Sa Wa De Khuh!

Well there are only a few hours left in Thailand. I am sad to be leaving, but happy to be coming home to show everyone my pictures and share some stories. I have met some amazing people on this trip "It is not the places we go, but the people we meet"!

Our last week was spent up in Koh Lak and on a liveaboard - diving the Similan Islands - one of the top 10 in the world. It was a two day two night trip including 6 dives. The marine life was beautiful and the coral brilliant! We saw so much in all our dives...we even dropped to deep depths - 30 meters - and perched on bolders while clinging desperately to anything we could get a grip on in order to fight the currents. All of this attempted while watching a 6 foot shark swim at eye level toward me. The currents were strong and freezing cold...I had to kick with all I had in order to follow my dive master through cracks and gaps in the bolders in order escape the rapid currents that would send us far out into the deep blue. It was a rush but exhusting and my heart was in my throat as I watched this shark larger then me curiously approach me. I was about 10 feet away from the other 3 divers and my master and all I could think was "I am 30 meters under water, clinging to a boulder and the cold currents rushing past me. I can not escape this shark if he decides to attack me...if I let go of my hold I will be swept further away from my groupies and probably look like a wounded fish this shark wants to eat and I can not shoot up to the surface to get away unless I want bubbles in my brain" Hmmmm, so I stayed there with the shark about 15 feet away and stared into his eyes as I am sure he was doing the same to me" I survived and we saw two other sharks on the dive about 30 feet below in the shadows of the deep. It was such a rush! On our last dive we dove to a ship wreck -another livaboard that went down in 2002. It was an errie sight. Janell and i hve pictures uof us on the wreck. Janell and I made friends fast with the crew of the ship...the cook called me her "daughter from California" It was sad saying goodbye to them on our last day...and the amazing thing is we all felt this bond after only 2 days and nights together. It is amazing the friendships that are built while traveling and meeting others travelers. It seems that everyone understands the importance of making friends fast, putting yourself out there, cause with everyone constantly on the move you only have a short time to get to know someone and build a friendship. This is one of the biggest reasons I love to travel...

For those of you reading my journal and are looking for things to do and amzing people to meet make a point to go to Koh Sok and stay at the Smiley Guesthouse - They treat you like family and you will feel like family!

Krabi Town - The boys of BLUE JUICE always have their doors open for diving, sleeping, eating great food and drinking until the wee hours of the morning. They a brilliant group of guys and aim to please and make your stay unforgetttable. I know they are guys I will always have as friends and family in Krabi Town.

Phuket Divers - Koh Lak -Liveabaord to Similan islands- A great crew, fun and hilarious dive masters, good food and conversations.

Good luck on your travels

:)