Love You Long Time

Having fallen in love with Koh Phangan last year, I was keen to return. So in April (2011) last year, KatieB and I flew out to Thailand. Now contrary to the blog’s name, I guess you could say this was more like a hop, a skip, and a jump. The whole journey process was almost too easy and within 24 hours of leaving Doha, we were walking off the ferry in Thongsala. The only hiccup to finding our wonderful resort on Leela Beach was the mini trek over rough ground in the dark each carrying a handle of KatieB’s slightly impractical, but very pretty, pink suitcase. Luckily both of us were delirious from lack of sleep and found the whole event rather amusing. 

On the boat over to Koh Phangan, Thailand

Despite having an impossible name to pronounce, Sarikantang (the resort) couldn’t have been any nicer. Especially as when we arrived, we discovered we’d been upgraded. Our room had become some sort of honeymoon deluxe suite complete with swan shaped towels, glass bathroom walls (which thankfully also had blinds), and romantic built-for-two balcony sofa. Located just a 7min walk away from the hedonistic mess that is Had Rin, we were perfectly located for any Full Moon antics. We spent the days suntanning – KatieB’s ultimate aim in life is to be permanently tanned and was determined to go back to the UK black – and the evenings in Hat Rin on the beach drinking buckets, dancing on tables, and attempting a multitude of gymnastics moves (attempting being the key word in that sentence). We also rediscovered our love for Friends (the show seemed a hit with the locals and played on a loop). We sparked up a great friendship between a bucket-seller/toilet-paper keeper, Jolie and her two-year old daughter, Bindy. Quite frankly, a win-win situation! She supplied the alcohol (plus jewellery, albeit plastic) and toilet paper all for one discounted price! We met a rather strange assortment of people – DJ Talent, Billy Elliot, Talk to Frank, Nelson (Mandela), Aston from JLS, and Eminem - who we definitely impressed with our 'brap brap brap' skills - to name just a few.

View from our room, Koh Phangan

At one point, we ventured out on a moped. I was designated driver as whilst KatieB is talented at a great many things, driving scooters and parking are not two of them. The death-defying mountains (hills really) in and out of Had Rin combined with my shaky biking skills meant we didn’t get much further than the port. We conceded to wondering around Thongsala and called it our ‘cultural’ day. I wasn’t too bothered about not gallivanting around the island as I had already done it the year previous. KatieB proved to be a great backseat passenger, entertaining me with various choruses from Rihanna and for some odd reason, 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

Painted up for Full Moon, Had Rin

We had a spectacular time and I was beyond devastated to leave. So much so that as soon as I returned home, I promptly sent my CV out to a multitude of language schools in the hope of moving. Whilst it was my desire to up and leave immediately, common sense has prevailed, so I sit writing this post from the comfort of my room in Doha. P'haps next year.