Thailand - Ko Tao

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Hi all!
So we landed safely in Bangkok last wednesday and headed straight for the bus station where we got on an overnight bus to Chumphon. We arrived there at 4 am and got dropped off on the side of the road where nothing was open. It was a bit scary and then some guys on motorcycles were offering us rides...we were a little nervous, but then a guy asked us where we were going and we said 'Ko Tao" and he said he would take us to the place where we could buy tickets and then get a bus to the pier. He had some pamphlets and tickets with him so we went with it and luckily it worked out fine! We did get tickets to the island and arrifved on a very rainy, cloudy day last thusday.

So we have been here for 5 days now and have had nice weather. It is humid and hot, the water temperature is 30!! We did some relaxing, the boys took their scuba course, and becky and I decided to take the scuba refresher since it had been 8 months since our course and we were a little nervous to just jump right into the ocean with scuba gear. We were very glad we spent the extra $$ and took the refresher where they reviewed all our skills and we took a dive as well. SOOO much better than diving in Jasper in October...did I mention the water temp was 30!! So awesome compared to the 4 degrees it was in Jasper...brrrrr!

So today Becky and I went on 2 dives this afternoon including through caverns which was a (I'll be honest) a little scary as the openings were quite narrow in places. I am nursing a couple of gashes on my leg from the coral (that stuff is like glass!) but we saw lots of cool things including coral that can change color, moray eels, a titan trigger fish that went after one of the divers and took a chunk out of his fins, angel fish, butterfly fish, scorpian fish, barracudas and lots of other stuff that I don't know what it is! So all in all, very cool diving. We are tired though, we were gone for like 4 1/2 hours so we need some sleep!

We are going to a different island tomorrow for the infamous "full moon party"so that will be a strain on the liver but should be a good time. We are just going on the boat and then coming back in the morning. We are hoping to do some snorkeling and maybe 1 or 2 more fun dives as well depending on time and cash.

The tan is coming along slowly but no burn yet so the sunscreen is working I guess! We are staying in this nice quiet part of the island. We were at these nice bungalows but Becky and I had to climb up a ton of stairs to ours and also we had to walk a long way along the beach to get there and at high tide you had to walk through the water, so we moved today to a cheaper place, but also closer to the action.

The food here is INCREDIBLE! Especially after the crap we ate in Nepal, SO fresh and cheap! The seafood is incredible (I know, I am eating seafood!) and the freshness I can't even explain. We drink fruit shakes everyday and had banana chocolate pancakes, Thai curry, mmmm. Oh we had a korean BBQ yesterday where you get this grill and all this raw meat (Tyler and I shared the seafood one...prawn, fish, and squid) and you cook it at your table. The drippings from cooking the meat get collected in this ring around the BBQ and you add water, veggies, and noodles to make soup while the meat cooks...SO good, and costs like$4 each for more seafood or meat than 2 people could eat...we likely could have shared 1 instead of 2! Diving makes me SO hungary....I am just glad to be eating food that doesn't make me sick and also glad to have my appetite back!

The internet here is quite slow so I am not going to upload any pictures until there is a better connection and cheaper rate. We are likely going to stay here until friday then catch a bus back to Bangkok and stay there for probably a day then grab either a flight or bus or train to Chang Mai up north. We are flexible and are just taking it one day at a time!

Have a great time...spending more than I budgeted for...but loving every minute of it!

I will soak up some extra rays for you all...but I hear your weather has been great as well. Happy May Longweekend.
Cheers,
Carla

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Comments

[Michelle Abbott]

Sounds Wonderful!!
We love reading your blogs Car.....it is so nice to hear what you are up to and where your travels take you! Keep posting, all of us enjoy the updates!! Keep having fun and stay safe :) Love Michelle, Mark, Deric and Arwynn xoxoxoxo