Koh Phangan - The Place I Will Never Forget

14-17 Aug - Now to the saddest part of my blog. The part where I lost more than RM4000 due to my stupidity and carelessness. After my stay in Koh Samui, I went along with what most travelers would do and that is to Koh Phangan.

15km North of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan is a tropical island paradise exist mainly for parties, loud music, alcohol and drugs. Due to its proximity to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan's water and beach is not much better even though you get at least powdery white sand in Haad Rin (Rin Beach). Similar to Samui, Phangan too has a few beaches where you can choose to stay. The most famous is the aforementioned Haad Rin.

Every month at least 20000 to 30000 tourist visit Haad Rin for one sole purpose and that is the Full Moon Party. Held every month on full moon night, the night long party would feature world class deejays playing techno, R&B, drum and bass, house and reggae music. Entry to this event is free but accommodation on the island often doubled or tripled its usual price during these time.

In order to avoid having to pay through my nose for accommodation, I decided to go 2 days ahead of the full moon party. Even so, I had to take the slowest ferry I ever took in my life alongside some 800 other tourist on a boat meant for 300. The 15km journey from Samui to Phangan took me almost 3 hours. On the boat I met up with a Mexican guy, Carlos which I shared the room with for my stay in Phangan.

Upon reaching, we went on a frantic search for rooms. As we chose to alight at Haad Rin, the beach where Full Moon Party is held, finding decent accommodation was extremely hard. Most places were already fully booked or outrageously priced. At last we managed to find a tiny bungalow that cost us 450B a night. As beggars we cannot be choosers so we quickly accepted it.

As Full Moon party night is where business peak for many guesthouses, many local operators tried to expand the event with spinoff such as Half Moon Party, Black Moon Party, Pre Full Moon Party, Post Full Moon Party and many many more. Just more excuses for people to party... Haih..

Coincidentally, the guesthouse beside ours had a Pool Party on the day that we arrive. After dinner, Carlos and I decided to go for a drink and so we ended up at the Pool Party. As we arrived early, the party was quite subdued. But as the night progresses, the party people start trickling in and in no time, the whole place was turned into a party heaven with loud music, disco light and cheap Song Som (Thai Whiskey).

As the name suggest, the party's main attraction is of course the POOL. And under the influence of loud techno music, a few bottles of Chang beer and Songsom, I ended up in the pool. Yes.. In the pool. Of course by going into the pool means I have to make sure my camera, handphone and all valuables are kept dry so under this kind of circumstance, the bench beside the pool became the safest place I knew to place my stuff. HAHA and so the most predictable of things happened.

After partying for a few hours, I got really drunk and told myself that it's time to get the hell out of the place. Therefore I headed back to my room and I conveniently forget about the things I have left on the bench. By the time I woke up the next morning, I realized I have just lost myself more than RM4000 worth of cash and belongings.

Immediately I called the banks to cancel my bank cards and went to the police to lodge a report. When I got to the station, I saw my bag lying on top of the desk. However my happiness was short-lived as all my cash along with my camera and handphone was gone except for my wallet with all my bank cards and passport. I was thankful enough that I managed to get my passport back though.

Carlos and I then went on for a tour around Koh Phangan which we signed up the night before. I felt really sore and didn't want to go but I knew there's nothing more I could do even if I stayed whole day in the guesthouse.

The tour turned out to be equally horrendous. The boat which we took ferried about 50% more than its maximum capacity and because of that it broke down halfway in the middle of nowhere. However we did manage to visit some of the other beaches around Phangan as well as the famous waterfall. The tour which usually ends at 5pm ended at 8pm for us and we were starving by the time we went back to Haad Rin.

I spent the next day traveling across the island to the main town, Thong Sala where I can formally lodge a police report. The police at the station offered no comfort to me and I ended leaving the place feeling more cheated than ever. I had to pay 400B for the police report and when I asked the policeman for a lift to the bus station about 2km away and he even had the cheek to ask for more money from me. Haih...

At night, I did what I am supposed to be there for and that is to go for the Full Moon Party. The whole 3km long Haad Rin beach turned into a huge party arena with different clubs paying different music to attract party goers. Each promoting themselves as the most happening place to be in. The streets are also overrun with stalls selling snacks, SongSom, beer, and all sorts of liquor. Pubs, not wanting to lose customers to their larger counterparts, played loud music and offered free body painting. The whole place was just like a crazy party zone. I however did not had a single drop of liquor the entire night. I stayed sober to look at how crazy people get under the influence of alcohol and I fully realized why Islam forbids its followers to drink.

At last I went for some snacks and went to bed after feasting my eyes with the full moon party's craziness. As a result, I was able to wake up early next morning to take the early boat to Koh Tao, the third and final island stop ahead of the other hungover tourist...