After our sober stay in Malaysia, next on the list was to the not so sober Thailand for about 3 weeks. See how we got on below…if we can remember accurately enough!
Phuket
After a quick 1 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket, we arrived at about 8.30pm where we met an English friend Emily with whom we had met in South America and hoped into a taxi towards our hostel in downtown Phuket. To be honest there is not a whole lot to see in Phuket apart from some red light districts and very seedy middle aged men. We still have a few years to go! We checked in, organised our boat for the following morning and hit the hay for an early night.
Phi Phi
We were up early the following day for some breakfast at the hostel followed by a short bus trip to the pier to board the boat. The boat itself was jam packed with mid-twenties travellers with many nursing severe hangovers across the rocky seas. Once we arrived we met up with a friend from DCU, Gough, who had organised our accommodation in the centre of the town. Kev and I became roomies for the few days and managed to hike the 300 steps to our room on the mountains, showered, grabbed a bite to eat and went straight out for a night on the town with the rest.
Phuket
After a quick 1 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket, we arrived at about 8.30pm where we met an English friend Emily with whom we had met in South America and hoped into a taxi towards our hostel in downtown Phuket. To be honest there is not a whole lot to see in Phuket apart from some red light districts and very seedy middle aged men. We still have a few years to go! We checked in, organised our boat for the following morning and hit the hay for an early night.
Phi Phi
We were up early the following day for some breakfast at the hostel followed by a short bus trip to the pier to board the boat. The boat itself was jam packed with mid-twenties travellers with many nursing severe hangovers across the rocky seas. Once we arrived we met up with a friend from DCU, Gough, who had organised our accommodation in the centre of the town. Kev and I became roomies for the few days and managed to hike the 300 steps to our room on the mountains, showered, grabbed a bite to eat and went straight out for a night on the town with the rest.
The next morning we were all nursing severe hangover, which were induced by our first few buckets in a number of years. The key ingredient of Red Bull must have some sort of drug in it, as you are wired until about 8am and even when you do eventually head to bed, the song “When you’re looking like that” by Westlife just resounds in your head for another few hours. After a Pad Thai for breakfast, which was to become our dedicated meal in Thailand, we headed on down to the beach to relax. We were back in the room early enough to prepare for Brain O’Driscoll’s last home game for Ireland and legged it to the nearest Irish bar to get the best seats in the house. Eventually the bar got the stream going for the game and the party was in full flow as Ireland ran out convincing winner, setting up not only a potential Six Nations win, but also a serious night of partying!
The following day we got a day boat out to Maya Bay, made infamous from the movie The Beach, and did some snorkelling before having a nice beer on the beach itself. On the way back we stopped off at Monkey Island, took some snaps with the little lads and headed back to Phi Phi just in time for some dinner (Pad Thai of course). As it was our final night in Phi Phi, we did what we do best: got some buckets and partied on the beach all night!
The following day we got a day boat out to Maya Bay, made infamous from the movie The Beach, and did some snorkelling before having a nice beer on the beach itself. On the way back we stopped off at Monkey Island, took some snaps with the little lads and headed back to Phi Phi just in time for some dinner (Pad Thai of course). As it was our final night in Phi Phi, we did what we do best: got some buckets and partied on the beach all night!
Maya Bay
Arising from our beds the next day was a toughie. And the trip that followed even worse: 4 hour boat to the mainland (like Father Ted), 6 hours bus across the country and another 3 hour boat to Koh Pahang. It was worse than driving from Dublin to Galway back in the 90’s!
Koh Phanang
Finally we arrived on the island of Koh Phanang at about 8pm and made our way to the hotel cabins located right on the party beach: Serious spot! A quick spag bol later and we were fast asleep in our beds as we knew what lay ahead over the coming days: lots of cultural walks and tours of course (that’s just for the Mammies).
The following day a number of friends we had made in Phi Phi had arrived on the island and our crew was properly assembled. We chilled on the beach for the day playing some tag rugby and in the evening went for a few buckets on the beach, but nothing too wild as the following day was the infamous Full Moon Beach Football Tournament. Rumour has it this is where Messi actually learned his trade. Due to the fact that Chris had suffered a career threatening injury with his old man knees and Kev had recently pulled a muscle in his back while summersaulting through a ring of fire, I was the only Wirld member able to take part in the tournament. Once we got a team together with Gough, our eccentric goalie, we kicked off. After a shaky first game ended in a draw, we managed to grind out 3 very big wins against decent teams and qualify for the quarter finals the following day. We actually looked to Big Jack Charlton for some tactical inspiration: “Just kick it up to the big man up front!”. An unbeatable formula! We kept up the Paul McGrath soccer diet and went out celebrating that night on the beach! Not a great idea really.
Koh Phanang
Finally we arrived on the island of Koh Phanang at about 8pm and made our way to the hotel cabins located right on the party beach: Serious spot! A quick spag bol later and we were fast asleep in our beds as we knew what lay ahead over the coming days: lots of cultural walks and tours of course (that’s just for the Mammies).
The following day a number of friends we had made in Phi Phi had arrived on the island and our crew was properly assembled. We chilled on the beach for the day playing some tag rugby and in the evening went for a few buckets on the beach, but nothing too wild as the following day was the infamous Full Moon Beach Football Tournament. Rumour has it this is where Messi actually learned his trade. Due to the fact that Chris had suffered a career threatening injury with his old man knees and Kev had recently pulled a muscle in his back while summersaulting through a ring of fire, I was the only Wirld member able to take part in the tournament. Once we got a team together with Gough, our eccentric goalie, we kicked off. After a shaky first game ended in a draw, we managed to grind out 3 very big wins against decent teams and qualify for the quarter finals the following day. We actually looked to Big Jack Charlton for some tactical inspiration: “Just kick it up to the big man up front!”. An unbeatable formula! We kept up the Paul McGrath soccer diet and went out celebrating that night on the beach! Not a great idea really.
Big Dogs With weary heads, we meandered to the pitch the following afternoon for the quarters. After a slow start we got going, won 4-1, beat the Israelis in the hotly contested semi on penos and then waltzed the final 2-0. Celebration time for the Boys in Green!
The following day was full moon party so we just chilled on the beach, grabbed some Pad Thai and got our illuminous clothes ready for the big night. The party itself also coincided with Ireland’s final Six Nations game to win the championship which kicked off at 12 midnight! Not really a tough choice though! After a few drinks on the packed full moon beach, we ran to the nearest bar which had the game on and watched the amazing game unfold. Thank Jesus we won! Queue an unreal full moon party.
The following day was full moon party so we just chilled on the beach, grabbed some Pad Thai and got our illuminous clothes ready for the big night. The party itself also coincided with Ireland’s final Six Nations game to win the championship which kicked off at 12 midnight! Not really a tough choice though! After a few drinks on the packed full moon beach, we ran to the nearest bar which had the game on and watched the amazing game unfold. Thank Jesus we won! Queue an unreal full moon party.
The next day we decided to leave the island and head to Kao Tao about a 3 hour boat away for some detox: oh wait St Patricks day was the following day!
Koh Tao
We had an easy first night on Koh Tao in preparation for St Patrick’s Day. We managed to find a pub crawl, donned our glad rags and painted ourselves green before hitting the town. On the pub crawl we stopped off at a ladyboy show which was an experience to say the least. Not everyone’s cup of tea. We even made some mates to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with!
The next few days we spent chilling by the beach and taking in some rehab on the beautiful island. One of the days we grabbed a taxi boat out to a remote islands did some cliff jumping which was great craic altogether. As we departed for Bangkok, en route to Cambodia, we said goodbye to an awesome crew of lads we had made while travelling through Thailand and got back on the road…well boat first!
We had an easy first night on Koh Tao in preparation for St Patrick’s Day. We managed to find a pub crawl, donned our glad rags and painted ourselves green before hitting the town. On the pub crawl we stopped off at a ladyboy show which was an experience to say the least. Not everyone’s cup of tea. We even made some mates to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with!
The next few days we spent chilling by the beach and taking in some rehab on the beautiful island. One of the days we grabbed a taxi boat out to a remote islands did some cliff jumping which was great craic altogether. As we departed for Bangkok, en route to Cambodia, we said goodbye to an awesome crew of lads we had made while travelling through Thailand and got back on the road…well boat first!
Bangkok
We made it to Bangkok after another nightmarish journey and arrived at 3am with nowhere to stay so headed central and booked in for a night at a hotel. Only downside was that we had to wait until 6am to check in so killed time on the streets of Bangkok. Once in the hotel we grabbed a few hours’ sleep before getting up just before midday to see some of the city. As it was an election day BK was pretty quiet so we headed to a local market for some bargains before heading back to the ranch for some dinner.
After dinner we booked a bus for the following morning to Cambodia. As we were due to leave at 7am the smart option would have been to have a quiet night in. Scrap that! We had a few beers on Koo San road and it was a mad night all round with people dancing in streets. We were off to bed just after midnight so got some shut eye before arising to catch the bus.
We made it to Bangkok after another nightmarish journey and arrived at 3am with nowhere to stay so headed central and booked in for a night at a hotel. Only downside was that we had to wait until 6am to check in so killed time on the streets of Bangkok. Once in the hotel we grabbed a few hours’ sleep before getting up just before midday to see some of the city. As it was an election day BK was pretty quiet so we headed to a local market for some bargains before heading back to the ranch for some dinner.
After dinner we booked a bus for the following morning to Cambodia. As we were due to leave at 7am the smart option would have been to have a quiet night in. Scrap that! We had a few beers on Koo San road and it was a mad night all round with people dancing in streets. We were off to bed just after midnight so got some shut eye before arising to catch the bus.
So the next morning a guy arrives at the hotel at 7am and says in Thai, “Follow me lads”. So we walk outside with our bags and your man hops on a motorbike and speeds down the road. We slowly make it down the road and once at the corner he speeds off again. It was like a scene from Trigger Happy TV. Eventually we made it to the bus and crammed into a horrible mini bus for a 6 hour trek to the border. However we were dropped off about 2km from the border and the locals tried to scam us by telling us we needed to buy a visa from them for $35, when we knew it cost $20 at border. Pure arseholes. Once we refused they got a bit mad and sent us on our way. We flew through immigration paying the correct amount and were on our way!
We have probably been at our culture discovering lowest while in the south of Thailand, but we had already kind of known what lay in store before we arrived. But without doubt it has been a seriously fun 3 weeks. We met some really sound lads and had probably the most fun over the whole of our trip. We will be back before the end of the trip so hopefully we will be a little more culturally aware next time and not just stick to the Pad Thai!
The Lads
We have probably been at our culture discovering lowest while in the south of Thailand, but we had already kind of known what lay in store before we arrived. But without doubt it has been a seriously fun 3 weeks. We met some really sound lads and had probably the most fun over the whole of our trip. We will be back before the end of the trip so hopefully we will be a little more culturally aware next time and not just stick to the Pad Thai!
The Lads
