Let's reminisce. . . OK, I'll reminisce, and you can just sit there, and listen to me, and pretend like you care what I'm talking about. I'll just entertain myself.

WHY I MISS KO PHA NGAN

(And no, it's not because of the crazy drug-and-alcohol-induced stupors one incurs during the famed "Full Moon Parties"- there are many many other reasons to love this island that don't require (operative word require) as much self-destruction and debauchery.)

1. How everything tasted like Coconuts! From things that you would rightly assume should, like coconut curry soup, coconut shakes and of course coconuts, to everything else, like pineapple shakes, papaya shakes, pretty much any other kind of shake, jello, chocolate cake, etc. etc. . . . . After all, there are quite a few coconut trees on the island.

2. The days running into each other- honestly loosing track of time. Not knowing if that was just yesterday you found the lizard in your bungalow, or if it was last week. When was that bonfire exactly? Not knowing if it is Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Not knowing if it's the 5th, the 7th or the 30th. Adjusting to a lifestyle of not having anything to do, and completely reveling in that and becoming too accustomed to it. Honestly not knowing if it was last week you arrived, or already a month ago. And getting used to the fact that it really doesn't matter.

3. Exciting motorbike rides through the palm tree jungles and over the mountainous and half unpaved roads and through the sand covered paths two feet from the water- flying through palm trees late at night with nothing but a tank top on because it's still so hot out, and listening to the sounds of the island- the monkeys and birds and light sound of the waves gently hitting the shore.

4. NOT the birds waking you up at six in the morning.

5. The 7-11 around the corner from my bungalows- but in place of hot dogs and slurpees and beef jerky and nacho flavored potato chips were chicken burgers and milk tea and squid jerky and seaweed flavored potato chips. Walking to the 7-11 at three in the morning to get pancakes from the portable pancake-stand-guy who planted himself outside the 7-11 until sunrise, serving all the inebriates. This would be the equivalent of walking to the taco-bell back in my college days when I was young, after a long night out- although I would never go out because I do not drink because I am too mature for that level of childishness because I am an angle, Mom and Dad. ;)

6. The traveling companions- great people, great conversations and great experiences! Here's Mathilda and I. And here are the boys, Buck and Shannon, walking down to our new bungalow location.

7. And then, of course, there's all this:

Bungalows lining the water.
My first bungalow- not exactly the Hilton.
Me in our bungalow.
Mathilda in her bungalow.
Me in front of our bay- our front yard.
A colorful long tail boat.
A long tail from afar.
Hammock in the wind.
A lone chair on a white beach.
The beach from afar.
Beautiful water.
Our backdrop.
View of the bay from afar.
And a view of the ocean from afar.
Atop a mountain of palm trees.
And the sunset. Perfect.

That's why I miss Ko Pha Ngan!

*Some of these pictures were taken by myself, but I have to give credit of most of them to Shannon.