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Published: January 10th 2011
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SANY0017
dive boat 6th – 10th Jan
We got to the dive shop at about 8pm and after leaving our cases and ‘waluables’ (as they call them here) in the safe, we crammed ourselves into two mini vans (with the usual chaotic driving) for a 1.5 hour trip north to board the dive boat. It was actually better not to see where you were going – the poor dude in the front passenger seat nearly crapped himself many times! We boarded the boat at about 10pm and left the harbour for the Surin Islands. We had one of the only two double bed cabins on the boat and were really chuffed with it – the other cabins were bunks and one deck below us and not as comfortable as ours. Despite that, none of us slept well and rose the next morning for a 7.30am dive – Very pretty area and the diving was okay – nothing spectacular but we went aboard one island and it was great to swim and lay on the beach for a bit. One of the islands have sea gypsies on them – when they saw our boat they jumped into their long boat and came over to get
cigarettes and cokes. The ugliest looking women I have seen in a long time! They apparently used to roam the seas and camp on the islands but the Thai and Burmese government didn’t like the idea that they didn’t know where they were so they made them stay permanently on the one island.
The food on the boat was great – huge cooked brekkies and lunch and dinners and lots of fruit and bikkies available when you wanted them. The next day we moved to Richelieu rock (one of the best 10 dive sites in the world). We did two dives here and I must say I would go back to dive there again – it was spectacular – the colours and coral gardens were amazing. Two dives was not enough! We moved on to another island – Ko Tachai and did two dives there too – not as spectacular but still great diving. That night we had a BBQ on the top deck and cocktails and the evening turned into a bit of a party – not so much encouraged by the guests but the dive crew had a ball – I have to say I wasn’t that impressed
– I would have preferred a quieter evening and not to be subjected to the crap music they played and made a noise until after midnight …. And we had a dive at 7.30am again. Anyway, a few of them enjoyed themselves but I think on the whole, the guest divers weren’t overly excited about it!
The next morning we dived Koh Bon – in the hopes of seeing some manta rays – it all started well and we did our first dive at 7.30 and then the boats started rolling up – I think I counted 12 dive boats when we did our next dive!!! It was like a bloody city down there – everywhere you looked… up, down, behind or around you – there were divers and the noise of the little rubber dinghies zooming from boat to drop/collect areas was like a swarming of bees. It had to be the worst dive I have ever done – made me realise that even these European run companies (mostly German and Scandanavian) can’t arrange it so that their clients don’t have to dive with the masses or don’t really care – they are only in it for the money,
while it lasts. The fishing boats that line the horizon at night are a sad sign that these dive sites will not be famous for much longer – the excitement from the crew when we saw dolphins was equivalent to the excitement we would have in Aus or NZ when we see whales…. They are so fished out that to see a shark or largish fish on the dives is very exciting!
Anyway, we still had a great time, met some wonderful people (and some totally weird ones!!) and am glad we did it and would certainly dive some of the sites again.
We arrived back quite exhausted after four days and 12 dives and moved into another hotel closer to Khao Lak for three nights before we head off to Chiang Mai.
11th Jan
So – spent yesterday relaxing – had a couple (yes – two) massages – utter bliss (am sooo going to miss these 10.00 massages!) and ate and drank and lazed on the beach, swam in the turquoise sea and generally chilled out – was laying face down on the sunbed – raised myself up to take a sip of a drink and
saw a snake slither under the sunbed! Couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing…. On the beach, a green snake? Weird! Anyway, it climbed a palmtree and I went back to doing my business of laying in the sun and sipping a Singapore sling (my new favourite drink) – don’t ask whats in it – will have to look on the internet….they don’t speak English here, remember?
Last night we decided to head to town to see the local Angels Cabaret – Gaz didn’t believe they were ladyboys and wanted to check it out so off we went – he even wanted to pay one to show him that he was a boy! Well, he certainly got more than he bargained for – the next thing we know, he was hauled on stage and disappeared behind the curtains and came out dressed up in ladyboy gear! Hahahaa- I was nearly wetting myself – and apparently they wanted to know if he was wearing underpants – and kept commenting on how big he was! I think he was totally shellshocked but have to say he was a really good sport and played along – what a fun evening! Am sure you
have seen the video on fb by now! If not, it is worth a look! (Still chuckling away to myself and told Gaz, in the heat of the moment, if I start to laugh, it is coz that vision is stuck in my head, forever! Hahaha)
I am getting so good at eating hot food now that I actually can eat it as hot or hotter than Gary – can you believe that???? Have decided that these toilets are actually very good – the little hose cools your butt when you have ring sting. Hahahhaaaaaaa – have got so much better at using them and don’t spray the whole bathroom anymore and we have both learnt to clench tight so you don’t get an enema!!! Bahahaaa. Thank god it is warm here and so the water is also not so cold - coz a jet of cold water might make you squeal!
Well – today – who knows, - will have brekky and chill out on the beach, wander down for a massage and will see what we fancy doing with the rest of the day – off early tomorrow for Chiang Mai – a lot further north so wont
be so nice and warm….
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