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So I don't have much time, as it's all pretty action packed here, and internet access is fairly rare and very expensive!We had 3 days or so in Bangkok after the 'bag at border' fiasco, which luckily solved itself. Quite an incredible city! We weren't quite sure how to feel about it It was like being back in the western world, although actually some aspects felt more developed than London. It felt really quite tainted by the western influence, especially in the number of tourists and big brands everywhere. The prices are much higher and the main hang out spots filled with white faces! Anyway, a fantastic place to visit. We went up and down the river, saw plenty of the main temples and cultural landmarks, experienced the night life, met a cool group of people at the place we were staying... and of course experienced the seedier side of the city!Hopped on a bus tuesday night and arrived on Koh Tao the following morning, unfortunately with me properly sick for the first time. At least it was on a beach! It was a very strange place and felt like a European (upmarket) resort - most things were well out of our price bracket but we got by okay! It was a shame to see the total overhaul of Thai culture, but it really is a scuba place through and through. In the spirit, we went diving and had a fantastic time. We basically did a whole day intro session with a basic skills part, a full dive, and a snorkelling part. We went down to 12m... I saw a shark! All very exhilarating, and we both feel a bit hooked now!
The day after we hopped over to Koh Phangan for the Half Moon Party that night. It's a very strange place, basically relying completely on their moon parties for tourism, and it's very quiet in between - even now at a half moon the island was almost dead, because it is low season, but it was actually quite nice for it to be a bit quieter. Half moon is a party in the jungle, not the beach - it was an awesome experience, and we danced until 6.30 when the sun rose.
Finding the traveling itself a real adventure. It's definitely more difficult and unnerving not having a set home to go to every day and being constantly 'hustling on the road, man' as the Americans say. But every day is a new adventure, we're seeing tonnes and I've met so many cool people at every stop from all over the world. The more I do, the more i'm settling into the mindset of not trying to plan everything far in advance (despite what the thais say, there WILL still be tickets for that thing you want to do in 6 days time on the day, and they will inevitably be cheaper!). It is more fun and exciting when you aren't worrying about the coming days, as I have a tendency to do, and there is a buzz about turning up at places with no where booked!
Ignoring this completely, plans for the future... head up through Bangkok, maybe stay a night in a smaller city near there, then head up to Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle, before being kicked out by the visa man on the 12th - so to Laos. Bye all!
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Mandy Bruno, if you can do your PADI cheaply out there, it will stand you in good stead all over the world. I did mine in australia, and used it when i went to the seychelles to just go diving which was amazing. Take care,