Ko Tao and Beyond! (Ryan)
Right, where to start. After a bloody choppy boat ride of an hour and a half, during which we attempted to watch Narnia with the worst subtitles imaginable, if only to prevent ourselves from throwing up everywhere, we met up with most of the rest of the Thailand volunteers. As usual, hotel and tour touts swarmed the peer trying to pick you off as you stumbled to firm ground, and as normal we swatted them away quite efficiently. It's something we're having to get much better at. In the end we stayed at a place called Simple Life, right beside the beach, rather cheap and nice, and a place where we could do diving. On the first day the three of us figured that doing a diving course would be a one-off cost and would have many benefits later down the road, so we forked out and did it. Unfortunately Tim didnt make it far, as he was knocked out with stomach upsets and fever. Still, me and Shaun went ahead with it and had an amazing time.
Though being under the water was strange at first, breathing and all that, getting your mask full up with water and just generally swimming around down there, by the time we'd been for our fourth dive, the last one, we were starting to get used to it and I have to say I can't wait to go again. You really don't realise when you're under there how deep you are and it's only when you look up and see schools of fish swimming around your head that you feel it. Unfortunately, though we went to the right place, we didn't manage to see any whale sharks, as the visibility was particularly poor. Never mind, eh. It really is something I'd recommend if you ever have the opportunity.
As well as diving in the day, which tended to mean getting up at seven in the morning to dive at eight, so no getting drunken the night before, we did have some good nights out in Ko Tao. On our first night we went to a bar/club and Tim made a legend of himself with his silky dance moves, then we found ourselves in the back of a jeep going up to a moonlight party on a hill. There was a massive bald man with glowpaints there, who painted people's arms with paint that then got on our clothes and still hasn't come out. Still, it was worth ruining a T-shirt for.
Moving on! After Tim's illness had abated a tad we left Ko Tao, Tim not actually finishing his diving course, and headed to Krabi, further south and on the other coast. We only actually spent one night in Krabi, as there didn't seem to be a fat lot to do and we were stuck at accomodation far away from either of the towns. The decision was made the next day, and decisions usually take a long time in a group of thirteen, to go to Railay Beach, near Krabi, where we thought we might go rock-climbing but didn't. We went kayaking instead and saw some beaches that looked almost impossible to walk to. We also found a really good bar, called the Last Bar as it's the last bar on the beach, geographically speaking, which stays open til about half four or five in the morning, so that was our evenings sorted. I myself tend to just have something to drink and dance like an idiot all night and most of the way into the morning. You know there's something wrong when you go out when the sun sets and it's rising when you come home. Many times, now have I stumbled drunkenly along the beach trying to remember where I've been living today. All very much good fun indeed and something I'd recommend you do at least once, much like skinny dipping, which has now been partaken in as well, though we'll not talk about it right now.
After another murderously late night we decided to move on again, now to Ko Phi Phi, very close to the island where some of The Beach was filmed. On the way here we actually had the opportunity to enjoy the view, which we didn't no the way to Ko Tao because the boat seemed to spend most of its time oscillating beween horizontal and vertical in the water. It really is picturesque out at sea here, random islands dotting the horizon and clear blue water. I really wish we'd taken photos, because all of them would look like postcards.
When we landed at the ferry port and got a longtail boat halfway round the island we managed to find some overpriced accomodation on a beach where there is practically nothing to do and which is a sea walk and rock-climb away from the nearest ATM and shops. To solve this problem Tim and I have just purchased a frisbee, tennis set and volleyball, so hopefully the boredom monster will be kept at bay for a while. We'll stay in the sea and get sunburnt instead, woo-hoo! Speaking of which, we are gradually managing to rid ourselves of our pale and pasty complexions, although our new problem is T-shirt tans, the blight of the shirted tourist. The three of us timid white folk could really do with going topless more, that way at least the reddy-pinkness would be evenly distributed as opposed to being just on my arms.
Well, that's you all pretty much caught up on news from the land of Thai, which incidentally means 'free land'. Just thought I'd give you guys a tidbit of general knowledge at the end there, make it worthwhile getting this far. Hopefully I'll shake of the heat lethargy and general lack of sleep the last few nights, which I can blame on no one but myself, and bother to write some letters whilst sitting on the beach trying to not be so white.
More news soon, campers!
Though being under the water was strange at first, breathing and all that, getting your mask full up with water and just generally swimming around down there, by the time we'd been for our fourth dive, the last one, we were starting to get used to it and I have to say I can't wait to go again. You really don't realise when you're under there how deep you are and it's only when you look up and see schools of fish swimming around your head that you feel it. Unfortunately, though we went to the right place, we didn't manage to see any whale sharks, as the visibility was particularly poor. Never mind, eh. It really is something I'd recommend if you ever have the opportunity.
As well as diving in the day, which tended to mean getting up at seven in the morning to dive at eight, so no getting drunken the night before, we did have some good nights out in Ko Tao. On our first night we went to a bar/club and Tim made a legend of himself with his silky dance moves, then we found ourselves in the back of a jeep going up to a moonlight party on a hill. There was a massive bald man with glowpaints there, who painted people's arms with paint that then got on our clothes and still hasn't come out. Still, it was worth ruining a T-shirt for.
Moving on! After Tim's illness had abated a tad we left Ko Tao, Tim not actually finishing his diving course, and headed to Krabi, further south and on the other coast. We only actually spent one night in Krabi, as there didn't seem to be a fat lot to do and we were stuck at accomodation far away from either of the towns. The decision was made the next day, and decisions usually take a long time in a group of thirteen, to go to Railay Beach, near Krabi, where we thought we might go rock-climbing but didn't. We went kayaking instead and saw some beaches that looked almost impossible to walk to. We also found a really good bar, called the Last Bar as it's the last bar on the beach, geographically speaking, which stays open til about half four or five in the morning, so that was our evenings sorted. I myself tend to just have something to drink and dance like an idiot all night and most of the way into the morning. You know there's something wrong when you go out when the sun sets and it's rising when you come home. Many times, now have I stumbled drunkenly along the beach trying to remember where I've been living today. All very much good fun indeed and something I'd recommend you do at least once, much like skinny dipping, which has now been partaken in as well, though we'll not talk about it right now.
After another murderously late night we decided to move on again, now to Ko Phi Phi, very close to the island where some of The Beach was filmed. On the way here we actually had the opportunity to enjoy the view, which we didn't no the way to Ko Tao because the boat seemed to spend most of its time oscillating beween horizontal and vertical in the water. It really is picturesque out at sea here, random islands dotting the horizon and clear blue water. I really wish we'd taken photos, because all of them would look like postcards.
When we landed at the ferry port and got a longtail boat halfway round the island we managed to find some overpriced accomodation on a beach where there is practically nothing to do and which is a sea walk and rock-climb away from the nearest ATM and shops. To solve this problem Tim and I have just purchased a frisbee, tennis set and volleyball, so hopefully the boredom monster will be kept at bay for a while. We'll stay in the sea and get sunburnt instead, woo-hoo! Speaking of which, we are gradually managing to rid ourselves of our pale and pasty complexions, although our new problem is T-shirt tans, the blight of the shirted tourist. The three of us timid white folk could really do with going topless more, that way at least the reddy-pinkness would be evenly distributed as opposed to being just on my arms.
Well, that's you all pretty much caught up on news from the land of Thai, which incidentally means 'free land'. Just thought I'd give you guys a tidbit of general knowledge at the end there, make it worthwhile getting this far. Hopefully I'll shake of the heat lethargy and general lack of sleep the last few nights, which I can blame on no one but myself, and bother to write some letters whilst sitting on the beach trying to not be so white.
More news soon, campers!
posted by Ryan at Saturday, April 01, 2006
1 Comments:
Aw guys, this all looks soooo amazing, i cant tell u how much i wish i was there with ye! Diving!!! i am so jealous, as long as u didnt see any dolphins then i'll let you off :) You have def inspired an after-uni gap year for me guys. But obv its so much better to be here revising... teehee. love you all, and keep in touch!
lots of hugs,
lorna xxx
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