Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party that originated in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand on the night of, before or after every full moon. It is mostly attended by Westerners.
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[edit] History
The first Full Moon Party was improvised at a wooden disco not far from the beach in 1985, for giving thanks to about 20–30 travelers.[1] The parties gained fame through word of mouth, and the event now draws a crowd of about 20,000–30,000 every full moon evening.[1] The party carries on until the sun rises the next day. The bars on the sunrise beach of Haad Rin town stay open and play music such as psychedelic trance, R&B, drum and bass, house, dance and reggae. The modern event has become a part of the itinerary of many travelers to South East Asia. Its attractions include fire skipping ropes,[2] alcohol 'buckets',[2] and a drug culture.The Full Moon Party takes place every month throughout the year at it's most popular location,Hadd Rin beach at the South end of Ko Pha-Ngan island.
[edit] Safety
Although drugs are consumed by many partygoers, drug laws are strict and police enforcement is stepped up during the parties. There are undercover police on patrol and even the drug dealers themselves may report drug users to police.[3] In recent years, there has been an increasing number of assaults and robberies at the party and in bars in the surrounding area, leading the British government to officially warn tourists to exercise caution at the Full Moon Parties.[4] Break-ins at hotel bungalows while partygoers are away from their rooms sometimes occur as well.At the party there are lots of broken beer bottles and cigarettes. Every month many partygoers cut and/or burn their feet and legs at the Full Moon Party, which is preventable with appropriate footwear[5]
On New Years Eve 2012, British tourist Stephen Ashton was killed by a stray bullet.[6]
[edit] Popular culture
The Full Moon Party is featured in films such as The Beach, Last Stop for Paul and the Thai film Hormones.[7] It was also featured in the first episode of the Comedy Central TV show Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust. In 2011, the island's parties featured on Tourism and the Truth: Stacey Dooley Investigates, a documentary investigating the negative impacts of tourism on local people and the economy.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Full Moon Party by Surat Thani province.
- ^ a b Video: Sunrise challenge – Full Moon Party, Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand at Youtube.com
- ^ "Drugs in Thailand – Don't Do It !". Phuket-fever.com. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ "Thailand travel advice". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ Tips and tricks for the Full Moon Party
- ^ "British tourist Stephen Ashton shot dead in Thailand". BBC. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ Pidterm yai huajai wawoon at thaicinema.org
^8. http://fullmoonparty-thailand.com/schedules.html
[edit] External links
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Wikivoyage has travel information related to: Koh_Phangan |
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