Surprise!

I am back in Malta now… oh yeah, you didn’t know I had left. I had been keeping a small secret, mostly to those close with my mom. My mom spent Feb 14th – March 14th in Gulf Shores Florida (or Alabama, I’m not sure) When she arrived back home late on the 14th of March, she had no idea I was sleeping in the house next door. The next morning I had Christopher go over to see if she was up yet, he took he to the front of the house and as I came in the back door quietly she stood up to see who was there. I walked through the kitchen and we met face to face in the dining room. It was a great surprise. My mom stood there looking so confused and just screamed. She wouldn’t even touch me she was so freaked out. It was great. She said her first thought was that maybe I was moving home. Sorry mom, but I did come home for a visit.

I was home for 2 weeks and of course it flew by so fast. I got to see so many people and hang out with friends it was great. I also met a few new members to my inner circle, Saylor Jane and Zora. Friends organized a night out in Leonardtown and although it gets blurry there toward the end, it was a great night! I did some shopping and tons of eating. Once my bags were packed, I mean cram packed, it felt like I had just arrived, as it always does and I was on my way back to the airport. I left at 10pm and landed in London at 9am. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I had a tooth pulled the day before I left, don’t ask, which made for an interesting trip. I decided to load up on the pain pills once we took off and I had 3 seats in a row so I could lie down. After staying in the same place for so long now I’m beginning to lose my travelers touch and somehow succumbed to some kind of illness. Once we landed in Heathrow, I didn’t know if I could make it off the plane without being sick and grabbed a air sickness bag on the way out just in case. I walk down the stairs of the plane to see a bus we have to take to get back to the airport. It is completely full. The ride was only about 10 minutes but felt like forever, all I could think about while I sweated through my t-shirt was how I was going to throw up on everyone around me. Thankfully I made it and almost collapsed once I got into the fresh air. I started feeling better once I wasn’t moving and tried to find a place to hang out during my layover. I had to wait there all day until my flight to Malta left at 8pm. I rented a room at the yotel, a hotel thingy inside the terminal where you can rent rooms by the hour. Not really rooms, they are more like an Asian inspired train car. I slept for 4 hours and then caught my ride back to Malta.

I arrived at 1am and Cameron was there waiting for me. It felt really good to be back as well as in warmer weather. Since I’ve been back it has been sunny and warm everyday and now I’m just waiting for the water temperature to start to rise back up. We have really been enjoying our new flat and Cam and I are going to have a roommate for a few weeks. Someone that has come for diving courses needs a place to stay while he looks for a more permanent place and it is great extra money for us. He will stay until our friends from the UK come out at the end of the month.

Here are a few pictures taken while I was home.

26 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY

xoxoxo

Visitors

We have our first visitors in Malta! Our friends Kat and Leigh are coming in April! They will be coming for 5 nights and we will do a few days diving. Cameron is going to teach Leigh his Advanced Course as well. This will be the 5th country that Kat and I have got together in... We met in Honduras, then met for New Years in Amsterdam, she came out to Egypt 2 summers ago, we spent New Years together this year in Scotland and now we will be together in Malta. I think that anytime Kat and/or Anna and I meet up it should be in a new country and all of us are hoping to meet up next winter in France for a ski holiday:)

As for Malta, we had a spell of amazing weather where Cam managed to actually get a sunburn and now we are back to gail force winds. I am hoping that within the next few weeks the weather will steadily get warmer and warmer, I need the sun so badly (and a tan!).

Cameron has just done a RYA boating course and the Instructor does these speed boat races here with those boats that I call cigarette boats. That is the boat Cam learned in and now he will be able to drive our boat at the dive center. I can't remember if I said but Cam got a job at H2O this year, he will manage the shop I worked at last summer and I am going to be working at another one at the Radisson Hotel (still H2O). It will be fun to work closer together but that means we won't have any days off together all summer :(

Oh yeah, one of the best things happened the other day... Cameron is diving for a week with a group of fellow Scottish and Irish lads. After introducing himself and chatting of a bit, one of them said "Where are you from? America?"

Ahhh Haaa

That's awesome.

Happy Spring everyone!!!

Pictures

Cam and I taking a walking in the hills with a nice view of some small town

In the very distance you can see 3 buildings, that is the Radisson and the dive center I work at is on that beach

There are even farms up here

Ta Dah! Our new flat... just after a clean.

The tv is just for looks, we don't have cable.

Valentine's Day

This was my 3rd Valentine's day with Cam. First was spent on a tiny island in the South China Sea drinking wine out of aluminum cans. Last year we were eating fajitas with Jessi in Playa del Carmen and this year we had a proper night out with a nice dinner at a restaurant called il-Veccja overlooking one of Malta's many small bays. I had a surprise planned for Cameron on the morning after but decided to tell him what it was at dinner. It's a good thing that I did as he needed that time to get used to the idea. I'm actually not sure if I'm suppose to be writing about this as I was sworn to secrecy at first.
Cam gets pain in his back quite a bit but has never gotten a massage. All the time he spent in Asia where a massage costs less than a beer, he never got one and sort of acted like he would like to... well was I wrong. I booked us for a package at the spa called Romance for Two. I really thought he would be like it but as he started guessing paint balling and go-carting when I told him I had a surprise, I started to get nervous.
As for the package, it was both of us side by side at the spa together for 30 minutes exfoliating, 60 minute massage and then 30 minutes in a private bath/jacuzzi. Apparently that was not something Cam thought he could handle but after a little bit of time he got used to the idea and I was really excited so he agreed to go. He didn't want me to tell anyone (I don't really know why, he's not the first man in the world to get a massage but he obviously didn't know that) and as we are taking a walk the next day before we went to the spa we saw a friend out and the first thing he said was that we were going to get exfoliated and to get massages... I kind of looked at him like, I thought you didn't want to tell anyone? It was almost as if he felt like he was doing something wrong and was confessing it before he got caught.
Anyways, it was amazing! I never wanted it to end and Cam enjoyed it as well, although he acts as if he didn't as he says he doesn't know any guys that have ever gotten massages... I'm not sure if we will be going back anytime soon, at least not as a couple but if I had to guess I would say that will not be Cameron's last massage.

8 days

8 days until we move into our new flat! I'm still counting the days and am feeling like we might finally be settling somewhere. This will be our first big move, as in we each have more than one bag each. Saying that we were talking last night about how many different places we have lived in together. I decided to sit down and count it out, mostly thanks to the fact that no one wants to go diving today, but that's besides the point. Let's see... I guess I wouldn't count Roatan as we didn't really live together so I guess it starts in Malaysia. I'm only really talking about a place we spent significant time otherwise this post might take the whole day to complete.

We stayed in a town called Semporna in Borneo for more than a few weeks, mostly just because we liked the punishment... We lived in the Dragon Inn, which was a hotel on stilts over the water. Through the floor boards of our room you could not only hear but actually see the water below us which seemed very charming at first. The bathroom was much of the same and you just showered over the wooden floor that served as a drain as well. I can't help but think about our little rat mystery there. At night it was hard to ignore the rustling in the walls although the sure sign of them was the soap... which we kept replacing. Every night the rats either got extremely hungry or decided to turn attention to their hygiene. Either way our soap had little rat teeth marks, it seemed every time we turned our backs they had been there. That's also the same town that served me a 'banana split' Malay style with sweet corn and yam flavored ice cream. No wonder the rats were eating soap!

Next place we settled was on Tioman Island in Malaysia. We lived in 2 different places in the few months we were there. They were both actually almost identical little huts. One was on the beach and the other was in the jungle. Both were small wooden huts with a bed and bathroom. I can't believe I'm going to say this but we moved from one to the other because the one in the jungle had a place to hang up clothes and a small dresser. That sounds so desperate. Oh how I love hot water... and washing machines. We washed our clothes in a small bucket in the 'bathroom' which was a toilet, small sink and shower head that sprayed the whole room... with only cold water. The second place we lived had a really nice garden out front with picnic tables and grass. It also was the invasion point for the monkeys living in the jungle behind our hut. I thought they were really cute until they knocked down all the trash cans, rummaged through ours and tried to sneak into our room any chance they got. The locals obviously weren't impressed by their behavior which quickly explained the gunshot sounds in the afternoons and why one of the monkey's was walking around with a nub for an arm... poor guy.

I don't think we could of found somewhere more different for our next home. We moved into a Bedouin Village in the Sinai Desert. When we arrived I think our standards were so low that we thought we hit the jackpot considering this house had a kitchen, a proper bathroom and a locking front door. What we failed to realize was that there was absolutely NO furniture (we had a small mattress but nothing else), there was a huge hole in the back wall of the house, don't ask (which let in half of the deserts sand) and a very unreliable fresh water system. I will admit that it had an incredible view of the mountains and the Red Sea. Apparently twice a week the city water was to come on between the hours of 9am and 4pm or something like that. If you were lucky enough to be home to catch it on then you could fill your tank and have water for the week. BUT what most likely would happen was the water wouldn't come on when it was suppose to and you would miss it, leaving you with no cooking, brushing your teeth with bottled water and showering at work. Don't get me wrong, you could use the well, which was semi-filtered sea water that smelled like animals, so at least you weren't completely left with nothing! After a few months of this we came to our senses and moved. We found a really nice flat closer to town with real furniture, tv and aircon!!! Now, that was nice. It was the first proper place we lived in together which gave us a chance to cook and have friends over. What were we doing before? Let's be honest, I'm not a desert nomad.

After Egypt we moved to the nicest place we've been so far, for 5 weeks. 17 Russell Place. Cameron's parents house. We had a nice big bedroom equipped with lovely bedding, a full length mirror and even a complimentary blow dryer! Now this was luxury. A never-ending supply of clean towels, hot showers and a refrigerator and freezer full of food awaited us in what we both would have described as heaven. Since I had met Cam he had been telling me what his mum's fridge was like and I ready for it to become my reality. We were both ecstatic at the fact that you could turn on the faucet, fill a glass and drink cold, clean water. It was amazing. After this we went to America and were lucky enough to stay in my mom's B & B which was equally as amazing. After all this we were somehow ready to leave our little lap of luxury to see what else was out there.

On to Mexico! We were lucky enough to find a place pretty quickly once we arrived in Playa del Carmen. We responded to an ad and moved into a big house with a Mexican, an Italian and another American! Ok, it was Jessi. This place was pretty good except the neighbors were outrageous. I don't know I can really blame that one on the house though. I was in a good location, had a roof top deck and our bathroom was covered in Mexican tiles which was cool. Oh yeah, we were only 2 blocks from Walmart! We were moving up in the world! Unfortunately the people in the surrounding area either didn't sleep or they had their days and nights mixed up! Of course it made it worse that it was hot so you had to keep the windows open all night if you wanted to live. You name it and it was happening at 3am, washing dishes, burning leaves and even children's birthday parties... full on with Dj's and everything. No joke.

Now. Malta is the most built up place we have been so I had high hopes for our living arrangements. When we arrived summer was just around the corner and there was less choice of flats available. We found one we could afford, was in a great location and have lived there for 10 months now. It has been a great place to live for our first year and fine over the summer. But over the winter it has proved to be a bit old, cold and wet. Most people in Malta have dehumidifiers (it's VERY damp here) and electric heaters. But not us! No, we thought we could make it through the winter without spending the money. But, apparently it's been the coldest and wettest winter in Malta in 50 years! Just our luck:) We are now just trying to get through the last few days (it's really not that cold, highs in the 50's and lows in the 40's) and then will be living the high (and hopefully warm) life in our brand new flat.

Stay Tuned...

Click on Sarah tells all

http://www.padi.com/scuba/special-offers/special-offers-americas/go-pro-challenge/

Thanks Mom!

I got a package from home and am sitting here reading one of my diver magazine's mom sends me and I just had to share this paragraph...

Most sports have pinnacle achievements: Mount Everest, Ironman, Jaws. But no sport encompasses the world like scuba diving. No sport has the diversity, the true level of authenticity, the ability for everyman to discover something that has never been seen before. In no sport do kings and paupers pursue the same quest side by side without bias or prejudice or competition. No sport is entirely focused on the purity of the experience, an experience that comes from the pulse of the Earth, from watching life, unrehearsed, unfold before our eyes. We explore the Earth's last frontier. We will never be able to see and do everything available to us. And that's the beauty of our world: limitless possibilities. From pole to pole, country to country and sea to sea; the big, bad, ugly breathtaking and unknown- all of it lures us, pulls us, fulfills us.

If that doesn't inspire you to be a diver, nothing will.
THANKS MOM!!! I LOVE YOU! xo

I just got the most sad yet awesome email from someone that read my story on the University of Md website and followed the link to my video on YouTube. It's from a boy named Justin who's friend Dylan was diagnosed with Leukemia a few years ago and has been in remission since and just relapsed in December. He has suffered from cardiac arrest and now has a pacemaker. His Bone Marrow transplant has been moved up so hopefully that is a good thing. Justin says he has had such a hard time and he didn't know how to deal with his feelings until he read my story...He said that now he has high hopes and is going to share it with Dylan and his friends.
I think that is amazing.

Happy 2009!!!

Cameron's 93 year old Grandfather dressed up like Santa
All the boys at the dinner table

Warner Family

On top of Arthurs Seat New Years Day

We had an idea to go to the top of Arthurs Seat on NY day along with everyother tourist in Edinburgh... it was packed.

Another view from the top

Ferris Wheel on Princes Street New Years Day

Fireworks at midnight and Princes Street crammed with people

Kat, Leigh, Anna and I getting ready for midnight

Cam and I

All of us the night before in Peebles

Oh dear, Where to begin...

I am back at work now and have been since Jan 5th. Cam and I spent 2 weeks in Scotland for Christmas and New Years and had a great time although I am glad to be back to nicer weather! I think my blood has thinned out and can't handle cold weather like I used to. Our friends from Honduras came up from England for New Years and stayed for 3 days. We went to the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party along with 100,000 others and rang in the New Year with fireworks over the Castle. Shortly after we loaded our bags up with books, clothes and dvd's and headed back to Malta. Since then we have just been working, although I have only been diving once since we got back, it's pretty quiet on the island at the moment. We also are moving into a new flat at the beginning of March! I am annoying Cameron (more than normal) because Im counting down the days... I'm so excited because this flat is only 6 months old and the lady that has been living there has never even used the oven! It is a 2 bedroom with 2 balconies and has brand new everything!!! 41 days... ha

Hope everyone had an amazing Holiday Season!!! Missed you all xo

I'm Famous! haha

http://www.divenewswire.com/NewsITems.aspx?newsID=9967

Just for fun

I was rummaging through my photos and found this short video clip from one of my divers. It's from one of my favorite dives, the wreck of the Tugboat Rozi

more pictures

Salt Pans found all along the coast in Malta, some dating back to when the Romans were here. In the summer you can find layers of caked salt and

not surprisingly it tastes just like normal salt.

Underwater view of a Luzzu, traditional Maltese Boat

Cam and I went diving on our day off to the Um El Faroud a 110m oil tanker

Out with Friends... well, it looks like just 1 friend. Oh well.

News

Winter is here... well, its not real winter but I'm still cold. The high during the day is about 65F and low about 55F, I know that doesn't sound cold but its very windy! I think I wont make it 2 weeks in Scotland. Btw-we are going to Edinburgh for Christmas and New Year (Hogmanay). We are both excited for another break from our tiny island and it will be nice to see Cameron's family and a few friends while we are there. Kat and Anna, my girlfriends from Honduras, are coming up for Hogmanay, as well as a few of Cameron's friends, where we will ring in the New Year with 100,000 other people on the streets of Edinburgh! I can't wait to see the girls and I hope it will be another night like the NYE 2007 in Amsterdam!

A lot has happened since we came back from Vegas... I moved diving centers, same company different location. The center I am at now is at one of the nicest hotels in Malta as well as one of the very few beaches in Malta. It's been nice although there hasn't been much diving due to the wind. Last weekend we had gail force winds which obviously limits the diving. The only site that has been divable recently is a wreck called the X127 Lighter from WWII. Its in a bay and the visibility is really bad and the deeper you go the worse it gets. I'm always scared when I go there... kind of silly, I don't know what I'm scared of but I don't like not being able to see! Cam and I have been finding all kinds of cool stuff there like medicine bottles and shells from rifles and stuff... but we only take stuff that doesn't belong in the sea... I am currently working on a newsletter for the center to keep me busy.

Cameron has completed 2 courses since we came back from the states. He is now a PADI Staff Instructor, which means he can assist a Course Director ( the person that teaches Instructors) and he also completed a Technical Diving Instructor Course in Gozo. He had a great time over there and I think that I may be his first student! I will probably do a try dive with the equipment, you wear 2 tanks on your back, first to see if I want to continue. We are also planning on doing some diving on Sunday, if the wind co-operates, so Cameron can teach me my Wreck Specialty Course. We will practice using reels and tying off inside the wreck, etc... I haven't worked with reels very much and so it should be interesting, I'm sure Cam will get a few laughs out of it.

Let's see, what else is new,
Oh yeah- one cool thing about my job is that I have my own truck all winter! Which is really nice and means that on our days off we can go diving or go to Gozo or whatever we want!
We also got a new couch in our flat which is very exciting, we never sat on the old on because most likely you were going to fall through the slats onto the floor. Now we have a new/used couch that is much more comfortable.
Things in our neighborhood have really slowed down. Bugibba is real touristy town and now that summers over there is no one around. Even some of the shops and restaurants are closed.
Oh, I chopped off all my hair while Cam was in Gozo...

2 weeks till Scotland!!!

Now I'm going to get some lunch...
xxx

Maltese Cats

WATCH SHARKWATER!!!

I just had to write a quick post about this documentary called Sharkwater. Cam and I watched it last night causing me to feel sick to my stomach and loss of sleep. I honestly had no idea what people were doing out there to catch sharks, cut their fins off and then throw them back. A tail fin from a whale shark is worth $10,000!!! People in China think that sharks never get sick so they want to eat their fins, even though they don't taste like anything!!!

100 MILLION SHARKS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR

If you enjoy the oxygen you breath then do something...

Here is a brief list of things you can do to help sharks:

-Dive and snorkel with sharks. The more money that goes into shark tourism the more people will realize the value of living sharks.

-Refuse to eat shark fin soup and don't eat at restaurants that serve it.Encourage others to do the same.

-Seventeen countries have already banned shark finning. Find out if your country is one of them. If not, write your local government official asking them to ban shark finning.

-Demand that your country also stop the importation of shark fins.

-Start a letter writing campaign to the Secretary General of the UN requesting international
bans on shark finning and the importation of fins.

-Keep informed of the issue online at: www.seashepherd.org, www.wildaid.org, www.cocosisland.org, www.sharktrust.org, www.iemanyaoceanica.org, www.tortugamarina.org,

www.savingsharks.com and www.sharkwater.com.

Go Pro Video w/original music:)