Koh Tao Anankhira Ko Tao

Remember that movie The Perfect Storm? Well, that was what our boat ride was like when we went to Koh Tao, except the storm in the movie was weaker! We haven't had the best of luck with the weather during our time in SE Asia. We were in Vietnam during typhoon season, we were in Northern Thailand during the only time of year that it rains constantly, and now we are in Koh Tao attempting to get dive certified in the Gulf of Thailand, during the only month of the year ...

... nowhere. Steve and myself booked our KoPhagNan tickets through Bans and then said goodbye to our good friend Nai, a really top bloke, fun and good natured. We then said farewell to my great Thai friends at the massage parlour and then headed to Bans, where the taxi was waiting; we said goodbye to Carol, it had been really fun spending time with her. I really loved her lust for life, she was a crazy girl, quite random, but really nice and very imaginative and ...

... Koh Tao does not disappoint. Contrary to what some people think this island does a pretty good job of catering to all tastes, and anyone who says different probably ate within the same 100 meter patch of beach for a week and claims that the island doesn't have REAL Thai food. This simply isn't the case. I've eaten in various locations on Koh Phangan and Samui, and my feeling has always been that Koh Tao does it better with more diversity and cheaper prices, period. I truly believe that ...

... more cautious going downhill. On our way to the northern most part of the island we stopped by our hotel and fixed him up, then continued to what would be even steeper climbs and drops. Eventually, as the sun began it’s downward climb we made it to a secluded little spot at the tip of the island where we climbed out on the rocks and went for another swim. The ocean water is the perfect temperature. One more thing I don’t like is ...

... they actually made them with their own two hands. Or their own two feet. I took a picture of this one guy who was disabled with useless arms and was using his feet to do an oil painting, no joke. And the painting was superb. It's so different to see all of this actually being made, not just sitting in a glass case or hung up on a wall. To understand the work and patience that goes into this and to actually see the faces of the people who can create all these different forms ...

... thinking I did it right because I had a strong ring finger or something. I'll try again next week. Khaowfang put a little gold speck on my forehead and I did the same for her. It means that you're lucky. <br> We stayed for a little less than an hour because of the rain. We were literally more than ankle deep in the water and there was the loudest thunder I've ever heard. I almost thought there were gunshots and cannons, that's how ...

Having left my tour group and 'going it alone' for this week, I decided to head towards Ayutthaya, which was the first capital of Thailand and home to exquisite Buddhist temples, Stupas, statues and monuments. <br>If only the Burmese hadnt blitzed the place in the 1500s. What's left inspires the imagination to the tune of 'I wonder just how it all would have been'. Khymer ruins ...

... The good thing about this travel was that we did not only see the sights and landmarks each country can offer but we also observed the local culture and people while stuck in the traffic in Kuala Lumpur (KL), walking the streets of Siem Reap, sitting at the stretch of Sisowath Quay, and looking out our hotel window at Ho Chi Minh (or Saigon).<br><br>True, each country has its own unique qualities, but there are a lot of similarities that ...

... for women as a whole...but I doubt many women walk around with rubber gloves in their purses. If they do...they're either fetish freaks or house-call proctologists. Anyway, after many laughs were had...we finally all finished the course (there were 9 students in total...quite a large class). There were two instructors and one assistant instructor for our class. The next day we would begin the Rescue Dive component and go out on the boat in the afternoon. <br><br>The ...

... a full week before re-entering normal temple life; everyone wanted to come back on the day that he ended his meditation so that's why we made such a quick return. Now this trip was a little different from my past experiences because i am always the only farang that goes. Apparently a few of the girls took note of this and were able to convince their farang boyfriends to come along this time. It became clear to me that these two fellow ...