THE JUNGLE PARTY

As one travels, there are these “quintessential” backpacker jols¹. There is one in Pai, the Jungle Party. I can’t remember the details, because it was a long time ago². I do remember that one takes a songthaew to a venue in the middle of the jungle. It is an open field surrounded by rice fields. It has a psychedelic party theme.

The day began as normal, I woke up³ , followed one of the pretty girls and had breakfast with her⁴. Afterwards, I played table tennis with some hostel mates. After smashing everyone⁵, I was unsure what my plans for the rest of the day were. I find that that is one of the coolest things about backpacking without a plan – one has the freedom to be spontaneous.

The Pai family huddled together and planned out our day. Some of us decided to check out the nearby hot springs. We got onto our scooters and drove off. The hot springs were great, it was in the middle of the jungle and the temperature was just right, not too hot. We were just chilling in the water when one of the Pai fam noticed an acquaintance from another hostel.

Everyone engaged in conversation and then I noticed her, Emily. She was British but had grown up in Hong Kong.We started chatting and got on like a house on fire. I don’t know how it happened but slowly we began to drift away from everyone else. It was as if we were in our own private world. We spent a long time there together and both us did not really want to leave. Unfortunately, I did not get her contact details but we promised to meet each other at the jungle party.

After the hot springs, we headed back to the hostel. We got ready for the night and had dinner. Before we got to the jungle party everyone decided to have pre-drinks⁶. Usually, people go for soju but in my opinion, wine coolers offer more bang for your buck.

We passed by many a 7/11 and at each one I downed a wine cooler or two⁷. I can’t remember exactly how many I had but it was quite a few – I needed the liquid confidence⁸. After pre-drinks, we got onto our songthaew and headed to the party. It was quite some distance away. We got there and I took in the scenery – it was the perfect night. I don’t remember everything because I was a bit drunk. Although, I do remember buying quite a few drinks out of a hippie van bar.

We started to party and eventually I ran into Emily. I messed up though – at this point I was completely out if it. The alcohol had caught up. Several friends saw me getting rejected, she had a “boyfriend”⁹¹⁰. This had not come up earlier.

I was sad and felt a bit empty¹¹ and super drunk but no matter – we move. After being rejected I decided I could act up more¹². Eventually, it was time to go home. I was in a state but thankfully, Arabella¹³, took care of me. Honestly, I can’t remember all of this – just flashes but she made sure I got into the songthaew when everyone was leaving. Apparently, she also fed me chocolate cake once we had reached town.

Somehow, I made it back to bed. I slept the night away with that all too familiar feeling of my head spinning. I never saw Emily again.

1. Like every party, most of them are overrated and just an excuse to get drunk… not that I’m complaining ↩︎
2. Getting completely sloshed there may have also played a small part… ↩︎
3. Hungover ↩︎
4. And she didn’t even notice ↩︎
5. And losing at table tennis ↩︎
6. No one wants to pay “middle of the jungle” prices for drinks ↩︎
7. Some people did tell me to slow down… ↩︎
8. I had none of my own : ( ↩︎
9. My friends said that she seemed keen to see me but I fumbled it ↩︎
10. Not my proudest moment but I also threw a mini-temper tantrum when I was rejected ↩︎
11. At least more so than usual ↩︎
12. I may be painting a very unkind picture of myself here. I am not the worst – maybe just a bit too self-critical at times ↩︎
13. Also a member of the Pai family, probably the one person of the group I have spent the most time with during my travels ↩︎