RP322 Dancing in the Moonlight

 RP322 Dancing in the Moonlight

Every month, the island of Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand plays host to one of South East Asia's most infamous parties—The Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Beach. On the night of the moon, partygoers wearing bright neon clothing and neon body paint crowd onto the beach. Fire-dancers perform dangerous, awe-inspiring stunts. DJs play all kinds of head-spinning music. Vendors—their stalls covered in bright lights—sell giant, sweet cocktails served in beach pails.
Up to 30,000 people attend the party each month, all looking for an unforgettable experience. And while the party is particularly popular with young backpackers, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. Indeed, the fun of the Full Moon Party is that you never know who you might meet beneath Ko Pha Ngan's giant full moon, or what friendships or romances you might kindle there. Most people don't stop dancing until the sun comes up the next morning.
No one is quite sure how or when these parties began, though there are many stories. Most people think they started sometime in the late 80s, probably as a going away party at one of the beach's holiday bungalows. But regardless of when or how the parties began, news of them quickly spread by word of mouth. Soon, not only had the parties become a regular occurrence, but they were increasingly bigger and wilder, too.
Some might say, though, that the parties have now become too popular, with locals complaining about the noise and mess caused by the partygoers. The parties have also become increasingly dangerous, due to the large number of revelers and the excessive drinking that goes on. Broken glass causes bare-footed partiers particular problems, and the numerous attractions and activities involving fire leave many with minor burns. In addition, thieves take advantage of the fact that most tourists will be out all night to break into their hotel rooms and steal their valuables.
Because of this, it's not clear how long the Thai government will allow the parties to continue. So if attending a Full Moon Party is on your bucket list, you'd better do it quickly!