samui - my hangover/paradise left, day 16

upon studying the effects of energy drinks and bacardi, i have to conclude the hangover was twice as potent. still this can't slow me down and i still wake up early enough to grab the breakfast buffet; in perspective that was 4 hours after i crashed. breakfast mostly consisted of heaps of bacon, chicken fried rice and fruit. don't knock it until you try it, there is something very healing about salty cuts of pork savored on a pallet dealt alcohol in spades all the previous night.

dubiously, i entertain the thought maybe the headache would reside a bit if i got a haircut. my regular cut is pretty standard, minus the fact i've got 2 cowlicks. that's nothing a little language can overcome, right? i sit down waiting while the barber finishes details on the local lady before me. she has a peanut gallery and they are all racing 1000 km an hour in thai. then before i could ponder the effects of a set of clippers to my achy scalp, i'm in the operating chair. i motion lengths, pantomime clipping and twirl my fingers above my cowlicks; my charades skills in play. she nods and picks up the clippers and by the time she is done finishing with a straight edge blade, i can't help but wonder how much it would cost to come to thailand for haircuts every 3 weeks. to my laughter, she asks if i was at the full moon party and i affirm, wondering how she knew until i get home and look in the mirror. there is glow body paint all over the side of my face.

i have a feeling this will be a day of rest., but i've heard whispers of a buddha so grand it can be seen from the other side of the island. i grab a transport over to what i believe is the northerly side of the island. the truck leisurely winds through the island and finally drops me off at a dusty peninsula. at first, i wonder if the driver was at the full moon party the night before too, but i look and sure enough there is a buddha head sticking out in the distance. i walk the dusty trail down the beach and arrive at the statue. it's huge, and even though i haven't seen wat pho yet, i'm pretty sure this will be one of the bigger buddhas on the trip.

From vietnam / thailand trip

From vietnam / thailand trip

after relishing the statue's momentous scale and taking in the view from the platform, i head back home. i get lost finding the bus, but hire a local lady for the same price who is happy to drive me back home. i'm still not feeling up to par, so i grab a bottle of singha and lounge by the poolside soaking up rays like the doctor prescribed them. i meet a flock of aussies who are friendly and we end up heading out for dinner. since we are all pretty satisfied after partying the night before, we decide to wrap up the night with a massage and head to bed. like myself, they are off to phuket tomorrow. they speak very highly of the nightlife over there and i'm considering if all the pointed views i've heard are wrong. we will soon see, dear reader.