Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Island hopping and diving...it's a hard life!
Well, we made it to Ko Tao after all and ended up at Sunshine Divers, a dive resort that had been recommended by a few people. We signed up for our Advanced Diving course with Greg, a scouser who had turned up at Sunshine divers three years ago to complete his Open Water diving and hadn't left! We can understand why. The resort is set on a beautiful beach in a bay with fantastic views. Chaz and Darsh were very happy too. The 'Eazy bar' which was part of Sunshine was a chilled bar sunken into the beach, so that you could listen to the calming sounds of the water and sit under the stars while sipping delicious cocktails. Unfortunately, Ben and Lauren had work to do. Actually, lets re-phrase that, Lauren had work to do and Ben had copying to do! Greg was a brilliant teacher and showed us some amazing dive sites, it was like diving in a tropical fish tank. We saw Hermit crabs, String ray, Baracuda, Angel fish and so many different coloured varieties we lost count! Unfortunately for Ben we didn't see any Reef or Whale Sharks (Lauren was relieved) especially as part of our course we had to do a night dive. To sum up, Ben loved it, Lauren hated it! Maybe it had something to do with having a tempremental tourch and the eerieness once we were down there. On our final day of diving the weather turned and lets just say that the dive boat wasn't the most pleasant experience. It was very rough and we had to keep watching the horizon to keep ourselves from getting too seasick. Unfortunately for some, it was too late! Once we were diving it was hard to believe the conditions above the water until we had to return to the boat and try to get back aboard. Just imagine a ladder that raised in and out of the water by about six foot plus the fact that we had our heavy dive equipment on. We survived though!
After completing our course and collecting Chaz and Darsh from the bar, we had a day to explore the island except it decided to rain heavily, like we'd never seen before, relentlessly. So we spent 24 hours drenched. Nothing could keep you dry. Ko Tao couldn't cope with the amount of rain and roads started to flood and whilst we sat in a bar trying to dry off temporarily an electrical fire started across the road in an empty massage shop. After lots of comotion and the 'fire brigade' being called we looked on as smoke spilled out of the windows and doors. Eventually the 'fire brigade' turned up.....on a moped.....in boardshorts, flip-flops and carrying a fire extinguisher! They did put it out though and their relaxed attitude towards the situation was quite a funny scene to watch.
The next day we left for Koh Samui and as it continued to rain the catamaran back was another boat ride of horizon watching and sporting the very attractive drowned rat look that we had all perfected. We returned to Rattana guesthouse and back to Mama Ink as Chaz had named the manager. The rain had also subsided and we went out for a night of good food, bucket drinking and the boys returning home at 9am! However the storm hadn't finished there and the next day we saw Koh Samui flood from the windows of a massage shop. A (interesting) wax and mani and pedi later, Ben had to carry Lauren back to the guesthouse to sit out the rain there. A girl can't get her freshly manicured toes and hands ruined in the rain can she?!
After saying goodbye to Chaz and Darsh we caught another 6am flight back to Bangkok and made our way to Jamie's in Hua Hin. So here we are relaxing, the sun's out finally and Ben is happy to have a Playstation controller back in his hands after a month. We spent yesterday having a two hour Thai massage and it seems this is the way of life out here. Chloe, Jamie's little girl is so sweet and smiley, she loves having visitors and isn't shy to hang around our necks like a little monkey! Nok, Jamie's girlfriend, is looking after us and cooking amazing Thai food which we're loving. In fact, we're being thoroughly spoilt.
Until next time......
- comments