Haad Yao Bayview Resort Ko Phangan

... are messing me about with my own money so am in dire straits at the mo.<br><br>Eventually got my money sorted after speaking to the bank on skype then back to the room to get ready buying a t-shirt for the full moon party on the way. Met Mark, Gary and Becky at their place and went to the "french restaurant" up the road. After wards got the taxi down into Haad Rin and went down ...

... We ultimately ended up at a bar situated within a mini golf course where we met even more of the expats living on Koh Tao. <br><br>Needless to say, we weren't feeling at our prime the next morning, but we made it our afternoon dive nonetheless. We did two fun dives with a Dive Master (the level below instructor) named Dan at dive sites we had already been to during our Open Water course. The water and oxygen from our tanks practically cured us of our hangovers. After the ...

The weekend started Thursday afternoon with a field trip to my Buddhism teacher who is a monk, Temple. His temple is the largest in Thailand and is about the size of an airport. The most impressive thing at that temple was the massive temple or meditation area that was in the process of being built. They are currently building what will be the Vatican for Buddhism. It is a huge structure fit to hold 4 million people who can all meditate at the same time. Also on the site was the ...

... when he tries his luck with a stupidly high price and then we sort of half it. 5 mins later you realise that we're haggling over a quid so we normally give in. The taxi's on the island are big 4x4 jeeps with flatbeds on the back that have 2 benches in, safe as houses. The bloke dropped us off halfway up the mountain and we had we walk the rest. No problem, til we saw the track and how steep it was oh and it was the hottest sunniest day since we've been ...

... right off him.<br>Tried to do yoga on my towel in the room this morning but bit slippy. Am determined to try and keep up with it if I can as have really felt the benefit in my back.<br>I think Nepal will be a bit of a culture shock as hear it is very busy and loud in Kathmandu but am hoping I get posted in Pokhara as this sounds really lovely with a nice big lake and views of the mountains. I think there is about 4 places we could get sent to depending on where they think we are ...

... shoreline gently, not wanting to disturb the ambience of the land and the serenity of the island inhabitants. A blissful place.<br>There was opportunity to go on a snorkelling trip around the island which I jumped at. It's possible to circumnavigate Ko Tao (Turtle Island - though by now all the turtles have left) in little over an hour, but the snorkelling boat leisurely meandered from bay to bay, taking most of the daytime to circle ...

... the path was. Eventually we arrived at the beach and checked into our bungalow which overlooked the sea. Nia took a few tumbles on the way down the muddy path to the beach and so now thought she had broken her ankle so we relaxed for the rest of the day and watched the world float by, ice on ankle. We spent 5 days in total based on this beach. On day 2 we tried to go to a nearby island (Phi phi ley) where the film 'The Beach' was filmed but due to the choppy waves and everyone ...

... night there Victoria spotted here friend from school Sarah Claire,very random as Sarah was meant to be here for 2 weeks (back in February) but decided to continue her diving and stayed ever since. So now we know by assosciation almost every diver on this island, every one in Ko Tao is here for diving!<br>There are some really nice bars and beaches here.<br>One day we got back to the bungalow at about 5 or 6,just as ...

... as completely as if they were wiped off of a blackboard. What did i lose in those 3 years, what love or adventure did i miss out on while residing behind the cyclone fences and razor wire? I will never know and that is what i regret. well friends and neighbors, my season here in thailand is at an end as my plane departs for the great frozen north in 5 days. I can't say that i am much looking forward to this little engagment of mine but some things are ...