Heading off

So we are still in the lovely (note the sarcasm) town of Semporna. We have had our last dives in the Sipadan and am sad to leave all the turtles but will be glad to move on from here.
A few things about our stay here... we have woken up a few nights to hear a rat or rats (hopefully one) scurrying around and wake up to find that he has eaten half of our bar of soap, we just came from the ATM machine and had 3 little Malaysian boys watching us take our money out and then follow us half way through town asking for money, last night we went out to eat and decided to get ice cream... Cameron got one scoop chocolate and one scoop sweet corn. Sounds bad? It was worse than you could imagine even having little bits of corn in it. I ordered a banana split, the picture showed choc, vanilla and strawberry ice cream but when it was delivered to me there were three scoops, purple-yam (tasted like rotten cheese) , yellow-sweet corn and green-??? Also with something that looked like a banana but def. wasn't a banana. It was absolutely the worst dessert on the face of the planet. We got a good laugh though. The napkins here might as well be made of plastic wrap, as they have a smooth film on them that basically keeps them from soaking anything up and you just ends up smearing everything around and the toothpicks are pretty much splinters of wood that have the strength of cooked spaggetti.

We have bought tickets for Friday back to Johor Bahru in Peninsular Malaysia and then planning on heading out to Tioman Island. Their diving season is just starting and we plan on stalking the dive shops until we have jobs. If that doesn't work out we may go to the Perhentian Islands. They are both on the east coast of Malaysia. I am ready to start working, it's hard to pay for diving when you have been doing it for free and I am also ready to get in a routine and wanting to make some girlfriends. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will have a 'real' job, the first in about 8 months!!!

Sipadan Diving

huge tornado of hundreds of jacks-amazing!!!
beautiful coral

white tip reef shark
nuddi branch
Frog Fish hanging out on a sunken fishing boat

See the turtle behind me ?
Turtles everywhere

Diving is my Favorite

Still in Semporna... thinking we will stay here for a bit longer. Had our first day of diving a few days ago, went to a few of the islands around here for 3 dives and it was incredible. I'm sure I was just glad to be back in the water but it was what is called muck diving-which is supposedly mostly mud with tons of small stuff. I didn't really see much mud but found loads of stuff, it was honestly overwelming. Great day of diving and we weren't even in the Sipadan yet! Went to Sipadan yesturday and was honestly blown away... not only was it gorgeous like nothing I've seen before but there were a ridiculous amount of turtles... we probably saw 50-60 turtles yesturday on 3 dives... INSANE. It was awesome. Also about 12-15 reef sharks and Cameron has a camera so I will have to post pics... Such a great day.
We were planning on going back to Sipadan today but we both have colds. Just ran out to the pharmacy to get medicine and hopefully we'll be back in the water in a few days.
Hanging out here isn't too bad. The place we are staying is pretty cool and there are a fair amount of places to eat but other than one bar (excluding diving) there isn't much to do.
Must get better soon. Not sure where we are heading next, should probably try to work that out but are thinking of trying to find jobs soon. Hope everyone is well...

Asia Pictures

Cameron and I getting ready to get shot 200 ft in the air... somehow I look fairy calm but that changed very quickly.
The Gmax from across the river, look closely you can see the basket in between the towers
Clarkes Quay, Singapore

Zebra stare down at the Singapore Zoo

Singapore
They seem to be VERY strict and love to throw out $1000 fines for lots of things including smoking and bike riding...

Amsterdam Pictures

New Years in Dam Square
Dam Square

Chilling in a coffee shop on New Years Eve afternoon and

don't mind the fact that I am wearing the same thing in every picture... didnt have much of a choice since my bags had a mind of their own.
Walking around Amsterdam

Kat and I my first night in Amsterdam
Kat, Anna and another Sarah in bar called Grasshopper

Sipadan

Here is a pic of sipadan island

Alright, so we made it to Semporna. Took a 10 hour bus journey through the jungle last night and arrive here fairly ahead of schedule. The bus driver was a mad man and was pretending to be a race car driver passing other busses up and down the mountain in the rain. I swear that I woke up and we were driving in the mud up a hill and was convinced that we were going to get stuck. We arrived in a neighboring town at 4:30am and got a taxi to Semporna which was an hour and a half ride. Again, we chose well concerning the driver and although the speedometer was broken I am convinced at some points we were breaking the sound barrier. Creeping up on this small water village we could see the sun rising with tall palm trees and mountians with beautiful reds and oranges seeping out behind. Found a place to stay that is a series of buildings built on stilts above the water. There is not much to do in this town as we have found out quickly and seems diving is the main attraction. We walked around today checking out dive shops and took a walk through the market where I saw piles of my fav. porcupine puffer fish for sale, bought some fruit and got stared at by pretty much everyone. Seem to be some of the very few non-locals here and had every little boy and girl in our faces staring us down, smiling, pointing and even yelling from across the street to wave and say hi.

Think we found a shop we want to dive with so will probably be diving tomorrow and neither one of us can wait. Thinking we will do 3 days of 3 dives while we are here... or until we ar satisfied I guess but keep your fingers crossed for us... supposed to be amazing. Including loads of turtles, possibly 20 on one dive, lots of sharks...hopefully hammerheads, manta rays and loads more.

Just a quicky

Heading out today back to Malaysia. Left Kuala Lumpur four days ago and headed down to Singapore on my FIRST train ride. Singapore is a beautiful city, very clean and def. doesnt feel like we are in Asia. There are shopping malls everywhere... like 30+ on one street, it's pretty ridiculous. Cam and I have just been walking around a lot, he's 'teaching' me to use the train system, ha...I just let him think he's teaching me something. We have been eating lots of good food and a few beers especially at this area called Clarkes Quay, its right along the Singapore River and has been made into a night life spot with tons of resturants and bars. It's really beautiful at night as well. Last night we went on this G-Max ride. Its a couple of seats connected to a bungee on either side and shoots you 60meters in the air at 200kph in 2 sec. I dont know how he got me on there but it was crazy!!! I screamed like mad the whole time. We got the video of us and is hilarious! We are off today back to Malaysia and then over to Borneo tomorrow... I am itching to get back in the water and the diving in Sipidan Island (where we are going) is suppose to be amazing... Can't wait!!!
Will post pics soon. Miss everyone...

AMSTERDAM

First of all, Happy New Year... Sorry for the late post but I am just beginning to feel normal again. Amsterdam is INSANE!!!
My mom and grandma dropped me off at the airport on the 29th and was feeling great... new adventures and very excited... So I had a short flight to JFK and as soon as everyone boards the small plane the captain comes on and says that the plane apparently 'broke' during boarding... who says that? the plane broke.
I was sitting next to an older woman with rosary beads in her hand, dont think she was too comfortable after that. So we all have to get off and get on another plane. Once we are on the new one, he comes over again and says the airflow system or something like that on this one is 'broke'... Great... he says as soon as we get in the air it will be fine. We start to get in line to taxi and he informs us that JFK is not letting any more planes take off that are heading there because they are really busy so we have to sit on the runway in this tiny plane with no airflow system for almost 2 hours. I land in NY at 6pm... which is exactly the same time my flight to Dublin was taking off... good times. To make a long story short, I get another flight through Franfort, Germany and when I arrive in Amsterdam it comes as NO surprise that my luggage is sitting in NY. I dont end up getting my luggage until I go back to the airport to fly to bangkok...
I am stupid and had all my info in my checked luggage so all I knew was to take the train to central station, take a right over a bridge, the name of the hostel and that the street started with an S. I wandered around for about an hour and decided that I should ask someone... went into a dive shop and they looked it up in the phone book and drew me a little map, really nice guys.
Found my hostel, looked at the bed I was to sleep in but had nothing to drop off as I had nothing except a travel pillow, a few books and snacks my mom had packed me...
Hooked up with Kat and Anna and headed out. We had the best time. Lots of food, bars, coffee shops... went to the red light district... The hookers are basically behind a glass door that is literally on the street, you can see a bed in the background and she just pulls the curtain if someone wants to go in... it was crazy. Went to the Van Gogh museum and the Heineken Factory. Spent New Years in Dam Square... they had a dj and the place was packed. Fireworks going off EVERYWHERE. They were real fireworks too. Those people are insane... they were just standing on the side of the street lighting them off one after another. And when I say street its really just 20 ft walkways in between buildings. People were running down the street trying to get away from them, the streets were COVERED in the firework wrappers. It was the best New Years I have ever had... I never could have guessed last New Years that I would be in Amsterdam this year. So, as a summary... I loved Ams. had a blast, crazy place... even without any clothes. AMAZING.
So I head back to the airport and head off to Bangkok.
Spent one night there and then back to the airport to head down to Malaysia... I had to pay twice what my ticket cost for being 28 kilos over the limit. Need to sort through my bag and get rid of things I guess. Met Cameron in Kuala Lumpur and we are heading to Singapore this afternoon. Will try to be better with the updates.

I'm off again!

Less than 12 hours left until I leave home yet again... It has been GREAT being home although I have to admit I'm a little anxious to get back to warm weather, back in the water and where it doesnt matter what time it is let alone what day of the week...
Thanks to everyone who re-arranged their schedules to spend some time with me while I was home, it was awesome seeing everyone, you all made me feel special.
Off to Amsterdam to meet up with Kat and Anna whom I met while in Roatan. What a great place to celebrate the start of a new year! After Amsterdam I will be going to Malaysia to travel a bit more and then try to settle and find a job as a divemaster... somewhere...
I've been running around trying to get everything I need along with spending time with family who constantly seem to be trying to fatten me up...
Packing, updating my i-pod; my single favorite thing and weighing my bags. Tons of fun!
Hope everyone has a fantastic Holiday and will try to keep you updated on my travels.

3 MORE DAYS IN THE STATES

my fam after my mom's bday dinner
more family, christopher, kristy, me and brad,

had a little bit of wine:)

my room which is a dumping grounds right now and my bed buddy Bo

So, I only have 3 more days left. I have felt like I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off but things have finally slowed down which is good since I have loads of odds and ends to sort until I leave for another 6 months. It's been great being home altough I've realized living next to my mom and Grandma is NOT good for my waistline! Spent time with family for my mom's birthday, lots of meals with friends and Christmas was good altough I dont take rain as a replacement for snow. Think I'll live...
My blood still hasn't thickend (sp?) up yet and have been wearing 2 pairs of socks (my mom's of course since I have only 2 pairs of my own). Bought a dive gear bag and BCD (the vest that controls your buoyancy and holds the tank) which is super exciting. I sold my car to my Dad which was great just because it's one less thing for me to worry about and makes it easy since he's family.

Getting prepared to meet my girls in Amsterdam for New Years and can not wait! That should be a crazy time...

Hope everyone has a GREAT holiday!!!

GETTING TOGETHER WITH OLD FRIENDS

Liam and I
Megan, Harmony, Betsy, Liam, Andrea, Erin and Myself.

Everyone in the back row is either pregnant or has a baby.

So I've been home for a little over a week now and have been getting together with friends, seeing the changes I have been missing. I have a group of 5 girlfriends from high school that I had been getting together with for about 2 years once a month and when I left my friend Betsy (whoI have been friends with for 23 years) was pregnant and now she has a 4mth old baby boy and 3 of the other girls are pregnant. Crazy how things change. It's been really good to see everyone although I have to admit I still can't believe we are old enough to have babies!!!

Also got together with my girlfriends from college including Jessi who was in Roatan with me. Not much has changed there... we spent the night drinking wine and pretty much acting as we did 10 years ago...

It's been really fun.

HOME

SPENT ABOUT 36 HOURS GETTING BACK HOME... HAD 3 STOP OVERS IN BANGKOK, TAIWAN AND LAX. GUESS IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
I ARRIVED IN DC AT 5am AND JESSI PICKED ME UP FROM THE AIRPORT AND WE HAD A LITTLE REUNION DAY AND THEN SHE TOOK ME TO MEET MY MOM WHO IS DRIVING MY CAR WHICH WAS REALLY WEIRD TO GET INTO AFTER BEING AWAY FROM FOR SO LONG.
CAME HOME AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD NEVER LEFT. THINGS SEEMED THE SAME AS WHEN I LEFT WHICH WAS NICE. GOT UP ON FRIDAY MORNING AND DROVE UP TO ANNAPOLIS AND WENT TO MY OLD WORK CHRISTMAS PARTY. NO ONE KNEW I WAS COMING SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN TO SURPRISE EVERYONE. HAD A GREAT NIGHT CATCHING UP WITH EVERYONE AND DANCED LIKE CRAZY AS WELL.
STAYED AT JULIE'S LAST NIGHT AND CAME HOME TODAY AND HAVENT GOTTEN OUT OF MY PAJAMAS. ALL MY WINTER CLOTHES ARE PACKED UP AT MY FRIEND KIM'S HOUSE SO MY SUPPLY OF WARM CLOTHES ARE LIMITED. WENT TO THE VIDEO STORE TODAY AND RAN INTO MY MOM AND STEPDAD, TOM AND I HEAR HIM FROM ACROSS THE STORE SAY DO YOU ALWAYS WEAR YOUR PAJAMAS OUT? IM WEARING PINK STRIPED PAJAMA PANTS. ANYWAYS, SO I WILL BE HOME FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND THEN WILL BE HEADING TO AMSTERDAM FOR NEW YEARS AND THEN BACK TO ASIA. I WILL BE GETTING MY CELL PHONE TURNED BACK ON WITH THE SAME NUMBER TOMORROW SO I WILL START CALLING PEOPLE SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANYONE'S PHONE NUMBER IS WITHOUT IT. HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE SOON!!!

PICTURES FROM THE SANCTUARY

MY FRIEND CLAIRE AND I DOING WHAT

WE DID EVERYDAY WHILE FASTING

LONGTAIL

SITTING ON THE BEACH
THIS IS THE WELLNESS CENTER WHERE

I HUNG OUT MOST OF THE TIME
THE SANCTUARY FROM A DISTANCE

LIVEABOARD PICTURES

HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES ...

FIRST IS OF ONE OF THE SIMILAN ISLANDS, ELEPHANT HEAD ROCK; ONE OF OUR DIVE SITES, THE BOAT AND THEN LASTLY THE DOLPHINS...

BACK IN THE WORLD OF THE EATING

I FINISHED MY FAST AND FEEL GREAT. I DEFINATELY HAD A HARD TIME FOR A FEW DAYS OF IT BUT ON MY 6TH DAY I FELT BETTER MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY THAN I EVER HAVE. I WOKE UP AND WENT TO THE BEACH, I FELT LIKE I HAD TONS OF ENERGY, EVERYTHING LOOKED BRIGHT AND CRISP. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY. WELL, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW GREAT THE DETOX WAS BUT WONT BORE YOU, JUST SAY THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE.

I AM IN PHUKET NOW AND WILL REMAIN HERE UNTIL I COME HOME. LAST NIGHT I STAYED IN PHUKETTOWN AND RANDOMLY STAYED IN THE GUESTHOUSE THEY USED FOR THE MOVIE THE BEACH. THE ONE SUPPOSEDLY IN BANGKOK WHERE HE MEETS THE GUY THAT GIVES HIM THE MAP... ANYWAYS WAS KIND OF DINGY AND CREEPY. I HAD THE FLOURESENT LIGHT SHINING THROUGH THE SCREEN ONTO MY BED FROM THE HALLWAY ALL NIGHT AND THEN MY NEIGHBOR MUST HAVE HAD A LITTLE TO DRINK AND COME HOME LATE AND WOKE ME UP. SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS IN MY ROOM BUT COULD HEAR HIM STAGGERING AROUND HIS ROOM FOR WHAT FELT LIKE AN HOUR. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND WENT TO THE TOILET THERE WERE SMALL PILES OF CLOTHES THROWN ABOUT... INCLUDING HIS SHORTS WITH THE BELT STILL ATTACHED AND HIS UNDERWEAR SOAKING WET. GAVE ME A GOOD LAUGH FIRST THING AT LEAST.
MOVED TO PATONG BEACH TODAY. FOUND A REALLY NICE PLACE TO STAY FOR MY LAST FEW DAYS. SPENT THE DAY WONDERING AROUND CHECKING OUT SOME SHOPS THAT SELL DIVE GEAR AND TRYING FOR A FEW CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT COMING HOME ALTHOUGH I DONT KNOW IF I CAN HANDLE THE WEATHER. CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

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.

It's all about restoring your body to its natural state of health and vitality. This is done by flushing away the poisons and toxic residues that are stored due to the cumulative effects of poor dietary and other lifestyle habits, environmental pollution, and natural metabolic wastes. It's simple: "clean up your act", using detox-cleanse products and programs, you can remove those nasty toxic terminators inside, and once they're gone you'll notice a dramatic difference in your health! Loads of natural energy, fantastic skin, clear bright eyes, weight loss and more. You'll simply feel so good after its done. Not only that but think about your investment for the future - by detoxing and cleansing now you're protecting your future health as well, because disease and degenerative conditions cannot occur in a toxin-free body.


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!