Day 109

New Year's Eve! Karen and Jim's hotel Montien House were having a gala evening with food and entertainment. It was a pricey do and Karen and Jim had to buy tickets as a condition of their room rental. The hotel management were happy to let Neil and I sit and enjoy the entertainment for free but we had to go and eat somewhere else. One Pizza Hut later we were back enjoying the party. The hotel had a stage set up on the beach with tables and chairs and great decorations. Jim sat down too fast on one of the chairs and bent the leg over collapsing the chair, that was funny and Jim had to switch the chair for one on the vacant table nearby. The wine was flowing and soon we were joined by four Australian girls out on a holiday. The first girl to sit down got Jim's old chair and also collapsed to the ground. Convinced we had set her up she took some reassurances before sitting down with us again. All night the drink bought at the table was being rewarded with raffle tickets. The tickets were soon adding up and the star prize in the draw was a diamond necklace. Jim didn't like leaving things to chance so he took the initiative and plainly bribed the organiser to ensure he won the necklace. Presentation time came and Jim was called up to collect his "prize". He made a right song and dance about it milking the applause with a silly dance on the way up. It was top entertainment and I got it all on video!

01 Karen Jim Neil and Me at the beach dinner table

After midnight we were letting of fireworks right on the beach. Neil lit the first rocket and it whizzed up, turned the other way and came back to earth, its explosion was a concern since it landed between the stage and the tables. Karen and one of the Australian girls were among the minor casualties with a small burn on the arm and leg. We also had some lanterns which you light and the hot air from the candle means the whole thing floats off up in to the night sky. The scene really was special, all the fireworks up and down the beach, the lanterns and the company meant for a great night.

02 The entertainment

Then, at around 1am, we went out properly. Brandon Block (sort of superstar dance music DJ) was on at the Chaweng Lake View so we all headed up there. For the next few hours we danced like fools at the show. Before Brandon came on I saw him making his way to the stage and I gave him a hug and felt like some sort of groupie! It was a proper rave - Karen and Jim and the Aussies left after a few hours but Neil and I took it to the next level and ordered some more Thai Whiskey! Another mistake but you have to bring the new year in with a bash don't you!

03 lighting the Lantern

04 Two of the Aussies

05 Fireworks

06 Jim light's a rocket

07 At the dance party

08 Neil does his "thing"

09 At the front stage - BB is in the check shirt

10 Neil does a bucket of Thai whiskey and coke

11 The party