Bangkok to the Beach

Finally seem to be in an internet cafe where people aren't hoarding round you to use the computer and you can feel free to write and check emails without a mad rush! So I'm a few days behind travel writing. So let's go back.

Bangkok. Wow. What a city, and I don't mean in the best way. Obviously it has it's good points and the people are lovely, but they are hard to find within the sweaty hub of street stalls, tut tuts and taxis. and it really really stinks. we stayed there for 2 days where we met russ and decided our next move down to the islands. Lots of people write about how much they love Bangkok and it's diversity but I found it too hot, too busy, too smelly and there are far too many people trying to rip you off. especially when you happen to be the two whitest girls around. there are some cute side streets where you can find the most beautiful bags and jewellery, but places like khao san road and the surrounding areas are mental. everyone wants to show you something/sell you something so by the time we were on an overnight coach to the south you start to feel relived that you're not in such a trapped, enclosed place.

So we booked the overnight coach to Ko Phan-nan for the infamous full moon party. It was meant to take roughly 8 hours on the coach and 5 on the boat, but typically our bus broke down. At 4am. On some random roadside. Therefore we all piled off and waiting an hour for the next one to show up. Finally made it to the boat and then onto the island, which, again was really really busy due to the full moon (anything up to 30,000 people can attend). Thanks to recommendations from friends we didnt stay in the main party area of Hat Rin, we stayed further up the bay in a place called Ban Kai, in the suitably named 'beer bungalows'. You literally openened the from door to our bungalow and stepped onto your own private beach. Breathtaking. There were loads of other bungalows for no one else seemed to use the beach as much as we did, which seemed such a shame but I guess better for us. Spent a few days sunbathing,reading and washing Bangkok off us before descending on the full moon party. We met some girls in a restaurant that night and ended up going with them and having a whale of a time. There's so many people it's insane, and the beach where the party takes place is very long and white and the sand was amazing. Everyone seems to have face paints and fancy dress (photos as proof) and we spent the evening drinking from buckets, watching people skip over burning ropes and slide down burning slides and dancing on podiums. Then we all watched the sunrise on the beach before heading home. A VERY good night. I would receommend to all.

Now we're currently in Krabi for the night in a really nice guesthouse (although there was a cockroach on the floor in our room. dead i might add) before heading to Ko Phi Phi tomorrow, which is apparently the most beautiful of all the islands. It's hard to upload photos so for now I'm just saving them to the camera. Let's hope I don't sit on it.

Peace and Love folks.