Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

I decided last minute to pack up my stuff and leave Maenan to go to Haad Rin on Ko Phag Nan to meet folks who were gathering for the Full Moon Party. What I didn't really think about is that this is where Europe and the rest of the rich world's college kids go. Spring Break Ko Pha Ngan 2006, Baby! Seriously, I think I am the only American on this beach. Lost of folks from the UK, and Israel here. Since the bombings in Egypt this has become a choice destination to blow off a little steam after serving in the army. Behind the dark skin and the cool icy eyes of petite little Israeli girls here is the intimate knowledge how to efficiently use an Uzi. Yes, I also find that pretty hot.

The Thai have taken a pilgrimage site for rave culture and turned it into a well oiled tourism machine. I am staying in a teak bungalow about 5 minutes walk from the action and with a view that I could (and have) look at for a while. Things here on the surface of the island seem clean, safe and ready for drunken stupidity. The drink of choice here is buckets. Whiskey buckets consist of a small bottle of Mekong (Thai whiskey) a can of coke and a tiny bottle of Thai Red Bull. A couple of these things and one is ready for a long night of simple silliness, followed by an inevitable devastating hangover. Of course, perhaps when you take the other path away from the tourist alley of the loop between the dock and the falafel joint and one sees the clapboard shanties that the Thai folks who work here live in, many the story is more complex.

I paid for the rest of the week here and kinda and not too excited about that. I do want to go to the party, but the push for going to a remote beach away from the strutting young bodies is strong. I have been doing this party thing for almost a decade now and it is growing tiring. I think it is time for me to either open up a club or move on. Still, I can't find a reason to complain too long. I spent sunset today on a big rock looking at the water when pausing from reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I spent sunrise listening to Ray Barretto and looking at the different shades of colors and the rainbows in the ice crystals as the rays of the sun angled over the horizon. I could be in a many places right now (middle of nowhere Nevada for instance) and where I am is a pretty good one.