Catching Up (Part 2)

Thailand's islands are possibly the most popular touristy destination, not just for backpackers but families and couples too. They bring to life what people imagine when they hear the word 'Thailand' - crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, good food and cheap cocktails. When we said our goodbyes to Sangkhlaburi this is what we were heading for, starting with Koh Phagnan. Another sleepless overnight bus led to a lot of people trying to clutch back their lost sleep on the deck of the ferry, however the excitement of going back to the south was enough to keep me awake and i was happy enough to spend the hours watching the sea.

We stayed at a little beach resort called Mac Bay, it felt like utter luxury in comparison to the last room and our bungalow was literally right on the beach front. As an added bonus we found our own guard dog (Frank) who slept beneath our balcony and kept us safe at night : )

The main town in Koh Phagnan offers little more than overpriced clothes, schnitzel, shakes and clinics, but this is all you really need. The doctor's clinics are vital as the amount of injuries rivals Vang Vieng however fire, not water, is the cause in Koh Phagnan. Almost every night the beaches (and sometimes the jungle too) are lit up with fire shows, fire limbo, fire skipping ropes and fire slides. They all look deceptively simple, especially when the Thai men are showing how it's done. On certain nights throughout the month the fire shows get even more spectacular, the biggest night being the full moon. We were lucky enough to get there the day before the august full moon, the same month of the full moon I'd seen the year before! We went in to town to buy fluorescent/tie-dye/full moon appropriate clothes and ended up being drawn to the fire shows and throbbing bass at the beach even though we had all said an early night would be better! The night before turned out to be more fun than the actual full moon, better music and a slightly less chaotic atmosphere made everyone feel more at ease.

The rest of the week was spent sun bathing, swimming and partying, so with not too much to see or do I put my DIY skills to the test! By the end of the week I had crafted a pretty little photo frame with wood and shells from the beach and a whole lot of 7/11 superglue! Our second to last night was a big goodbye party for the group we'd been travelling with. It was almost like a tropical Christmas, we had a bonfire on the beach and a huge feast with everything you could imagine (even pigs in blankets were on the menu!). Early the next morning people started to get their ferries back to the mainland or onwards elsewhere. Laura and I found a new travel buddy for the next few weeks (the lovely Kate : ) ) and we were heading for Koh Tao but that will have to wait until the next update - within the month I hope!