Koh Pha Ngan

Greetings all,

Sorry for the delay, but to be honest, this past month has been really wonderful in so many ways that I really couldn't bring myself to spend a few hours on the computer.  Its been a great time down here and I'll try to bring you all up to speed in the next few days.

I'm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia currently and its great.  However, I am desperately short of cash, so my days are being spent doing the cheapest thing I can find.  Namely hanging out in my hostel and chilling.  

Anyway, first things first, Koh Pha Ngan.

Koh Pha Ngan is a big island just off the East coast of the Thai peninsula.  Its right near Koh Tao, but its nothing like it.  Where Ko Tao is heavily set up for diving and nothing else, Koh Pha Ngan branches out a bit.  I originally was only going to spend a few days there and it ended up being a whole 2 weeks.  The place was stunning and I didn't want to leave.

I went straight to the island after my 2nd stop in Bangkok, on the way in the only thing I knew about the place was for a resort called "The Sanctuary."  A girl I met in Bangkok worked there and said I should go there and apply for a job.  She recommended me to her boss and I decided to check it out.  In the mean time though, I had no idea where to go or what to see on the island.  However, fate intervened and sent me 2 sages.

My two sages; my Koh Pha Ngan saviors.

-Tyler, awesome teacher friend from Texas.  My pharmacist, absolutely saved me when I got Pink-Eye.

Lydia, another awesome teacher who actually was born on March 30th as well.

While I was walking through a shop, just looking for nothing in particular, I started talking to two other travelers.  Turns out they were locals, sort of.  

Lydia and Tyler, two English teachers from America.  They're both working in Thailand and were on a short holiday.  After we talked for a few minutes they told me about an amazing place on the next beach where they were staying.  Turns out they stay there all the time and love it.  I was sold so I followed like a lost puppy.  Turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made on my trip.

The place they showed me was called Eden Resort and it was on a small beach called Haad Yuan.  The people were amazing, the room was cheap, the view was spectacular, and I loved the place.  I ended up staying nearly 2 weeks.

Most of my time was spent chilling on the island and just relaxing.  But not all of it was good.

My first day on the island, I got sick, very sick.  I got the dreaded Southeast Asian backpacker disease.....Pink Eye!!

My first day on the island I started getting the feeling that there was gravel in my eyes.  I was in the middle of an interview at The Sanctuary so I couldn't take a look.  Finally after it was finished I looked at myself in the mirror...good god I looked horrible.

Both my eyes were completely red, I literally couldn't see any white at all.  If I was storming Bunker Hill I would have been the only one left alive (yes I just made a geeky history reference, deal with it).

My eyes were in really lousy shape but luckily one of my sages saved me.  Tyler had had the dreaded disease before and was a saint. She gave me the leftover drops she had and really helped me out in the first few days when things were really bad.  She was an absolute doll about everything.  

The drops took forever to work, but eventually my eyes returned to normal.  But during those few days some people were honestly afraid to even look at me.  It made for an auspicious beginning to my time on the island, but at least it got better. 

The other things that happened during my time on Koh Pha Ngan were a lot more fun though.  

Koh Pha Ngan is a party island and I had a great time going to all night dances and raves with all my new mates.  I met some great people while I was out there as well.  

Loren and Nikki, two awesome ladies.

Laura, another teacher and an amazing dancer.

Karyn and Kaitlyn, Canadian mates

Wednesday night rave at Eden Resort

Hannah on the left, but I never got the other girl's name.

The only other thing of note that happened was something I had been looking forward to for months...a Full Moon Party.

Once a month Haad Rin beach on Koh Pha Ngan turns into the center of the partying universe.  The Full Moon Party is an all night rave that lasts as long as it lasts.  People stay out on the beach dancing, drinking, etc. for hours and hours.  I went to the party just to go and say I've been there.  

I have to be honest, it didn't do much for me.  Most of the place was overrun with people who were already drunk as a skunk or high as a kite.  Its never easy being the only sober one at a party.

I only ended up staying a couple hours and then I went back to my hostel to sleep.  The night before I'd been dancing at an all night rave and was really tired.  I missed out on a lot of the craziness, but I wasn't too fussed.  I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'd ever go back again.

However, after 2 weeks most of my new friends had gone, and Koh Pha Ngan entered the monsoon season.  At that point I knew it was time to leave so I packed up and headed to Koh Phi Phi.  But that's for next time.