I went to the full moon party in HaadRin on the Thai Island of Koh Phangan in October 2009. I met up with some Kiwi girls and English lads and we all went together.
I had heard loads of stories of this party from other backpackers I had met on my travels, and I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.
The guesthouse we were staying at supplied a taxi for us all to get there, and we got there at midnight, knowing the party would be in full swing. We were instantly catapulted into a world of hedonism, neon face painted travellers drinking from buckets, music pumping out from the beach, and the sights and sounds of an awesome party going on. We purchased our buckets of vodka and redbull for 300 baht (at the time that was about £5), and went onto the beach to be greeted by the sight of about 15,000 partiers.
First stop was to get our faces painted with neon swirly patterns, and we wandered up and down the beach, having random conversations with strangers who were all on a high (natural or not – who knows). We came across the skipping rope of fire and stood watching in amazement as people attempted to risk their lives jumping in. Madness. There were different DJ booths and mixing decks all the way along the beach blasting out a mixture of trance, drum and bass, techno – all sorts, so everyone was catered for.
Dancing away under the full moon in my flip flops, I couldn’t believe I was there, partying on the beach of a Thai Island, with the sand under my feet, bucket of god knows what in my hand…the smile could not be wiped from my face. We were all having the best time. Now I don’t know what they put in the redbull over there, but I swear its full of amphetamines, my eyes were like saucers and I felt high as a kite!!
We chilled out sitting by the waters edge for a while, just chatting and contemplating life, before rejoining the throngs of people to dance away until the early hours of the morning.
As the sun rose we went into a nearby café to re-cooperate with tea and brekkie, then back out onto the beach. The sun was up, the music was still blaring, the people still dancing, and the beach was carnage!!!
I had managed to break and lose my flip flops at some point during the night, but there I was dancing away under the sun minus my flip flops, but I couldn’t believe I was there, partying on the beach of a Thai Island, with the sand under my feet, bucket of god knows what in my hand…the smile could not be wiped from my face.
Full Moon Party 
