I went to the most insane beach party on the planet - and felt totally out of my league

Thailand is known for lots of things: gorgeous beaches, spicy cuisine, elephants. But in the last few decades, it's also become known for one of the biggest bacchanalia on the planet: the Full Moon Party.

It takes place once a month on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, an hour's flight from Bangkok. As many as 30,000 people attend the rave, which goes past dawn. Most are tourists from Europe and the US who have come specifically for the event.

The monthly influx has transformed once-sleepy Haad Rin beach into party central. The town's streets are lined with drug stores, clinics, T-shirt shops, hostels, and massage parlors. It has also become more dangerous, with reports of date rape, drowning, and even deadly shootings.

I was in Thailand for the 2016 New Year's Eve bash - technically not during the full moon, but still a major rager. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience ... mostly because I'd never do it again in my life. I'm 30, and I felt like the oldest, most sober, and least neon-covered person on the beach. It seemed like almost everyone was either in college or a recent grad.

But it was awesome to see, just once.