For those who know the islands of the Gulf of Thailand, it’s easy to understand why we wanted one more go at Koh Pha Ngan before Emilie and Shelley headed back for the states.

Not only were we missing the friends we had made there, but the island’s electric magnetism seemed to be calling us back. We decided not to resist the pull.

Four more nights was what we needed (and about all I could handle) to give it our final farewell. And this time around we actually made it off the beach to check out the rest of the island.

After visiting the tranquil village neighboring Haad Rin, which we discovered after a sweaty hike through the jungle, and seeing the featured attractions of the Snoop Dogg boat trip (no relation to the rapper back home), we realized that Koh Pha Ngan has much more to offer than the midnight festivities for which it is most famous. Although most people find it hard to break away from the explosive social scene of Haad Rin, I highly recommend a little exploration. The island is rich in picture-perfect beaches, tranquil bays, traditional fishing villages, freshwater waterfalls and everything else you’d expect of a tropical island paradise.

For Emilie and Shelley, this was the end of their road in Southeast Asia. We had held on to the moment for as long as we could but the inevitable goodbye (or more accurately, “see you back home”) had arrived. For the first time, I almost wanted to go home too.

The three of us traveled beautifully together and I had gotten quite accustomed to our synergy. Not to mention that I knew my heart would ache for our days of having breakfast together every morning, laughing uncontrollably at just about anything that seemed the slightest bit funny, spending every day on a beach with nothing to do but hang out, eating the 222 sandwich at Shelley’s favorite restaurant, talking about how yet another fish was lost at sea (one of our favorite conversations), and mostly just enjoying the incredible blessing of spending so much quality time together at this point in our lives.

Our month traveling together was coming to a close and about to become just another chapter of memories in the story of our lives.

As I watched them run for the ferry to Koh Samui on the Haad Rin pier, my head started to hurt and for a couple minutes, I didn’t know what to do with myself. A couple anxious hours ensued as I returned to my hotel room alone and adjusted to my solitude. It wasn’t an easy moment, but it didn’t last too long. All good things come to an end at some point, and the challenge of adjusting to change and moving on to the next great thing is all part of the experience.

Figuring that I could use a little time to mellow out and find peace, I decided to return to Koh Tao. Someone I had met there had suggested that I return after my friends left and take a scuba diving course. Turns out, it was just what I needed.

So I’m back on Koh Tao, slowing down the pace and learning how to scuba dive. Again, I’m doing something I never thought I would do. This adventure never ceases to amaze and inspire me. While I miss Emilie and Shelley so much that it still hurts, I just remind myself to take a deep breath and welcome what's next. My travels continue and the show must go on.

August 5, 2006