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Hi all,
we're actually in Bangkok at the minute but i have to tell you about the Liveaboard first. We got up early and went to the dive shop where we met up with all the other divers going on the boat. Got on some pick up trucks which took us to a fishing port to get on the boat. I was so excited. I felt like i was back in school and like i was going away to pony club camp for the summer or something. They showed us to our cabins which they had done up really nice with flowers and all. After the boat pulled away from the dock they gave a Thai/buddist blessing with firecrackers. It took about 4 hours to get to the Similans, during that time we had a briefing on the boat and safety and we had our second breakfast of the day.
When we arrived to the similans, the scenery was spectacular! It almost looked prehistoric, with massive granite boulders and the sea was so many different colours of green and blue, gorgeous. The first day we had 2 dives and it was lovely. Loads of marine life and coral etc. In between every dive the fed us. The food was amazing. Basically all we did for 3 days was eat, dive, eat dive, eat, dive and sleep! The next day we did 4 dives which was quite hard going but so worth it. They were all so different. One was a boulder dive, one was a reef dive and one was a night dive. But we still hadn't seen a shark!!! I was getting obsessed. The third day was the best.. Sunrise dive was amazing. This is apparently when all the marine life is active etc. We got to swim with a leopard shark!! It was so cool, stunning. The next dive i followed a turtle for a while. This was the best dive for me. It was so clear and there was so much to see. So then we set out for the port but stopped on the way for a wreck dive. It was so different. Hardly any visibility but loads of life. We saw a stingray among other things.
Back on dry land we had time to repack our rucksacks and grab a quick bite to eat with Davis and Colleen before catching our night bus to Bangkok. What an experience that was. The bus was literally falling to pieces with water leaking in through the air con. There was a whole family sitting on only 2 seats infront of us. Our bums were definately sore when we got off. But it was all worth it when we got to our hotel in Bangkok.
This is where we decided to splash out, once and only once on this trip. The hotel was gorgeous, so gorgeous and comfy I'm almost ashamed to say that we stayed in it for 3 solid days, leaving only to eat (obviously). We were supposed to leave after that but we were so comfy in the hotel we wouldn't leave to sort out onward travel arrangements! So decided to stay in Bangkok a while longer but moved to the Backpacker end of town. Our first trip down the Khao San Road was eye-opening! It's just mental. Here are just a few things we saw this one time - a thai woodwind quintet playing Danny boy, a petrol station being used as a restaurant, stalls selling fake university degrees/press passes/driving licences and a group of huge men wearing kilts sitting in the middle of the road drinking.
Finally went sightseeing yesterday (8-11-08). You have to dress properly but its so hot we just ended up sweatting so much. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha was really impressive. Also accidentally ran into Bob, one of the guys we were diving with on the boat. I think we're going to travel into Cambodia tomorrow with him and his girlfriend.
So thats us all up to date. I think tomorrow will be interesting with the complicated journey into Cambodia. We have been advised not to go with the tourist buses that go from the Khao san road as they are all said to be part of a scam. So we're getting up at 5 to go to the public bus station. Will keep you posted.
Love Clare and Darren
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