SE Asia, It's Been a Slice...

I figured that since I am ALONE and have time on TIME and nobody to talk to, I should take advantage of some seriously cheap internet I found in Bangkok and put up a post! Also, I know once I get to New Zealand I am going to realize how much I have to catch up on! And it has been a while. 3 reasons make it a must. Left you hanging (i like to think) on our departure from Ko Phi Phi to the other side - Ko Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand!! We had a relatively painless travel day (compared to our pilgrimage to Phuket) across the peninsula!! It was nice that it was broken up inot ferry, bus, SPEED catamaran. The first ferry, I was feeling the sun from our 9 day snorkeling trip and felt like I was in a sweat box but was not gonna give up my seat so toughed it out. After loading the bus, we had a painless 3 hour bus on the great Thai roads to Surat Thani, where we caught a boat to Ko Phangan. The 2 hours watching silent music videos and playing solitaire (I FINALLY WON) flew by, and we arrived on the island! The nicest lady from our hostel picked us up in her ford excape, when was the last time I was in a car?? Anyways, flawaless drive to our hilltop bungalow RESORT with the best restaurant and a POOL! It looked like it belonged in a catalogue! A friend of mine was staying right on the Haan Rin (Full Moon Party beach) and was paying about 3 times we were, and had a 16 bed dorm :/ However, they were very close to the busy part so saved some $$ on bussing! We hung out and had a delicious dinner at our place that night, and settled into our great bungalow with an AMAZING view of the ocean! And sunset! Photos very soon I promise! When I get my computer you'll be in for a real treat :) The next day, Sarah was feeling nooot great at all :( we got up, I made her suffer through me eating breakfast before we headed to the pier to hit up a clinic.... unfortunately all of them were inexplicably closed at 930am on a Tuesday? We were told they weren't opening till 6pm that night, unacceptable, so we went to the island 'hospital'. It was about the equivalent of a clinic back home so maybe that was a good thing! Sarah was in and out quickly and the doctor set her up with a nice gift bag of remedies, which she got started on right away! We were headed to Haad Rin as the full moon party was that night, and did not want to trek all the way back to our place all day as it was quite pricy. We met up with Sara H., staying mere metres from the party beach and caught up / planned to meet later on in the daym then headed over to meet up with Dylan and his giant crew of Vic people!! 10 of them were staying at the (much more chill) beach just opposiute from the party beach. I hung out with them for the day while Sarah napped and let her antibiotics kick in. She was up for a little dinner after a nap (YES!) and helped us get ready by being very artistic with glow-paint before heading back for another nap. The plan was for me to come get her later in the night to come join us. The rest of the crew headed to a place close by to get the party started. We ended up heading to the beach around midnight and it was INSANE. Soooo many people. Holy. Immediately lost people and we were pretty much in groups of 2 or 3 and were lucky to run into each other amid the thousands of people! The beach was crazy... neone everywhere, tunes blasting from every bar, bucket stands lining the beach, flaming skipping ropes and hula hoops (among other things), and the list goes on! Time FLEW by and before I knew it, it was 330am!! I worked up the courage to split up and go back to get Sarah. Walking down the street to Dylan's place, I found her sitting on the curb with one of the guys! SO convenient. She was feeling WAY better and READY to go. Heading back to the beach, we danced it up and continued wandering around until 7am. WHAT? Yes that's right we watched the sun come up! As it started to become lighter, we ended up being spotted by Sara H. and her friend Laura!! Saw them a few times on the island and it was good :) They're coming to NZ later on in their travels so hopefully I'll be seeing them again!! After a quick nap on the beach, it was time for breakfast. Most delicious meal. And bottle of water. :) That afternoon we headed back to our place for a much needed cold shower and nap!! Sarah hung out in the hammock on our deck while I attempted to nap inside - the KEY was wearing my headband like a blindfold, secretly it became night time! We headed back to Haad Rin that night ready for round 2.... of hang out time ahah :) Ended up chilling out for the evening, then going to chill with Sara H. again before wandering on the beach and grabbing some late night DELICIOUS mediterranean food - I NEEDED some hummus. The next day was my last on the island... saddest thing! We had a delicious breakfast at our hotel with the tiniest litter of puppies (COULD'VE stolen one...) and then rented some scooters for the day! We scooted to the pier to book my bus ticket, scooted to a beachside cafe for lunch - literally about 1m from the ocean, and then scooted to Hat Yao, the beach near our bungalow! It was a GORGEOUS beach! The best sand, nicely sloping so you're actually deeper than your knees as you walk out, and no angry waves or rocks!! Made it even harder to leave... At 430 I packed my things and caught a bus to the pier WITHOUT Sarah :( She's sticking around the islands about a week longer than me, but we'll be reunited in NZ!! The boat ride to the mainland was so silent.... it was so weird to be without a travel buddy! I caught an overnight bus to Bangkok on the mainland and somewhow managed to score the only spot next to an empty seat, so I actually got some sleep! Arriving at 630 this morning, I headed STRAIGHT to the NZ Immigration office to get my student visa (Yeah.. kinda need that NOW) AND IT WWS SO PAINLESS! I was in and out in 15 minutes. I felt so happy to finally have that damn (excuse my language) sticker in my passport! My happiness quickly dissolved as I searched and searched on foot, to no avail, for a geust house a) within a decent price range and b) not waay inner city and far from the aiport. After 3 hours, I finally settled on one right by a skytrain station and am going to attempt to get to the airport that way and save myself taxi fare!! Blog posting now, dinner next, then early to bed! I leave in 14 hours. NOT ready to leave SE Asia yet, I love it here! But that just means a return trip, right??? ;) See you on the OTHER side - I'll be on Kiwi turf before you'll see another post!! AH