Koh Phangan Full
Moon Party, Had Rin
 The
Full Moon is far more than a party;
it is Had Rin's dance music festival, with everything from drum
and bass to full-on psy-trance.
This wide, sandy beach in the south of Pha Ngan island is one
of the most beautiful ones. Had Rin is actually comprised of two
popular beaches, Rin Nai beach on the west side of the peninsula
and Rin Nok on the east side. From Rin Nai beach you can see Koh
Samui very clearly. This is also a great place to catch the sunset.
On the beach of Rin Nok is Bang Rak pier where the ferryboats
from Koh south Samui arrive and leave daily. Rin Nok beach is
well known among Thai as well as the foreigner tourist for its
“Full Moon Party”. This spot is ranked as the third
most beautiful spot in the world to view the full moon. For this
reason on every full moon night a great number of tourists from
all over the world flock here to take part in the famous celebration.
The two beaches of Had Rin Nai and Had rin Nok have the most resorts,
bungalows, stores and restaurants available on the island. Had
Rin is located on the southeastern tip of the island, 12 kilometers
south from the district Office in Ban Thong Sala or take a ferry
directly from Koh Samui to get there.
The party was originally a small affair with a small number
of backpacking travellers dancing through the night of the full
moon, mainly to psychedelic trance music. Originally, the music
was some tapes coming from Goa'Party (India), and the first
Full Moon Party was improvised at a wooden disco not far from
the beach in June 1987. The Full Moon Party gained fame quickly
through word of mouth, and the event now draws a crowd in excess
of 10,000 every full moon evening. The party carries on until
the sun rises the next day. All the bars on the sunset beach
of Haad Rin town stay open and play music such as drum and bass,
house and reggae. The event has become a part of the itinerary
of many travellers to Asia. Entry to the event is completely
free. In recent years, local entrepreneurs have attempted to
expand upon the event with spinoffs like the Half Moon Party
and Black Moon Party.
Drinking & dancing
Thai alcohol brands such as Sang Som rum, Mekong whiskey, and
beers such as Chang and Singha are most popular among travellers.
A signature of the Full Moon Party are the buckets - mixed drinks
served in small plastic pails. A bottle of alcohol (usually
Sang Som rum) is poured over ice and topped up with a can of
Coke and a bottle of Red Bull syrup. Several straws are then
thrown in. The price in 2007 for a bucket was around 200 baht,
roughly ?3/$5.50. On closer inspection one will find that the
majority of the brand name alcohol bottles such as Smirnoff
are unsealed, therefore it is suspected that it may contain
a cheaper alcohol. One should always check the seals before
purchasing a bucket.
Drugs
In the past there has been some association with illegal drug
use. Although the use, possession, and/or sale of drugs is illegal
under Thai law, club drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine,
Yaa Baa, marijuana, opium, mushrooms and even over the counter
diet pills have been reported. As of 2002, the Thai government
has pursued a stricter defense against illegal drugs at these
events. The standard bribe for possession is about 50,000 baht
(?750/$1200) and foreigners do go to jail for possession. Drug
use at Full Moon Parties has lessened in recent years, in part
due to greater fear of being caught but also because the parties
now draw attendees from a wider range of backgrounds.
FULL
MOON PARTY SCHEDULES
YEAR 2007
|
YEAR 2008
|
|
JANUARY,
Tuesday 22 |
|
FEBRUARY,
Friday 22 |
|
MARCH, Friday
21 |
|
APRIL, Sunday
20 |
|
MAY, Tuesday
20 |
|
JUNE, Thursday
19 |
|
JULY, Saturday
19 |
|
AUGUST, Saturday
16 |
|
SEPTEMBER,
Sunday 14 |
| OCTOBER,
Friday 26 |
OCTOBER,
Tuesday 14 |
| NOVEMBER,
Saturday 24 |
NOVEMBER,
Wednesday 12 |
| DECEMBER,
Monday 25 |
DECEMBER,
Friday 12 |
|
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