Hat Rin is the party capital of Koh Pha Ngan, the place where backpackers from all over the world come to kick it on the unbelievable beaches while waiting to jump to the powerful beat of euro-techno music blasting out of the nearby cantinas the moment the sun goes down. If that sounds like a good time to you, then stay in "Sunrise" side, belly up to the Cactus Cantina bar, watch a new release movie on bootleg video and enjoy.

Me, I stayed on the "Sunset" side, where you can kick it on the porch of your $10 a night bungalow and watch the world go by. I got 2 beds, a broken air conditioner and an luke warm shower from the Rin Beach Resort, the first place you'll see while stepping off the boat. That's not, however, why we picked this fine resort. Instead we hauled our butts across the peninsula, to the Sunrise side, took a long look at all the bungalows, found out all the decent one were filled, and then hauled our butts all the way back.

The biggest draw to the Sunrise size is the beach, an amazing expanse of white sand, probably a mile from end to end. In the shallow water nearby one can snorkle over a few small reefs or those who prefer to stay ashore can bask in the bright sunlight. However, Sunrise also plays host to the only paved street in all of Hat Rin, on which most of the bars, restaurants and shops are situated.