Recovering in Bangkok April 23, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentWe left Koh Tao to return to Bangkok for the last few days of Lisa’s holiday. This was her time to shop and my time to sleep.
We had a well-deserved and much-needed night in so give us all enough energy so that we could sleep more of Friday. I was delighted to be able to leave Tik to organize Lisa’s shopping expeditions as I familiarized myself with my good old comfy sofa again.
On Friday Lisa, Tik and I met up with some friends at Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Whilst Lisa and Tik went shopping at the market I relaxed at the food court.
Lisa – My Hero April 19, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentToday Lisa completed her PADI Open-Water Diving Course.
This was an incredible achievement for somebody who’d come to Koh Tao especially to learn diving with Tik, to shortly discover that Tik wouldn’t be joining her. Lisa now joins the lines of Pavion’s who’ve dived. Only 2 months ago both mum and dad dived in Egypt despite mum having to really push her self hard to get through the practice.
Waddling Like a Penguin April 18, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentNo marathons for me today. Time to bathe my feet in a sea of ice…
A few weeks ago I damaged my left foot running which caused me to limp and hobble for about 2 weeks. I’d just about recovered from that a few days ago and was feeling top of the world.
I wore some nasty flippers on my first two dives which dug right into the side of my feet. After nearly 2 hours in the water the saltwater was not helping the open sores. Returning to land I plastered up and took Tik out onto the beach to show her how to swim. In helping to support her I stood directly onto a sharp rock. I have pain on the side of both feet and the sole of one foot.
I am now the diving equivilant of Charlie Chaplin..
I bought some diving boots today – the best thing 1,000 baht could ever buy.
The Night Dive! April 18, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentThe night dive was the most incredible dive I’ve yet experienced and it took me days to come down from the exhilaration I felt. We hit the water at sundown which allowed us to ease ourself into the darkness without overwhelming ourselves.
To me the beauty was not so much in what we saw but more the perfectly relaxing environment itself. There is minimal noise in the water and as daylight died the only light was that ouf our torch beams. This, coupled with the deeper and slower breathing makes nigh diving akin to meditation.
Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive & Navigation Dive April 18, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentThe Peak Performance Dive was fun. This is a mandatory requirement and just focuses the diver on how he controls his level of floatation in the water.
I consider myself quite strong in bouyancy control in most circumstances – quite noticably when I got myself into all manner of yogic positions yesterday to take my pictures. My over-confidence left me reeling on embarassment when I was called to dive in between a hoop at the bottom of the sea. Manoevering myself through tight spaces hasn’t ever been a problem yet today I majestically swooped through the hoops twice before nosediving smack into the ground!
Deep Water Diving & A Photography Dive April 17, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentThe PADI advanced course is 100% practical. There are no classroom lessons – merely short briefings on the boat. I was up and ready early in the morning today and I was kitted out and on the boat by about 8am. I completed my Open Water course last December so it’s been some time since I last donned my wetsuit.
Advanced Diving Course in Koh Tao April 16, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentTo me this was the true highlight of the holiday. I love diving, I love Koh Tao and I’ve been itching to contine my diving course for some time.
We arrived in Koh Tao early afternoon via catamaran from Koh Phangnan. Of all the places to visit in Thailand Koh Tao is by far my favourite. What makes this island so special is that it is exclusively developed for divers. Every person here is a diving enthusiast so it is easier here to make friends as it is in Pattaya to meet bar-girls.
A Tour of Koh Phangnan April 15, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentHappy Songkran!
Songkran didn’t come to Koh Phangnan which was a shame. At the full-moon party there were a handful of people with water guns, and we saw some polite Thai staff pouring drops of water on guests during breakfast but perhaps the islanders can’t cope with two big parties in such a short time.
On traditionally the hottest day of the year we took a day-trip around Koh Phangnan by boat. We met at the pier in the morning and boarded the boat with about 30 other tourists.
Website Nearly Updated April 14, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Current Blog , add a commentJust to let you know that Lisa Tik and I are currently on Koh Phangnan for 2 more days and will then spend 4-5 days on Koh Tao where Tik and Lisa will complete their Open Water Diving Course and I’ll complete my Advanced course.
I’m keeping away from the internet where possible but I am still keeping my diaries in order. I’ll get a chance to update everything again in about a week when we all return to Bangkok.
This site is stil being updated although we have made some progress in the last few days. I expect it won’t be long before I can reorganize all my photos and have them on the site and also add thumnail images to my posts again.
Watch this space and have a great Easter. For those of you in Thailand Happy New Year for tomorrow.
The Morning After! April 14, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentWe were awake well before many people had even gotten to sleep today. Tik and Lisa thought it might be fun to return to the beach at light to see just how much crap tens of thousands of drunk westerners could really create. We had breakfast at the hotel. Lisa’s baked and stuffed pineapple was a good representation of how good the food here is.
I contented myself in an internet cafe when Lisa and Tik went wandering, we met back at the resort for lunch. You can imagine their experience at the beach although there were many shop owners working hard to return the beach to its former glory.
We had a lazy day today where we were able to monopolize the pool. Most party-pros stayed up until gone 7am so were asleep much of today.
Koh Phangnan seems to specialize in chocolate shakes. Never before in Thailand have I had the opportunity to order Mars Bar shakes and Snickers shakes.
Full Moon Party at Koh Phangnan April 13, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentWe were all determined to take it easy and do as little as possible during the hot days here. We spent some time swimming in the pool and just as much time in the rooms trying to escape the heat.
That night we headed to Haad Rin Beach where the world-famous full-moon party is. It was in walking distance from the resort, taking only about 10 minutes. To get there one has to walk through the shopping area which comprised of hundreds of small shops, either internet cafes, travel agents, book shops, convenience stores or a combination of them all.
Bangkok to Samui to Koh Phangnan April 12, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentWell we got to the airport with plenty of time, only to find the one hour flight was delayed 3 hours! Personally I was quite contented to sit around and read my book during the time although it felt good to be on and then off the plane.
Samui Airport is cute. It is a tiny airport with the most primative bagage-claim belt i’ve ever seen. All the planes flying to and from Samui are colourfully painted and the buildings themselves are made from bamboo.
Bye To Mark and Raquel April 11, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentWe arrived back in Bangkok a little bit lazy to do much. Today was to be our last day with Mark and Raquel and there was a lot we should really have done. We settled on a traditional sukiayaki meal from MK restaurant nearby and, as much as I’d have love to have given my relatives a proper tour of Sanam Lum Night Bazaar I let them expore it alone.
Our Last Day at the Greenery Resort April 11, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , add a commentOur last day was certainly the most intensive of the three. Tiks parents, aunt and middle sister (toon) left just before lunch time to return to Khon Kaen. Nong Mai stayed with us longer so she could enjoy the resorts activities. First on the list was paintball. We began with myself, Mark and Raquel on one team and Lisa, Nong Mai and Tik on the other.
The World’s Most Expensive Novel! April 11, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Creative / Humour , add a commentHere is a link to a website which I have immense respect for. The site is by a new writer who has completed his first fantasy novel but has yet to get a publishing deal. For the princely sum of $500 you effectively buy a share into he authors future earnings and get your name or message printed on one page of his final release. Should the author get his publishing deal and make it as an author the ‘shareholders’ will be entitled to a share of all future earnings to an upper limit of $5,000 per person.
The author has already taken a lot of initiatives in serializing his book as a free podcast, which can be downloaded and listened to for free. Whether Paul Storey makes it to the big time or not I don’t doubt for a minute that he is a creative seed about to bloom. I’ve put down my $100 deposit already, not so much as an investment but as a way of rewarding such creativity and initiative.
