Spring Scream 2010

What to say about Spring Scream in Kenting...

Honestly? It was one of the wildest craziest spring break party experiences I have ever had. All of the students play it really cool here around campus, but they aren't fooling me anymore: "I know what you did last spring break in Kenting."

Last Friday night at 11pm all forty of us (approx.) loaded onto the private bus that Tammy arranged for us - actually she arranged the whole trip (you're the best Tammy.) Since I was the absolute last person to make up my mind and join the trip, I got the last seat which was located directly beside the bus driver in the lower compartment of the double decker bus. I laughed about it at first but later in the trip was really grateful because it gave me a retreat to go to when I wanted to sleep. I also got to pick the movies for our 12 hour bus ride home (hmm hmm), and he'd share his snacks with me ever so often which was nice. But that was the ride home. The ride there was a completely different story.

Apparently none of us wanted to wait until Kenting to get our Spring Break started so the second the bus pulled out of the NCCU drive-way dance music was blaring over the sound system, drinks were being poured, the girls were dancing, and everyone was having a jolly good time.

There were a few new students on the trip with us - friends of Tammy's from when she was on exchange in Germany. All of them flew from Hong Kong where they are currently studying at one of the same schools that some of my friends from Ivey are studying at - they even knew them too. Small world.


This must be a few hours into the trip. As you can see we were practically walking all over each other. That carried on for almost the entire 7 hour trip.

At around 6am the bus arrived in Kenting. We weren't able to check into our hotel room until 1pm so the bus driver parked on the side of the road and let those of us who were up get out and go to the beach.


This was the first view of the water at 6am.

It took Pim, Felix, Daria, Marie and I quite a while to actually find our way to the beach - must have been the lack of sleep. Finally we made it and I thought it would be a great idea to go for a morning dip in the ocean, but no one else wanted to join.


Can you see me in the wave?


Daria and Pim - a little shaky, it's still early. Is that a beer in your hand Pim?

A few hours later after amusing ourselves with head stands and beach games we decided to check out the other beaches nearby. At this point the others were slowing starting to trickle down from the bus. It was getting really sunny and beautiful.


The view in the daylight.


The beach started to get pretty crowded around 10:30.


There were people banana boat riding and tubing - it reminded me a lot of trips to Bahamas with my family when I was younger. This time most of us were quite happy sunbathing in the sand.

At 1:00pm we were all hot, dehydrated and burnt and it was time to check into the hostel.



Our hostel was just of the main strip here. It looked totally different in the daytime than it did at night.

Our group had two rooms filled with massive bunk beds so we all picked a spot and lay down for a ciesta. Others went out to the strip to shop and we all met up in small groups around dinner time to get the night started.

I went off with some of the girls - Daria, Hannah, Adeline, and Nancy - to explore the strip at night.


There were bright lights and food stands and trucks passing blaring music with half naked girls dancing on the back.


There were little concerts and dance shows being held along the street.

We found an area where girls were handing out free vodka shots and hosting beer drinking contests where you could win a six pack of beer if you drank a can in under 10 seconds.


Adeline after her big win. We got a lot of six packs.

This was the night Nancy announced she had a crush on the "sunglasses guy," and made us slow down in front of his stand which ended with Daria and I walking away in the most ridiculous looking sunglasses.


Yeah, I know.

Then it was time to make our way down the strip to the beach party.


This is the entrance way. Techno music was blaring and it was packed.


This is what it looked like at 11:00pm.

We found our group over to the left just outside of the big crowd around a bunch of tiki torches. It looked really cool with all different groups of people huddled around these fires. It was so nice right by the ocean too.


It looks harmless enough but we didn't get away without having any burn victims...you know who you are.


The guys: Pim, Sebastian, Elie, Diego, Michael, and Nicolas by the stage. There was a big DJ booth and bar right at the front up the hill a bit.


There were some really nice fireworks all through the night too. Some people were lighting them really close to the crowds - maybe not such a good idea.

The party went on until early in the morning.


Most of us were dead by the end.

Unfortunately I lost my shoes that night in the sand somewhere. I wasn't the only one. Adeline actually lost both pairs of shoes and had to go around barefoot the entire next day. Haha.

The next day was Easter which I missed spending with my family in Sharon. Tammy had us right onto the days plans though to go up the coast to another beach to learn how to surf!

On the way we stopped at a beautiful lookout area.


I didn't get much sleep so the goofy glasses came in handy. They actually self destructed later that day.


Group shot.

When we got there some of us scoped out a cute little restaurant close by the surf shop. It was actually a bed and breakfast started by this sweet Taiwanese girl and her boyfriend after they graduated university. Now they spend their days taking care of the B&B and their nights surfing in the sunset - I thought that was pretty neat. What was even better was that they had PANCAKES on the menu - blueberry, chocolate chip, banana... A bunch of us had to have them - I don't think I've seen a real pancake in months, and these were amazing.


This was the view from the B&B.

After that experience we went out to learn the basics of surfing.


Our teacher trying to instruct us.

I don't think anyone of us still really knew what we were doing, but we headed down to the beach anyways to give it a go. Most of us shared a board so we took turns trying it out.


Jan going out for his first round.


Leslie, Angelina, and Emily. Angelina actually caught a wave and stood up. She was one of few.


Waiting for our turn.

When I actually got out on the water and tried to stand up on the board it was almost impossible. It would definitely take a lot of practice! I was out there for about an hour and caught a few waves but only made it to my hands and knees before I toppled over and got taken away. The experience was actually pretty dangerous for me. First I rode right into a mound of rocks, and then a strong wave came in and threw me off the board skidding across the gritty sand. I came out with a bunch of scratches and a really bloody knee. It's alright though I had a blast. Hopefully when Dav and I go to Thailand I'll actually master the surfing part.


A view of the beach and our boards. Right up over that hill there is free camping. There were a bunch of people having fires and swinging in hammocks as we were leaving - so cool.


Beautiful sunset view.

Now I know we spent two nights here but the pictures from the previous night are basically exactly the same. We had so much fun at the beach party that we went back again Sunday night. The same girls and I even did our run down the strip again with a few other additions.


A picture of the group the second time around.

The only real difference about the second night was that we tried BEETLENUTS. All of us girls were sitting having a drink at some chairs on the street when two older Taiwanese men took a seat down beside us. Leslie and I were sitting next to eachother and she bent over and whispered in my ear if I thought that one of the men chewed beetlenets. I took a look at his teeth which were blood red and looked at Leslie and smiled. We were thinking the same thing. Within 5 minutes the man had a round of beetlenuts out on the table for us to try. Leslie and I tried first. Unfortunately none of us had our cameras - it would have been such a funny picture.

The nuts looked like big green lima beans wrapped in a corn cobb leaf. I found a picture on the net so you get a better idea.


The men showed us how to eat them. First you take of the cap that sits on the top of the nut. Then you pop it in your mouth and start chewing. Within seconds you feel your mouth filling up with warm red juice that you have to spit into a cup - really attractive. The juice keeps filling your mouth so you have to keep spitting it out for a few minutes. The taste of the nut is like subtle black licorice and grass.

All of a sudden Lelie and I look at each other and both of us have gone beat red - Leslie is even sweating quite a bit. After a few minutes of chewing the nuts make you feel this intense tingling sensation in your upper body and then you get really hot. I felt hot for at least 15 minutes. It also makes you a little bit light headed. After Leslie and I tried the other girls did too. Such a funny experience.
The Taiwanese men were getting a real laugh from it, taking pictures and calling their friends over to watch.

The next morning we left and like I said it took us 12 hours and six movies to get home - Very exhausting. But the memoires are fantastic.

I've been home now for the week and it has not stopped raining the entire time - Something nice to come back to.

Tonight the girls and I are trying to find something cheery to do amist all the nasty weather. None of us want to spend any money (or drink after last weekend)so we are going to have to get creative. Have a goodnight!