UNDERWATER PHOTOS

HERE ARE SOME UNDERWATER PICS FROM MY LIVEABOARD, A GUY SHARED HIS PICS WITH ME.

THE SANCTUARY

I HAVE BEEN IN KOH PAN NGAN FOR A FEW DAYS NOW... CAME HERE TO DO A 7 DAY FAST. SOUNDS CRAZY BECAUSE I LOVE FOOD AND RIGHT NOW IM TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR THIS!
I AM STAYING AT THE WELLNESS CENTER AT A PLACE CALLED THE SANTUARY. IT IS RIGHT ON THE BEACH AND IS BEAUTIFUL.
BASCIALLY 2 DAYS BEFORE I STARTED THE FAST I HAD TO ONLY DRINK WATER OR TEA AND ONLY RAW FRUITS AND VEGGIES. STARTED THE FAST 3 DAYS AGO, I HAVE 4 OF THESE CLAY SHAKES A DAY (THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO GRAB ONTO ALL THE LEFT OVER STUFF IN YOUR STOMACH), HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS 4 TIMES, A FEW OTHER DRINKS MEANT TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM AND VEG. BROTH FOR DINNER. ITS ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY NICE, ALL THE FASTERS HANG OUT AT THE WELLNESS CENTER AND READ OR SLEEP. NO FOOD IS ALOUD THERE WHICH IS NICE. EVEN THOUGH I AM FEELING TIRED AND A LITTLE SPACEY I FEEL GOOD, MY STOMACH IS SO EMPTY BUT IN A GOOD WAY. I COPIED THIS BLURB FROM THE INTERNET... MY BRAIN ISN'T WORKING SO WELL TO EXPLAIN.

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THEY ALSO OFFER YOGA TWICE A DAY, THERE IS A SPA HERE, AND MEDITATION ALONG WITH ALL KINDS OF WORKSHOPS YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR.
I GOT A THAI MASSAGE YESTERDAY, IT WAS FANTASTIC AND HAVE BEEN GOING TO MEDITATION EVERY OTHER NIGHT.
I HAVE MY OWN LITTLE BUNGALOW WHERE I CAN CAN HEAR THE WAVES CRASHING ON THE BEACH. I HAVENT HAD MY OWN ROOM SINCE I LEFT BANGKOK AND I AM ENJOYING IT.
WELL, I WILL BE DONE THE FAST ON THURS. BUT WILL STAY HERE FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER. YOU HAVE TO STICK TO RAW FOODS FOR 2-3 DAYS AFTER AS WELL. AND DONT WORRY MOM-IT IS COMPLETELY SAFE AND WILL BE GOOD AS NEW WHEN IM FINISHED. ALSO MOM, PLEASE NO MORE EMAILS TALKING ABOUT ALL THE FOOD YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME WHEN I GET HOME... :) IT'S TORTURE.
I WILL BE HEADING TO PHUKET NEXT AND THEN WILL FLY HOME FROM THERE. SO SEE EVERYONE SOON!!!

DIVING IN THE SIMILAN AND SURIN ISLANDS

BACK FROM MY DIVE TRIP. IT WAS REALLY NICE. BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS, GOOD DIVING AND AMAZING FOOD. WE TOOK THE FERRY TO PHUKET ON THURSDAY AND THEN HAD AN HOUR 1/2 RIDE TO KHAOLAK. FINALLY GOT ON THE BOAT AND DEPARTED AROUND 9pm. THERE WERE 16 OTHER DIVERS, 4 INSTRUCTORS AND 6 BOAT STAFF. WE DID 14 DIVES IN 4 DAYS, I ONLY DID 13 (SAT OUT ONE SHORT NIGHT DIVE CAUSE MY EAR WAS BOTHERING ME, BUT ITS ALL BETTER NOW). THE FIRST 3 DAYS WERE 4 DIVES A DAY INCLUDING A NIGHT DIVE AND THE LAST DAY WAS 2 DIVES. REALLY BEAUTIFUL DIVING. THE ISLANDS AND DIVE SITES WERE BASICALLY BIG ROCKS WITH HUGE BOULDERS PILED EVERYWHERE. SOME PARTS DIDN'T EVEN REALLY LOOK LIKE THEY WERE UNDERWATER, ONE LOOKED LIKE THE HILLS OF MISSOURI WITH LITTLE CORALS SPROUTING UP RANDOMLY LOOKING LIKE TREES. THERE WERE TONS AND TONS OF FISH EVERYWHERE! SAW 2 SEAHORSES, LOADS OF OCTOPUS, A WHITE TIP REEF SHARK, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.
FELT LIKE I HAD MY OWN PERSONAL THAI COOK. THIS SWEET LITTLE LADY WAS THE CHEF AND FED US LIKE YOUR GRANDMOTHER DOES... WE WOULD GET SUBS AND BURGERS FOR AFTERNOON SNACKS, IT WAS INSANE. I ACTUALLY THINK I MANAGED TO GAIN WEIGHT EVEN WITH ALL THE DIVING.
ONE AFTERNOON AS WE WERE TRAVELING TO OUR NEXT DESTINATION SOME DOLPHINS CAME UP TO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT AND STARTED SWIMMING WITH US... THEY LEFT AND THE CAPTAIN TURNED THE BOAT AROUND SO THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK AND MORE KEPT COMING AND I THINK THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 10. THEY WERE JUMPING AND SWIMMING ON THEIR BACKS, PLAYING WITH US IT WAS SO CUTE! I LOVED IT.
GOT BACK TO THE MAINLAND AND STAYED IN KHAOLAK WITH 2 ENGLISH GIRLS I MET ON THE BOAT. WOKE UP YESTERDAY AND HEADED TO KOH PAN-NGAN. AN ISLAND ON THE EAST COAST. WILL BE HANGING OUT HERE FOR A BIT AND THEN I THINK TO PHUKET AND WILL FLY HOME FROM THERE. SEE EVERYONE REAL SOON!

PHI PHI PICS

HERE ARE SOME RANDOM PICS FROM PHI PHI. FIRST IS OF THE VIEW FROM MY PORCH, LAST IS OF MY FRIEND THOMAS AND I IN FRONT OF MY BUNGALOW. A FROG IN MY ROOM, PIC OF THE DIVE BOAT ON OUR WAY TO SEE THE MANTAS, PICS FROM OUR DAY ON THE LONGTAIL,OH YEAH AND OF "THE BEACH" BEACH... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ME TAKING THE PLUNGE OFF THE CLIFF. CRAZY!

TON SAI PICS

HERE ARE A COUPLE PICTURES FROM TONSAI... SUNSET ON THE WAY BACK FROM A DIVE, FIRST ONE IS OF CHICKEN HEAD ISLAND BECAUSE THE ROCK TO THE LEFT LOOKS LIKE A CHICKEN HEAD. PICTURE OF MY LITTLE BUNGALOW, OF TONSAI BEACH WHEN THE TIDE HAD GONE OUT. LAST ONE IS OF RAI LEI BEACH AND ONE OF THE LONG TAIL BOATS... THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORT AROUND HERE.

KOH PHI PHI

I AM NOW ON KOH PHI PHI ISLAND. I WOKE UP ON FRIDAY, I THINK, AND DECIDED TO LEAVE TON SAI. IT WAS A REALLY BAD WEATHER DAY ANDWAS REALLY ONLY STICKING AROUND TO TRY CLIMBING WHICH WOUDLN'T OF BEEN HAPPENIGN THAT DAY ANYWAY DUE TO RAIN. I JUST PACKED MY BAGS AND LEFT MY ROOMIE A NOTE AND LEFT. MISSED THE BOAT STRAIGHT FROM TON SAI SO I HAD TO TAKE A LONG TAIL TO KRABI AND THEN FIND A TICKET TO PHI PHI. MET 2 REALLY COOL GUYS ON THE FERRY THAT HAD JUST MET IN BANGKOK, BOTH TRAVELING ALONE, AND WENT WE ARRIVED, DECIDE WE WOULD TRY TO FIND A PLACE TOGETHER. FOUND A STEAL, A BUNGALOW ABOUT 20 FT FROM THE BEACH AND ONE OF THE GUYS BRAD AND I ARE SHARING. THIS BAMBOO HUT MUST HAVE BEEN MADE IN A DAY BUT WAS EXCITED TO FIND OUT WE WERE THE FIRST TO STAY IN THIS ONE, SEEMS THEY ARE STILL REBUILDING DUE TO THE TSUNAMI. YOU COULD PROBABLY KNOCK IT OVER IF YOU LEANED AGAINST IT AND AM STILL WAITING FOR MY FOOT TO GO THROUGH THE FLOOR BUT IT'S STILL GREAT. SPENT MY FIRST DAY HERE CHILLING ON THE BEACH WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL. THERE ARE MANY BEACHES HERE AND OURS IS KIND OF IN A COVE SURROUNDED BY THE CLIFFS I REFERRED TO IN TON SAI. BEAUTIFUL. FOUND A PLACE TO DIVE AND HAVE HAD TO MAGNIFICENT DAYS OF DIVING.
FIRST DIVE SITES I WENT TO WERE AN HOUR AND A HALF SPEED BOAT RIDE OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THERE HAD BEEN SOME MANTA RAY SIGHTINGS THE DAY BEFORE THEY HAD SEEN 3 AND THAT WAS THE MOST THE DIVEMASTER SAID HE HAD SEEN TOGETHER. I WAS KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED. AS SOON AS WE DROPPED IN SOMEONE LOOKED DOWN AND ONE WAS SWIMMING BELOW US. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, AND I COULD GO ON FOREVER, WE SAW 3 AT THAT SITE AND LOST COUNT BUT ESTIMATED 12 AT THE NEXT SIGHT. LITERALLY UNBELIEVABLE. I POSTED A LINK TO A SITE IF YOU WANTED TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
http://www.imagequest3d.com/cgi-bin/ImageFolio4/imageFolio.cgi?img=0&search=Manta+Rays&cat=aquatic&bool=and
THE MOST AMAZING THING I'VE EVER SEEN. THEY RANGED FROM 6 FEET WING SPAN TO 15-20 FT WAS THE BIGGEST ONE WE SAW. THEY WERE SWIMMING ABOVE US, BELOW US NEXT TO US AND WOULD EVEN LIFT THEIR WING WHEN CLOSE TO DIVERS AS NOT TO HIT THEM. I COULD HAVE TOUCHED ONE. SO INCREDIBLE. WENT ON 3 DIVES THE NEXT DAY AND SAW 2 LEOPARD SHARKS. REALLY PRETTY AND MY FIRST UP CLOSE LOOK AT A SHARK.
TODAY MY ROOMMATE AND A BUNCH OF OTHER RANDOM PEOPLE GOT A LONGTAIL TO CHECK OUT THE ISLAND AND WENT SNORKELING A BUNCH OF PLACES. WENT TO THE BEACH WHERE "THE BEACH" MOVIE WAS FILMED. AND WENT CLIFF JUMPING!! AGHHH, IT WAS SO SCARY. IT WAS ABOUT A 35 ft DROP. HAVE A GREAT PIC OF ME MID-AIR WILL TRY TO POST SOON.
MET A GUY THAT WAS PLANNING A LIVE-A-BOARD TRIP TO THE SIMILIAN AND SURIN ISLANDS AND DECIDED TO GO ALONG. WILL BE LEAVING FROM PHUKET ON THURS NIGHT. IT'S A BIG DIVE BOAT THAT YOU LIVE ON, HENCE THE NAME, AND WILL BE DOING 14 DIVES OVER 4 DAYS, IT WILL BE INTENSE BUT AM REALLY EXCITED. NOT SURE WHERE TO NEXT.

I LOVE DIVING

JUST A QUICK UPDATE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I'M STILL ALIVE. I AM IN TONSAI A LITTLE BEACH IN THE TOWN OF KRABI. THIS PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL. NICE BEACH WITH HUGE CLIFFS STICKING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WATER... NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE. ARRIVED HERE ON TUES. AFTER 17 HOURS OF TRAVELING. MET A REALLY NICE GUY FROM SWEDEN AND WE ARE SHARING A BUNGALOW 5 MINUTES FROM THE BEACH AND ARE PAYING $2.50 EACH A NIGHT. IT'S GREAT... ALTHOUGH THE ACCOMADATIONS ARE NOT 5 STAR AND I AM BACK TO SHOWERING OVER THE TOILET AND THE DRAIN FROM THE SINK JUST GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR BUT YOU CAN'T BEAT THE PRICE! I HAVE SEEN MONKEYS SWINGING IN THE TREES AND CRAZY ROCK CLIMBERS EVERYWHERE AND CONVINCED THEY HAVE A DEATH WISH... YOU SHOULD SEE THESE CLIFFS THEY CLIMB, THEY MIGHT AS WELL BE UPSIDE DOWN! SPENT YESTERDAY FRYING MY BODY ON THE BEACH AND LOOKING FOR A DECENT DIVE SHOP. TODAY I WENT ON A DAY TRIP CONSISTING OF 3 DIVES 2 WERE NEAR KHO PHI PHI, WHERE I AM GOING NEXT, AND ONE A LITTLE CLOSER TO HERE. WE LEFT THIS MORN AT 8am AND GOT HOME AT ALMOST 7pm. DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU WITH ALL THE DIVE TALK BUT I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE. THE FIRST DIVE THIS MORNING WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING I'VE HAD, I WAS SO OVERWHELMED... WE PULL UP TO THESE HUGE CLIFFS THAT JUST COME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WATER AND SEEM TO CREATE THE WALL OF THE REEF UNDERWATER THAT WE ARE SWIMMING AROUND. I SAW A FEW SMALL THINGS THAT GOT ME SUPER EXCITED ALONG WITH A TURTLE, MORAY EEL, GOOD SIZED OCTOPUS, SEA SNAKE AND TONS AND TONS OF FISH. IT WAS AMAZING. I WILL BE GOING TO KHO PHI PHI WITHIN A DAY OR SO, CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! GOING TO TRY TO GET THE COURAGE TO TAKE A 1/2 DAY ROCK CLIMBING COURSE TOMORROW, THEN WE'LL REALLY SEE WHAT I'M MADE OF. OFF TO SLEEP IN MY BUNGALOW UNDER MY MOSQUITO NET... WILL WRITE MORE SOON.

RANDOM PICTURES FROM BANGKOK

LOVING THAILAND

SO MUCH TO TELL... YESTERDAY I DECIDE I WAS GOING TO FIND THE GRAND PALACE WHICH HOUSES THIS EMERALD BUDDHA THAT WAS FOUND IN LIKE 1445 OR SOMETHING, ANYWAYS I DECIDED I WOULD FIND IT ON MY OWN... DIDN'T HAPPEN. CAME BACK TO THE NEW PLACE I'M STAYING WHICH IS ABOUT A BLOCK FROM KOH SAN AND GOT BETTER DIRECTIONS. WALKED ALL THE WAY THERE AND FIND OUT THAT I AM NOT DRESSED CORRECTLY. YOU HAVE TO WEAR PANTS, CLOSED TOED SHOES AND A SHIRT THAT COMES TO YOUR ELBOWS. SO THAT WAS OUT. DECIDED TO JUST WANDER AND I FOUND A SMALL FOOD MARKET AND WAS WALKING AROUND THERE LOOKING AT WHAT LOOKED LIKE BIG ROASTED COCKROACHES AND OTHER THINGS I WAS EVEN SCARED TO LOOK AT UP CLOSE. I WAS WALKING DOWN ONE ROW AND TRIED TO TURN AND THIS LADY WAS LIKE ONE WAY! AND I WAS LIKE OK SO I KEPT GOING IN THE DIRECTION SHE WAS POINTING WHEN I SEE PEOPLE WALKING THE OTHER WAY AND WONDERING WHY I AM EVEN LISTENING TO THIS LADY AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW SHE SAYS AGAIN, ONE WAY FOR THE BOAT RIDE! I DIDN'T WANT A BOAT RIDE SO I JUST TURNED AROUND AND WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT A BOAT RIDE BUT THEY TRY TO TRICK YOU AND I THINK IT'S FUNNY. BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY HARMLESS AS SOON AS YOU SAY NO AND KEEP WALKING THEY MOVE ON.
I WALKED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE HOURS UNTIL I REALIZED I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET BACK TO THE HOTEL. DECIDED TO TAKE A TUK-TUK RIDE. A TUK-TUK IS A FORM OF A CAB BUT LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT OF A MOTOR BIKE PULLING A COVERED BENCH SEAT. FUNNY. SO I FIND ONE AND ASK HIM TO TAKE ME TO CHINATOWN AND HE GOES WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO TO CHINATOWN AND IM LIKE I DON'T KNOW JUST CAUSE AND HE PULLS OUT HIS MAP AND TELLS ME WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE ME... ALL THESE TOURIST THINGS BUT WHAT THEY DO IS GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD PRICE AND THEN STOP OFF AT ALL THESE SHOPS TO TRY TO GET YOU TO BUY STUFF AND THEN THE SHOPS GIVE THEM LIKE FREE GAS CARDS OR MONEY OR SOMETHING.
AT ANY RATE, I SAID NO I JUST WANT TO GO TO CHINATOWN AND HE SAYS 200 BHAT. WHICH IS ABOUT $5. WHICH IS A RIP OFF CAUSE IT'S 200 FROM THE AIRPORT WHICH IS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY. SO I KEPT WALKING AND FOUND ANOTHER ONE. IT WAS PRETTY FUN OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE TRAFFIC HERE IS AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. AND THIS THING WAS VIBRATING LIKE HELL THE WHOLE TIME.
SO I GET TO CHINATOWN AND THEY HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOOKING FRUIT... ALMOST PUT THE PUBLIC MARKET IN SEATTLE TO SHAME. THE SOI (SIDE STREETS) WERE JAM PACKED WITH VENDORS AND PEOPLE SELLING ANYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT. TOOK ANOTHER TUK TUK HOME AND TOOK AND SHOWER STRAIGHT AWAY. THIS CITY IS PRETTY DIRTY BUT WORTH SPENDING A FEW DAYS TO SEE THE SIGHTS AND GET THE EXPERIENCE.
TODAY WAS A GREAT DAY. SPENT THE MORNING ON KHO SAN RD... LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO BUY BUT REMINDING MYSELF I HAVE TO CARRY THIS STUFF FOR 40 MORE DAYS. NOTHING STRUCK ME BUT A PAIR OF THAI PANTS... THEY ARE LIKE SCRUBS KIND OF BUT WRAP AROUND AND THE BUT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A DIAPER... EVRYONE HERE WEARS THEM. THEY SOUND CUTE HUH? WELL THEY WERE $2.50.
SO I GOT THEM HOME AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO TIE THEM, GUESS I WILL HAVE TO ASK SOMEONE.
THEN IN THE AFTERNOON I DECIDED TO PUT ON MY BUDDIST CLOTHING AND HEAD BACK TO THE PALACE. THEY LET ME IN THIS TIME AND IT WAS AMAZING. THIS AREA IS PROBABLY BIGGER THAN ONE CITY BLOCK AND INSIDE WAS AMAZING. I TOOK TONS OF PICS AND WILL TRY TO GET THEM UP BEFORE YOU FORGET THIS STORY. ANYWAYS WHEN YOU WENT IN THE TEMPLE WITH THE EMERALD BUDDHA YOU HAD TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, COULDN'T TAKE ANY PICTURES COULDN'T HAVE YOUR FEET POINTED AT HIM. EVERYONE WAS ON THEIR KNEES AND THE BUDDIST PEOPLE WERE ALL PRAYING. IT WAS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER FELT BUT I STAYED IN THERE FOR A WHILE TRYING TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING. THIS BUDDHA WASN'T THAT BIG BUT WAS UP MAYBE 50FT ON TOP GOLD COVERED TEARS OF MOSAIC TILES AND GLASS. SURROUNDED BY OTHER BUDDHAS AND FIGURES. WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE COMPLEX YOU COULD BUY LOTUS FLOWERS OR INCENSE AND NOT IN THE TEMPLE BUT ALL AROUND WHERE SMALL ALTERS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD OFFER THESE THINGS AND PRAY TO BUDDHA. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING. THEN I WENT TO WAT PHO WHICH IS ANOTHER TEMPLE THAT HAS THE LARGEST RECLINING BUDDHA, 43 METERS LONG. WHILE I WAS THERE I GOT MY CHART AND MY PALM READ FOR FUN BY A VERY OLD THAI MAN WHO WAS VERY SWEET. HE SAID SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE TRUE ABOUT ME WHICH I AM SURE YOU ARE ALL SHAKING YOUR HEADS BUT I HAD A GOOD TIME. HE SAID THAT I AM VERY CLEVER, ALWAYS HAPPY AND SMILING, THAT I LIKE MY FREEDOM AND LIKE TO HAVE CONTROL, THAT I SHOULD GO INTO BUSINESS FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I DON'T DO WELL WITH PEOPLE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO. IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THINGS MY KINDERGATEN TEACHER TOLD MY MOM 23 YEARS AGO, BUT HEY. I ALSO LEARNED THAT YEARS 29-31 WILL BE GOOD LUCK YEARS FOR ME AND THAT 21-28 WERE NOT GOOD YEARS. VERY INTERESTING.
THERE ARE TONS OF MONKS AROUND AS WELL, THEY ALL LOOK SO PEACEFUL AND HAPPY. SHAVED HEADS WITH BRIGHT ORANGE ROBES. ONE SMILED AND CHUCKLED AT ME ON THE STREET TODAY AS I WAS MOUTHING THE WORDS TO THE SONG PLAYING ON MY I-POD.
ON MY WALK HOME I PASSED A PARK WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF LOCALS FLYING KITES AND LITTLE KITES WITH STREAMERS ON STICKS. IT LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL I WENT AND SAT AND TOOK PICTURES OF THESE LITTLE THAI BOYS RUNNING AROUND WITH THEM, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT DAY.
ON MY WAY HERE TO WRITE THIS ENTRY I PASSED A VENDOR WITH A CART FULL OF COOKED BUGS. LIKE 8 DIFFERENT KINDS, LONG SKINNY WHITE WORMS, CRICKETS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE. THERE ARE VENDORS ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT JUST PUSH THEIR CARTS AROUND WITH ANYTHING YOU WANT, DRINKS, FRUIT, STIR-FRY, CHOCOLATE BANANA PANCAKES WHICH WAS ONE THING JESS SAID I HAD TO TRY. THEY ARE DELICIOUS. I GOT LIKE 1/2 A PINEAPPLE TODAY FOR 25cents.
PLAN ON REALXING A LITTLE TOMORROW. WANT TO GET A MASSAGE AS THEY ARE ABOUT $5 FOR AN HOUR.
I BOUGHT A BUS TICKET TO KRABI WHICH IS ABOUT 12 HOURS SOUTH OF HERE. IT LEAVES AT 6pm ON MONDAY WHICH WILL BE NICE, I HOPEFULLY WILL JUST SLEEP THE WHOLE TIME. KRABI IS SUPPOSEDLY A ROCK CLIMBERS DREAM AND ALSO HAS DIVING. SUPPOSE TO BE AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL WITH ROCKS AND CLIFFS COMING OUT OF THE WATER. CAN'T WAIT AND IF I GET THE COURAGE I WILL TRY CLIMBING. THAT OCEAN WATER COULDN'T COME TO ME ANY QUICKER.

BANGKOK BABY

WELL, I HAVE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THAILAND.
I LEFT LATE ON WEDNESDAY (REALLY THURS) AT 15 PAST MIDNIGHT. MY COUSIN ROB TOOK ME TO A SEATTLE SONICS GAME THE SAME NIGHT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND AS SOON AS THE FINAL BUZZER SOUNDED WE WERE OFF TO THE AIRPORT. THINK I MAY HAVE HAD A FEW TOO MANY BECAUSE BY THE TIME THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT CAME AROUND I ASKED FOR 4 GLASSES OF WATER. THE FIRST FLIGHT WAS TO TAIWAN AND WAS 13 HOURS. WASN'T BAD THOUGH, MANAGED TO SLEEP FOR 7 hrs AND WATCH 3 1/2 MOVIES. ARRIVED IN TAIWAN ON THURSDAY MORNING AND THE AIRPORT WAS REALLY NICE... HAD TONS OF SHOPPING, FINE JEWELRY, COACH, CLINIQUE, D&B AND ALL THE OTHER FANCY BRANDS I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE. THE FLIGHT TO BANGKOK WAS 3 HOURS AND I MANAGED TO GET THE MIDDLE SECTION OF 4 SEATS TO MYSELF AND JUST LAID DOWN AND SLEPT THE WHOLE WAY. TOOK A BUS FROM THE AIRPORT TO KHO SAN RD. THE STREET IS BLOCKED OFF FROM CARS AND IS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH VENDORS. CLOTHING, JEWELRY, HAIR BRAIDING, FOOT MASSAGES (PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY GETTING MASSAGES AND PEDICURES RIGHT THERE ON THE STREET), AND TONS OF FOOD. YOU CAN GET PAD THAI (MY FAV) FOR 15 B WHICH IS LIKE $.40!!! TONS OF FRUIT, SMOOTHIES AND BASICALLY ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF IS AVAILABLE. FOUND A ROOM RIGHT OFF OF KOH SAN. CLEAN BUT NOT MUCH MORE TO SPEAK OF... IT BASICALLY CONSISTS OF A BED, FAN AND BATHROOM. THE BATHROOM HAS A SINK, TOILET (WITH A BUM GUN-LOOKS LIKE THE SPRAYERS YOU HAVE AT YOUR KITCHEN SINK BUT YOU USE IT INSTEAD OF TOILET PAPER) AND THE SHOWER HEAD IS RIGHT ON THE WALL IN BETWEEN THE TWO, MEANING YOU SHOWER OVER TOP THE TOILET AND SINK. MY ROOM IS ALSO ON THE 6TH FLOOR AND IS A SAUNA... HAD TO MOVE THE BED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM JUST TO FEEL THE FAN. SPENT THE AFTERNOON YESTERDAY WALKING AROUND AND THEN CRASHED AT ABOUT 7pm. WOKE UP A FEW TIMES TO THE SOUND OF THE STREETS... BUT OTHERWISE SLEPT PRETTY WELL. WOKE UP AT ABOUT 6am THIS MORNING AND WENT FOR BREAKFAST AND HAVE BEEN WALKING AROUND FOR A WHILE. PLAN ON MOVING TO ANOTHER HOTEL ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AWAY FOR NOISE CONTROL.
NEED TO GET A MAP, I WANT TO GO TO SOME MUSEUMS AND MAYBE WALK TO CHINATOWN AS WELL, JUST NOT SURE HOW TO GET THERE. THE THAI PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT KIND AND SMILING... NOT SURE HOW LONG I WILL BE IN BANGKOK BUT I'M GETTING THE ITCH TO GET BACK IN THE WATER SO THINKING I WILL BE HEADING SOUTH IN A FEW DAYS.

FALL IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST

WELL, I DIDN'T MISS THE FALL SEASON, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE. THIS CITY IS BEAUTIFUL... SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS, THE WATER, THE REDS, YELLOWS AND ORANGES OF THE CHANGING LEAVES. MY MOM GOT US A ROOM AT THE SHERATON IN DOWNTOWN. WE ARE ABOUT 5 BLOCKS FROM THE WATER AND PIKE PLACE MARKET. MY AUNT CAME AND MET US ON SATURDAY AND WE WENT DOWN TO THE MARKET AND WALKED AROUND AND HAD LUNCH. WE ALSO VENTURED OUT TO CHINATOWN WHICH IS ABOUT 14 BLOCKS AWAY. I'VE BEEN EATING LIKE CRAZY AND HAVING NO REMORSE. YESTERDAY MY UNCLE AND COUSIN ROB CAME AND MET US AT THE SEATTLE SCIENCE CENTER FOR A SHOWING OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS. THEY ARE THESE SCROLLS FOUND IN CAVES BY THE DEAD SEA AND THEY ARE LIKE 2,200 YEARS OLD AND TRANSLATED, ARE PIECES OF THE BIBLE. I'M NOT THE BEST TO EXPLAIN BUT IT WAS REALLY AMAZING.
CHECKING OUT OF THE HOTEL TODAY AND SAYING GOODBYE TO MOM...
ROB IS PICKING US UP AND TAKING MY MOM TO THE AIRPORT AND THEN I WILL BE STAYING WITH HIM UNTIL I LEAVE ON WEDNESDAY FOR BANGKOK, THAILAND!!!
CHANGED MY PLANS A LITTLE FOR THE BUDGETS SAKE. THAILAND'S AVG DAILY BUDGET IS $10-15... THAT'S WITH A PLACE TO STAY!
WELL, BETTER GO... WILL SPILL MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE...

QUICK UPDATE

LEFT MY LITTLE ISLAND PARADISE BEHIND... BUT HAD THE BEST LAST DIVE. WE HAD A STAFF DIVE AND WENT OUT TO THE TIP OF THE ISLAND AND GOT DROPPED OFF OVER THE REEF WALL AND WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 150 ft, WE WERE SWIMMING ALONG THE WALL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BARRY(THE SHOP OWNER) AND I BOTH LOOK DOWN AND SEE A SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SWIMMING ABOUT 30ft BELOW US. IT WAS AMAZING, IT IS A REALLY REALLY RARE THING TO SEE THERE. WE WERE THE ONLY 2 THAT SAW IT AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. ABOUT 30 MIN. AFTER WE GET BACK, EVERYONE IN WEST END KNOWS ABOUT IT OF COURSE HATE US, AND THE NEXT MORNING THERE WERE 5 BOATS IN THE SAME SPOT.
SPENT MY LAST DAY WITH JESSI, WE WENT ON A MARATHON SNORKEL TRIP THAT LASTED OVER 2 HOURS BUT WAS REALLY NICE. SAID MY GOODBYE'S FEELING PRETTY GOOD AND AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE TAXI TO GO TO THE AIRPORT, I STARTED CRYING AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL HALFWAY TO HOUSTON. I THINK I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME KIND OF CULTURE SHOCK BEING BACK IN THE STATES. HAD A 3 HOUR LAYOVER IN TEXAS AND WENT TO THE FOOD COURT AND JUST WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED AT ALL THE FOOD. KIND OF FELT LIKE I DON'T REALLY FIT IN HERE... BUT I'M SURE I WILL ADJUST QUICKLY. I'M IN SEATTLE, CATCHING A SHUTTLE TO WHIDBEY ISLAND IN A FEW MINUTES.

I'M A DIVEMASTER!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!! I AM A DIVEMASTER. JUST GOT SIGNED OFF YESTERDAY. SO EXCITING.
TRUDGED TROUGH THE LAST FEW EXAMS AND ACTUALLY GOT 100% ON MY PHYSIOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT TESTS AND A 95% ON MY DECOMPRESSION THEORY TEST. GUESS STUDYING REALLY DOES HELP...
HAD MY SNORKEL TEST LAST NIGHT. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT IT BEFORE... IT'S LIKE AN INITIATION FOR THE NEW DM's. I DID MINE AT SUNDOWNERS. ALEX, MY MENTOR, TOOK THE JUG FROM THE BLENDER AND JUST STARTED FILLING IT WITH LOTS OF LIQUOR AND SOME JUICE AND THEN THEY PASS IT AROUND THE BAR AND EVERYONE POURS A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR DRINK IN AS WELL. YUK. THE JUG WAS ABOUT 3/4 FULL. THEN I HAD TO PUT A MASK AND SNORKEL ON AND ATTACHED TO THE SNORKEL IS A FUNNEL. EVERYONE COUNTS DOWN AND ALEX STARTS POURING IT ALL INTO THE FUNNEL AND I HAVE TO DRINK IT THROUGH THE SNORKEL. IT WAS DISGUSTING BUT I DRANK IT ALL WITHOUT STOPPING! THEN DRANK WATER ALL NIGHT. WILL POST PICS SOON. IT WAS GOOD FUN. LEAVING IN 6 DAYS... WILL MISS THE PEOPLE AND THE OCEAN BUT WILL SOON BE NEAR ANOTHER ONE SOON ENOUGH.
HERE ARE A FEW PICS FROM THE DIVE SHOP.

JESS, ALEX, CAM AND I ON CAM'S LAST NIGHT

PAINTBALL

A PAINTBALL COURSE HAS JUST OPENED A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE WEST END AND A FEW SHOPS ORGANIZED A PAINTBALL MATCH.
IT WAS OUR SHOP AND TYLL'S DIVE SHOP WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. WE HAD A GIRLS AND A BOYS TEAM. WE ONLY HAVE 2 GIRLS AT OUR SHOP AT THE MINUTE AND ONE IS THE OWNER AND SHE WASN'T FEELING WELL, SO IT WAS JESSI AND I. ALSO WE RECRUITED NELSON, OUR BOAT CAPTAIN TO BE ON THE GIRLS TEAM AS WELL. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. IT WAS BASICALLY A CLEARING IN THE WOODS WITH LITTLE BUNKERS AND HUTS AND THINGS. WE WORE FACE MASKS AND THEY HAD THESE CAMOUFLAGED SUITS THAT YOU COULD WEAR BUT IT WAS TOO HOT ALTHOUGH NELSON WORE ONE. JESS AND I RAN AROUND LIKE KAMIKAZE PAINTBALLERS AND HAVE THE BRUISES TO SHOW FOR IT. GREAT FUN... HAVE A FEW PICS WILL POST SOON. PLAYING AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

SLOWLY CHOMPING AWAY AT THE LAST REQUIREMENTS I HAVE BEFORE I BECOME A "PROFESSIONAL" SCUBA DIVER. I TOOK MY PHYSICS TEST A FEW DAYS AGO AND FAILED. ALEX HAD TAUGHT ME ALL THE EQUATIONS AND I FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT THEM BUT KIND OF FORGOT TO STUDY THE THEORY SECTION. I GOT ALL THE EQUATIONS CORRECT ON THE FIRST TEST SO I STUDIED FOR LIKE AN HOUR RIGHT AFTER AND RE-TOOK THE TEST AND ONLY MISSED 2. GLAD THAT'S OVER, I ALSO TOOK MY PHYSIOLOGY TEST YESTERDAY AND GOT 100%!!! WOO HOO.
IT'S REALLY GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE AND EXPECT TO BE A FULL FLEDGED DIVEMASTER BY THE END OF THE WEEK!
I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE SITE I HAVE BEEN MAPPING AND SO ALEX AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK THE OTHER DAY SO I COULD GET SOME LAST MINUTE MEASUREMENTS. IT WAS SUCH A FUN DIVE. THERE IS THIS ONE CAVE THAT YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO SWIM THROUGH A CURVY PITCH BLACK TUNNEL (WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TORCHES) FOR MAYBE 15 FEET AND IT OPENS UP INTO A LITTLE AREA THAT IS SURROUNDED BY REEF BUT OPEN AT THE TOP, MEANING THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS AREA IS TO SWIM BACK THROUGH THE TUNNEL. SO I COME OUT FIRST AND THIS OPEN AREA WHICH IS NORMALLY VERY CLEAR AND BRIGHT WAS VERY DARK AND MURKY. WITH ALL THE RAIN WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE VISIBILITY HASN'T BEEN THAT GREAT. I WAS SWIMMING OVER ALL THE ROCKS AND RUBBLE AND LOOK OVER AND SEE A HUGE ROUND GREEN BODY ABOUT AS BIG A ROUND AS A BASKETBALL AND LONGER THAN ME. I FREAK OUT... I SCREAM IN MY REGULATOR, TURN TO GO GET ALEX WHO HASN'T COME OUT OF THE CAVE YET AND WRITE ON MY SLATE BIG MORAY EEL!!! AND HE CAN SEE IN MY EYES THAT I WAS SCARED. NOW WHEN I SAY SCARED I DON'T MEAN LIKE PANIC ATTACK OR ANYTHING THAT SERIOUS BECAUSE I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME AND THEY WON'T HURT YOU BUT THIS ONE WAS HUGE AND THE FACT THAT I WAS IN THIS SMALL CONFINED SPACE DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH ME. SO ANYWAY... ALEX PULLS HIS KNIFE OUT, JUST TO MAKE ME FEEL STUPID, AND WE ARE SLOWLY SWIMMING OVER TO WHERE IT WAS AND I AM LIKE ON TOP OF HIM, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE LIKE CREEPING AROUND BEHIND SOMEONE? SAME THING WE WERE JUST UNDERWATER. WE SEE IT AND IT'S HEAD IS UP AND LOOKING AT US, THAT THING WAS HUGE AND THEY RESPIRATE THROUGH THEIR MOUTHS SO THEY ARE ALWAYS OPENING AND CLOSING THEIR MOUTHS AND THEY ALWAYS LOOK MAD! SO I LIKE ROLL OVER TO TRY TO GO BACK THROUGH THE CAVE AND ALEX AND I GET TANGLED UP IN EACH OTHERS EQUIPMENT AND I AM HALF LAUGHING AND HALF RUNNING FOR MY LIFE AND WE GO BACK THROUGH THE CAVE AND ALEX IS TRYING TO GRAB MY LEG TO SCARE ME. I KNEW NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT CAN BE WHEN YOU GET FREAKED OUT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! WE ARE GOING BACK TOMORROW AND HE IS GOING TO BRING HIS VIDEO CAMERA.
ALSO, JESSI DECIDED TO COME BACK... GUESS THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE PLACES! SHE SPENT A WEEK IN ANTIGUA AND WAS READY FOR SOME MORE ROATAN. NOT SURE WHAT HER PLANS ARE BUT SHE GOT A SWEET LITTLE APARTMENT WITH A TV!!! SO EXCITING. SPENT A FEW HOURS TODAY LAYING AROUND WATCHING TV WITH HER AND CATCHING UP ON THE GOSSIP SHE MISSED OUT ON WHILE SHE WAS AWAY.
WELL, I NEED TO GO HOME AND STUDY FOR YET ANOTHER LOVELY EXAM...

PICS FROM A DAY OFF

HERE ARE A FEW PICKS FROM THE DAY ALEX, CAM, JESS AND I RENTED THE JEEP. CAMERON WASN'T FEELING TOO HOT SO HER DECIDED TO TAKE A NAP... LOOKS LIKEHE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE, SEE THE LADY IN THE BACKGROUND?

LITTLE HOLIDAY TO CEIBA

JESSI WAS LEAVING HERE ON SUNDAY FOR CEIBA AND THEN SHE'S GOING TO GUATEMALA FOR BIT THEN WHO KNOWS. ANYWAYS SHE ASKED ME TO GO WITH HER SO WE LEFT ON SUNDAY ON THE FERRY OVER TO THE LOVELY TOWN OF CEIBA. CAN YOU SENSE THE SARCASM? ONCE WE GOT OFF THE FERRY WE HAD EVERY MEAL PLANNED OUT. WE HAD THE TAXI DRIVER TAKE US DIRECTLY TO BURGER KING. THEN LATER WE WENT AND HAD CHINESE FOOD. WE STAYED IN A FAIRLY NICE HOTEL AND TURNED THE A/C ON FULL BLAST. IT WAS GREAT SLEEPING UNDER COVERS AND I ACTUALLY FORGOT WHAT BEING COLD FELT LIKE. THE NEXT MORNING WE WENT TO THE "MALL". IT'S NOT A MALL LIKE HOME BUT STILL VERY EXCITING. WE ATE AT WENDY'S AND THEN APPLEBEES. IT WAS HEAVEN.
CAME BACK YESTURDAY EVENING.
STILL PLUGGING AWAY AT ALL MY DM REQUIREMENTS. I DID A SCUBA REVIEW TODAY. IT'S A SHORT REFRESHER FOR SOMEONE WHO HASN'T BEEN DIVING IN A WHILE. I HAD TO GO OVER SOME WORKSHEETS SHE HAD TO DO, HELP HER SETUP HER EQUIPMENT, THEN TAKE HER OUT IN SHALLOW WATER AND DEMONSTRATE ABOUT 7 SKILLS AND THEN SHE HAD TO REPEAT THEM. IT WAS REALLY COOL AND ALEX SAID I DID REALLY WELL. ANOTHER SCARY THING I HAVE LEFT TO DO IS TO LEAD CERTIFIED DIVERS. WHICH MEANS I WILL GIVE A BRIEFING ON THE DIVE SITE AND THEY WILL FOLLOW ME AROUND AND I HAVE TO GET US BACK TO THE BOAT. GUESS I SHOULD GET USED TO IT IF I EVER WANT TO GET A DIVEMASTER JOB.
JESS LEFT HER SCOOTER WITH ME AND ALEX AND HE IS GOING TO TEACH ME HOW TO DRIVE IT... THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING.
ALEX'S BIRTHDAY IS ON THURSDAY SO WE ARE HAVING A BBQ AT THE DIVESHOP AFTER WE CLOSE WHICH WILL BE FUN, SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND HOMEMADE FOOD!!!
NOT MUCH ELSE GOING ON HERE. HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING FALL, I AM MISSING IT FOR SURE.

SEAHORSE

I SAW A SEAHORSE TODAY!!!
I WENT SNORKELING RIGHT OUT BY THE DIVE SHOP THIS MORNING, AND THERE IS THIS PIER THAT HAS LOADS OF GOOD STUFF UNDER IT. A FEW OCTOPUS AND BIG FAT FIRE WORMS... ANYWAYS, I FEW PEOPLE HAD SEEN THIS SEAHORSE SO I HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO FIND IT. I WENT OVER TODAY AND THERE HE WAS JUST HANGING ONTO A PIECE OF CORAL. HE IS BROWN AND ABOUT 4 INCHES TALL. I SAT AND WATCHED HIM FOR A WHILE. IT WAS AMAZING.
I ALSO HAD MY STRESS TEST TODAY WITH THE OTHER DM, AND WE DID REALLY WELL. YOU HAVE TO TRADE ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT, FINS, MASK, AND BCD(THE VEST WITH THE TANK ON IT) WHILE BUDDY BREATHING. SO WE WERE BOTH BREATHING FROM THE SAME REGULATOR AND HAD TO TAKE TWO BREATHS EACH AND BACK AND FORTH UNTIL WE WERE DONE AND THEN WE HAD TO SWIM TO SHORE THAT WAY.

CAMERON, WHO WAS MY BEST FRIEND HERE OTHER THAN JESSI LEFT ON TUES AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY SAD. I MOVED INTO HIS OLD ROOM WITH ALEX AND I REALLY LIKE LIVING THERE. IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM SUNDOWNERS!!!
NOW JESSI IS DONE WITH HER PROJECT AND IS LEAVING ANY DAY NOW AS WELL. I WILL MISS HER LIKE CRAZY BUT I KNOW WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN SOON.
I REALLY ONLY HAVE LIKE A LITTLE OVER 3 WEEKS LEFT HERE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ANYWAYS. THE ISLAND HAS REALLY SLOWED DOWN AND THE RAIN HAS ALREADY STARTED. AT LEAST IT COOLS THINGS DOWN A LITTLE. HOPE TO FINISH MY DM UP LEAVING A FEW DAYS TO CHILL OUT BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE MY ISLAND PARADISE BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. MISS EVERYONE TONS!!!

PICTURES

CAMERON AND I TUBING, KAT AND I AT PURPLE TURTLE, ALEX, KAT, CAMERON AND ANNA AT THE DIVE SHOP, THE VIEW FROM THE VIEW RESTURANT AND KAT AND I RELAXING ON OUR DAY OFF AROUND THE ISLAND.