U turn to paradise

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From Kanchanaburi (on the River Kwai) i headed north to the old capital city of Ayuttaya. i hired a bike and toured the citys ruins with Frans and Dirk (a gay Dutch couple) who i had met the night before. the whole place is truly amazing, and its hard to explain the sheer size of the ruined temples dotted around the city.

i orriginally planned to head north ot Laos, but i decided to go south to the relitivly unspoilt Island of Ko Tao for diving. it is really relaxing here, i end up spending my afternoons relaxing by the beach watching the sunset. i have just completed my PADI Open Water course, so i am qualified to dive anywhere in the world - i have already done 5 dives (max depth 18m). the coral and marine life is abundant and just amazing. i may do some more dives in Cambodia - i just love it so much.

i am slowly getting used to life as a traveller - the cockroches, moskitos, cold showers, communal bathrooms and cheap market stall food, but not the sheer heat of this place - it can completly stop me in my tracks. im continually meeting new people here, i still havent found that complete isolation i was looking for!

I randomly met up with Mike and Rachael last night, who are strangly staying next door to me and are diving with the same company (out of 40 on the island) - quite freeky. Am leaving this paradise for the mountains up north, i feel i could stay here for weeks.

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Photos

Wat Phra Sanphet
royal chapel from 1448 (whats left of it)

diving
i feel like im gonna fall backwords with the sheer weight of the thing

sunset #2
sunset the following night

Comments

[Rachel]

Hey James! Hope ur travels are going well. we are all waiting for ur next blog entry! xxxxx

[David Batty]

Welcome to world of diving
Glad your having a great time and welcome to world of diving - congratulations on getting your open water qualification ! We will have to go for a dive in the uk when you go back