Islands

We only jumped over the islands to get back to Bangkok, ending up in Chumphong on the east coast. The islands are sort of "same-same". Trees, coco-nut and crazy tuk-tuk drivers...  Sem-same - an expression Thai's use often, saying same-same adding "but different". This since it is not same at all... for some reason the expression has stayed with us... Boat was packed to Tao - a very very small island that young travelers for some reason se as the Ultimate Island, not sure if it is for party or the beauty of it. 

Great diving with nice viz here; we are told. Another reason to return - another time.

Moving towards other islands, Phanang and Tao

We have decided that we are done with island traveling however we are taking the boat to Phanang and Tao before getting back to the plane to Sweden on the 25th. We have travelled many hours on busses and boats so at this point a 3-hours boat ride sounds like a treat. It is hot however a few days with overcast is very nice. It has been raining the past few days off and on. We blame it on the Canadian that said rains follows him on his vacations... I guess he is here now.

Koh Samui - living seven meters from the ocean

Well if this 'aint another paradise - I don't know what is! Cute island and we are litary living 7 meters (21 feet) from the ocean. Well we are not under the waves since we have a coral reef outside our lagune.  Fantastic, very simple with a shower like a nice drizzle... how am I going to wash my hair here..? Great challenges to have :-) We'll stay here another night.

See-you-soon-again-dinner tonight

Pretty special tonight... We are going out with Bum and Andy for special Thai BBQ, looking forward to it.

Taking the bus to Surat Tani tomorrow mornign after visiting Big BUddah, then we'll be on the ferry to Koh Samui for a couple of days...

The internets!

Well you can't do much without internet access nooooor with minute access to a sssloooow internet. I got spoiled at the hostel in Bangkok with free wireless access. I am not behind on blogging just behind in updating the blog…. stuff is happening yet without access not much will happen.

Diver nuts

There is no stop, we went to Kara and Karon today to shop and change of view. Joar bought DIVE - a UK divers magazine! They had a mask for me in it, totally water-leak proof, say goodbye to flushing your mask anymore.

Karon is cute, several Swedish restaurants and a Dive shop, as well, owned and runned by a Swedish couple from Göteborg area. We spoke for a while. Nice guy. His wife had gone to Sweden to visit their new grandchild. They had only had the store for about a year. He loved it and said that His main concern was with all the divers he certified and the urgency of setting a new diver goal, as a new student. He had over 4,500 dives, coldest water dives he had done was in Kyrkenäs in Norway. That is way up there above the artic circle… He said that outside Gäddestad on the Swedish west coast towards Norway was something to look forward to.  I guess I will then.

Haggeling

Bought a shawl - I really did not need it yet when you are talking about 200 bath it is ok. He wanted 750, I said 200, he said 500, I said ok-no that interested anyway, not the best I have seen, and then he agreed on 200. Wow - what happened with all the sales courses I’ve taken… or is that what I am wreaking now? :-)

Water!!

Beware and USE the complementary water bottles in the bathroom as they are to be used rinsing when tooth brushing -  since it saves from locals from sick foreigners. I did not think that the water was that bad but ohhh Myyyy God! I got so sick on the boat from accidentally getting “fresh” water in my mouth, swooshed it around it and spat it out… ohh it felt so nice when doing it and I got the salt water out alright... :-) However it was a quick turn around, 12 hours = Done! Yet I was sick as a dog within 10 minutes. Hotel water must be very nice compared to what the boat offered, it was a nice sweat water shower though. Live and learn!