R and R at Koh Phangan

A slice of paradise. Woke at 630 to the sound of a stream outside our cute roomy bungalow. All sorts of nature sounds. Strange birds, frogs, cocka doodles. We throw back the blinds to the most beautiful view of a garden leading to a huge infinity pool and beyond that the gulf of Thailand. A young boy raked leaves had mud prints on his face. We dressed and went looking for a kettle to have coffee on our very roomy deck with the stream/fountain running in front of it. Staff on the grounds - (none of which speak much English at all )all have streaks of mud on their cheeks, forehead and chin.  2 small cups of coffee on our deck where we encountered Mosquitos for the first time of our trip and then off we went to the beach.

The Haad Rin beach did not disappoint with it's fine white sand that felt like flour. This is the famous beach where up to 30,000 people gather for the famous Full moon parties. Chelsey remembered being at that exact party and on that beach some 9 years ago. Unfortunately there was broken glass scattered on the shore and as the waves came in more glass surfaced. Locals were attempting to rake it up.

We picked our way carefully, mindful of glass and sharp rocks. we swam in the warm gulf water bopping up and down with the waves while we took in the breathtaking view. Eventually Hungry stomachs sent us to a beachfront restaurant for a tasty breaky where we no sooner got into a good crib game and the sky darkened and out of nowhere came crazy wind followed by rain. Moving inside the workers were quick to lower big sheets of plastic supported by wood poles in the middle to keep the wind from flapping the plastic around. As quick as the storm started it was over.

We walked back to our hotel with a stop at a store to buy ingredients to make our own drinks. They had pre ready buckets for sale with the bottles inside the buckets necessary to make particular drinks. Most included red bull. Tracy does not buy into this type of drink so we settled with a bottle of coconut rum and a tetra of pineapple juice.

Back to our pool and I do mean "our pool". Not a sole around. The 3 of us had the pool to ourselves for the majority of the afternoon until 2 couples came. Think of the most beautiful pool at an all inclusive that you have ever been at, multiply that by 10 and try to imagine having that pool all to yourself with not a sole around - no workers, no one. We read, swam and had the most enjoyable day.

Off for supper, we walked down a different beach where we encountered garbage strewn about enroute to the restaurant. We don't understand why the locals don't clean up their areas but they appear to be oblivious of it. We watched the sun set and then to our staple 7 eleven for more water, rice cakes, yogurt, ritz crackers and granola bars. We read about a light show back at the full moon beach that we were at this am so we walked 15 mins there. No one really knew what time or if there would be one. We voted not to hang around for another couple of hours to wait. Early night tonight with all of us having had a little too much Thai sun for one day!