohsanroad. Haha we met at "The Club!" so classy. His name is Luke, and no he is not my father. (starwars fans)... anyways, he's alright. From the UK and has this contagious accent that I can't help but mimic everytime i'm around it. He didn't like it as much as me. He pretty much has my dream job. He works for a tour company: Live before Work. or maybe its life before work I don't remember. He basically takes a group of people on a party trip to like bangkok, kho phangan, riley, kho tao and elsewhere. Like what?!?! Jealous. He is 21. and a day after the pool party I found out I was older than him.OMG EW! haha. 2 months baby. I'm so much more experienced its a joke.
So ya never thought I'd see him again but we ended up staying in contact and running into eachother at the pool party. He actually wasn't working this trip he was just tagging along with the other tour guide. So he really had no reason not to party!
If you don't know me and or have never seen me dance.... I mean like really dance.. then you won't appreciate this next part but whatever.
So I was feelin the music and ya I got up on the table for a few songs. I tend to just get really excited that I know the words and do a sort of DDR/Jersey shore/laserpoint dance. I sware Kyle was watching from the beginning because by the end of the trip he had it down!
So proud. ... So ya we danced our little hearts out, got a circle going with the mushroom pot in the middle dancing.
Half the time I didn't know if people were clearing the dance floor because they liked my moves or because they were scared.I am pretty sure it was a mixture of both :)
and Luke was probably like "who the hell is this girl and why does she keep shuffling"
Whatevs..
After dancing Luke took me down to the water were we talked about our futures and we kissed and I felt butterflies. Then he took me to his treehouse and we watched the shooting stars and cuddled.
TOTALLY KIDDING, ew none of that happened and if it did I wouldn't tell you.
Common I gotta leave some of the stories to myself. Who do you think I am Kim Kardasian.. I don't want to be the next girl who pops up on the Yahoo search engine :)
Hi Dad ! that was for you.
Reminded me of what Kyle told me: Ya I went to go piss on the beach and I looked over and this girl and this guy were totally doin it on the sand and everyone was watching....
I thought to myself.. "THATS SOMEONES DAUGHTER."
She musta been making sandcastles for days cause she forsure had more than 1 bucket. or she had one with a present dropped in.
The rest of the night we all just danced and partied, eventually making it back to the beach party.
went to bed around 5am.
11AM: I'm wide awake. I look over: Kyle is naked with his ass in the air, towel covering everything but his butt. Brooke asleep with a water bottle in her left hand and Kevin wrapped in his sheet that he brought from home.
I decided to go out, get a smoothie, call my mom and get some pictures of the ocean.
On my way out I saw a broken bottle of black cock on the floor, not a surprise I sware they are made out of sugar cans.
Everyone woke up like the hangover3 wondering where they left there lives... But what was important is that
we all made it home together, safe and sound in our beds. No inappropriate behavior, ever...
So we had another amazing day on the beach and then did the same thing but instead at night time we went to the jungle party!
I promise you this island will have a party for everything and anything.
The most exciting thing about the jungle party was when we got there at 11:15 they started charging 300 baht to get in after 11.
Brooke didn't like that idea and she literally booked it in. after that the security guard started doing his job and blocking that spot. Me, kyle and kevin had to get creative. Of course we didn't bring any money again... So what did we do? Go through the jungle baby!
Mind you none of us wore shoes. Stepped on some mushrooms, sticks and god knows what else.
Saw this guy peeing in the corner, (seriously saw a total of around 40 guys peeing the whole trip).. and we got in!
We were so stoked...but the adrenaline rush was the most exciting thing. We got over it and the dumb housemusic so we bouced back to our cool huge beachfront loft to party on the beach. Me and Brooke took a taxi scooter, totally safe... Like 80mph 3 people on one scooter doing turns like big bear mountain. Don't worry we werent wearing helmets. We decided to stop by the pool party on the way home. We did and it was the same thing as the night before.
Chrissy was getting tired cause it was like 3am and Brooke wasn't. I left and Brooke hung out with her island friends. I started walking back, I thought it was the same way as the night before but I didn't really remember. I knew that if someone came up to me I would TKB their @$# or something crazy.
Its funny because everyone is always like omg don't go anywhere alone. Don't do this, Don't do that. blah blah blah.
In Thailand I have never left safer in my life. Thai people are the nicest people and ya not everyone has the same motives but I like to go with the majority. The only advice I would give a girl going to the full moon party: WEAR SHOES, Don't black out and use your common sense.
I promise you, if you stick to those 3 rules... and you have some kind of IQ you will have a great time.
So me being not so smart...but desperate for my bed... started walked. I asked a local which direction the full moon beach was and he pointed me in the opposite direction of where I was walking. Bad Idea... I got stuck with the minority. aka the one local that probably doesn't know what the full moon beach is. I walked around 2 miles until I realized there can't be a beach at the top of a hill/jungle. A scooter taxi was passing by and asked if I needed a ride. I had no money but I knew that if I got back to our room I could pay him there. I said full moon beach and he took me. on our ride home we were driving by a girl, walking alone not too far from the pool party. Yep, it was brooke. I told him to pull over we picked her up and magic! we were at our beach. He followed us to our door because I think he thought we were gonna take off in a sprint...
NEVER! We were both praying that the boys were in the room because neither of us had the keys.
Thank god. There they were K&K !
We paid him and hung out with the guys for the rest of the night.
Chainy Katy came knockin; ballin' her eyes out because her and Jane got into a fight.
Kevin and Kyle trying to be sentimental tried huging her and "talking it out" I sat back and took pictures trying not to bust out laughing cause they were being so funny.
We later find out that they were fighting over Will and Grace and everyone was just drunk. Problem solved.
Brooke was talking on the phone with her lover Zack.
I went to bed that night around 5 and woke up around 6am iching my skin off. Mosiqutos for days. SOOOOO gross. I couldn't take it anymore and decided I need to go get some bug spray. Kyle woke up at the same time and I said where are you going? he said, "Go get some water and maybe dance alittle."
The parties don't stop. Maybe for an hour around 8am-9am.
I went to get bug spray and saw some pretty crazy people on the street.
A lot of wasted girs and even more happy guys. ew.
So I went back to our room and couldnt sleep so I decided to go for a walk on the beach. I find Kyle dancing his heart out, alone, on the table at the catus bar on the beach.
I convinced him to come on the floats with me in the water until sunrise.
We did and it was cold, comical and entertaining. We watched so many guys, drunk out of their mind pretend to "not" be peeing in the water when really everyone could clearly see everything.
I don't know how we survived the 2 first nights but it was epic.
Stories for days and memories for a lifetime.
The full moon party was just that. Insanity. The beach has like thousands of people on it. Neon shirts, face paint, buckets for days, lights, fire turners, huge slide, mushroom moutains (with mushroom shakes) and much much more.
Thank god the full moon only last 1 night... cause a liver cannot survive much lover.
hahaha we ran into Marocin oil and suzanna at the beginning of the night and it was great.
Me and Brooke ventured off and just danced our lives away.
When in Thailand there is a time and place for everything. We walked over to mushroom moutain and were very curious as to what they looked like/tasted like.
I don't do drugs and I am not one to start but I am not going to lie... I wanted to have a sip of a mushroom milkshake.
Common? its legal, its organic and hell its funny. its also 500 baht and me and b didn't want to spend that.
We made friends and got to share a half of a half. We totally didn't finish it because we were scared and it was probably best.
I am not quite sure if it worked or not. The sky didn't fall and I didn't see any fairies or anything.
We went and danced some more but nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe my dance moves were alittle different but thats it. We ran into Luke and I don't think he could handle my dance moves because he looked scared and confused. He also had alot more to sip than us. Brooke was dancing like DDR MYSTICDIAMONDS aka my nickname.
It was so great. I was loving every second of it.
That is how our night continued.
10AM: Time to get the hell off of this island.
Got pizza for breakfast and talked about how miserable the next 10 hours of our life was going to be. and it was just that and then some. Longest 24 hours of my life.
Patience was tested to the max. Never been so miserable in my life. I wasn't even hungover... It was like sitting straight up from 12-4:45 am isn't cool.
We all have never wanted to be back in Bangkok sooo bad!
Seriously wanted to break down.
We got dropped off at KhoSanroad and it was pouring rain. Me and Brooke took a tuk tuk home and the boys walked. Don't know how but they did.
Props.
Overall...Our trip was nuts.
Everything paid off and I loved every good and bad second of it.
Would probably never do it again, but now we know...
check please