Howl at the moon...

Just got back to Chumphon from Koh Phanagan for the Full Moon Party.  It's arguably the largest party in the world, and they celebrate every month at the full moon on Haad Rin beach.

I have never seen such a display of pure, unbridled hedonism.  I honestly saw people having sex in the ocean.  Bucket stalls line the streets.  Blacklights and neon body paint.  There are stages set up on the beach for you to dance.  People jump with flaming jump ropes, there are slides with fire lining the side that start at the top of the bar and end on the beach.  Oh Thailand, what won't you let us crazy farong do?

I was joined at this party by a friend from Koh Tao, which was nice.  Everyone assumed I was his girlfriend so I didn't need to fear for my safety.  Except when the fire dancer threw his stick too far and it landed a few feet away from me in the sand.  Admittedly, that was a little alarming.  Oh, and I guess I did almost fall off a picnic table I was dancing on.

Being a westerner in Asia is a lot like being a child with no adult supervision.  Back in the western world, there are tons of measures and standards set in place for your safety, more than I think any of you even realize.  Those things don't exist here.  You're pretty much responsible for yourself.  For christ's sake, they encourage you play with a flaming jump rope.  I was dancing at a bar on Songkran and the bartender actually brought out chairs for Kat and I to get up on and dance.  It is the land of the free.  There is no tree you can't climb if you feel like it.  No table you can't dance on (though I'm sure they'd find it rude in some cases).  It's not really a shock that we all go a little bit wild when we get here.  Some people injure themselves really badly.  I saw a guy catch his shirt on fire trying to fire dance (luckily he wasn't actually wearing said shirt).  I've had friends end up in the hospital with broken limbs for various reasons.  I try to keep my recklessness moderate.

Now I'm off to try for the fourth time to scrub the green and pink tiger stripes off my leg.