Local party and occasion organisers have scrambled to host the notorious Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Pha Ngan this week while dealing with numerous setbacks. Stunning is seeing a surge in tourism because of the super-extended six-day vacation weekend, but that brings a draw back for the partygoers on the island.
Normally the week of Full Moon is stuffed with all-night events for a minimum of five days, with well-liked shindigs like Waterfall Party and OXA Beach two nights earlier than Full Moon, the legendary Jungle Experience the night earlier than, Maya the day after and another Waterfall Party two days after, together with many other weekly and month-to-month occasions around the island.
Part of the rationale for the lengthy weekend is the observance of Asalha Puja (Dharma Day celebrating the Buddha’s first sermon) today, August 1 and Buddhist Lent Day August 2. On these two days, the sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited, which throws a wrench into an island recognized for the weeklong occasions of the Full Moon Party.
The present must (almost always) go on for the Full Moon Party itself, which is rarely cancelled in want of a royal demise or a pandemic. But it does bend to Buddhism and on months when a Buddha Day is noticed on the evening of the lunar full moon, the celebration will shift to the subsequent day. This month the full moon is on August 2, however the Full Moon Party is on August three. There is also a rare second Full Moon occasion on August 31 this month.
But the other events should make particular preparations for Buddha Days. Some cancel fully for the month and others shift to different dates. Waterfall Party should have been at present but as a substitute was on July 30 with over 550 folks nonetheless in attendance. OXA Beach, however, moved its well-liked occasion to the day after Full Moon Party, in accordance with a rep from the get together.
“Since right now is a Buddha Day, we moved OXA Beach to August 4 in hopes of capturing the group still on the island. Hopefully, they are not too hungover from the Full Moon and able to get together more!”
Full Moon Party additionally faces one other robust hurdle within the exceptionally dry season. Koh Pha Ngan has run out of water. The island has been on water rations for a couple of months now with every area of the island only receiving water from the government traces for a few hours a day.
Different regions get water at totally different instances, and the water typically flows for as little as one hour a day. Hotels are struggling to keep their water tanks full and have working showers and bathrooms when tens of 1000’s of individuals descend upon the island. Pontip “Sao” Chongkonphuet, supervisor of WET! a Pool Party Hostel by Wild & Wandering complained of the stress and expense.
“We have to call vehicles to come back to deliver water every single day. Sometimes we pay up to 10,000 baht per day to have enough water for all our customers.”