Stories tagged with full
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Thailand’s Full Moon Party gets serious
In a shocking display of organisation, local “authorities” on Koh Phangan have decided to charge an entry fee for revelers at the island’s monthly Full Moon Party. What was once a poorly-kept secret beach party fuelled by drugs, Thai rice whiskey, music and young backpackers has finally become institutionalised. Or at least that’s what organisers want you to think.
September’s Full Moon Party at Haadrin Beach was the first time partiers had to pay an entry fee to get to the action. The 100 baht fee is being levied by the Haadrin Business Association supposedly to keep the beach clean after each party. Bright red and blue signs reading “Welcome World Original Full Moon Party Entry Please Show Ticket” welcomed unsuspecting visitors at Haadrin Pier.
The entire pier area was sealed off on the day of the event, and a private security force in place to ensure that everyone who steps onto the sand pays the 100 baht fee. Other services purportedly being provided by the “association” include security for overly-intoxicated people, a beach patrol to prevent drownings and a dedicated sleeping area where you can crash when the blackout comes.
Suggesting that this is a scam worth avoiding, fees are only levied against visitors arriving from Koh Samui directly to the pier at Haadrin Beach. All other entrance points to the beach are open and free. Visitors are advised to discourage this kind of blatant extortion and use other transport options to get to the party.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Sep 2008, 11:16 -
Mysterious disappearance of UK tourist
In a baffling mystery, even by Thai standards, UK traveller Danny Hall mysteriously disappeared from the island of Koh Pha Ngan more than six months ago without a trace. The 36 year-old man was last seen on February 25, shortly following one of the resort island’s infamous full moon parties.
Hall’s disappearance has left family, friends and investigators alike clueless as to his whereabouts or what may have happened to him. His backpack and guitar were found in his bungalow on the isolated beach of Hat Yao, but his passport and moneybelt were missing. Friends who saw Hall prior to the disappearance felt nothing out of the ordinary, leaving family to wonder if foul play was involved or Hall simply wanted to vanish.
One of Koh Pha Ngan’s police chiefs was transferred as a result of the sharp increase in crime and safety concerns on the popular tourist island. A number of attacks have been reported, but most of them go uninvestigated. While the government claims to be concerned about tourist safety, crime is definitely on the rise.
When Mr. Hall’s family came to Koh Pha Ngan to check things out for themselves, they discovered the local police hadn’t searched the area and had virtually no information about Danny’s case. Danny Hall’s bank account shows no sign of activity, and immigration says he never left the country using his passport. Most locals of the island agree, however, that dead bodies tend to surface at some point.
Posted by: Andrew on 31 Aug 2008, 14:43