Tony Lodge Khao Lak

... drop you off at. We said we might do a tour with them but had to see what other people offer and they let us keep our bags there as long as needed. We decided to grab some food at a place off the main strip and it turned out to be very fortuitous for us. A group of people at a table nearby heard us talking about liveaboards and asked us if we wanted help finding a liveaboard. Our new friends work for a dive shop but it only does day runs but ...

We arrived on shore on a high, arranged to meet everyone at a nightclub (yes those things we have not visited in a year) and ended up having to stand them up due to Ems' sudden post-diving onset of a horrid cold. Luckily our hotel was very comfy and did goo chicken soup and it was bed by 8 for us. Next day a quick walk on the beach with memorials to families that died in the tsunami before heading south.

... you have made was the beaver fur hat and maple syrup. if one more canadian talks about the glorious sport of curling im going to buy a gun and shoot them. yes you are canadian congratulations, now take that *******n flag off of every piece of clothing that you own and join the rest of the world before i tear it off your back pack and wipe my ass with it. ****ing canucks. do you know how many bar girls ive sat and talked to who ...

... fruit and toast. Dive briefing at 7 and in the water at 7:30. Come back on boat around 8:30 and full breakfast waiting for you. After breakfast it is tanning and nap time. 10:30 is dive briefing and in the water at 11. back on the boat at noon and you eat lunch, followed by tanning and napping and shooting the proverbial ****. The interval between dive 3 and 4 is a bit longer and have a chance to snorkel with turtle or go onto one ...

12 April, Sat afternoon, warm, fan blowing down, just finished bowl of chocolate ice cream scoop, mmm. Perfect for balmy day of relaxing, planning the remainder of the trip. Mood: slight buzz, content, wondering what to do, nostalgic MAP Yesterday was a new experience, snorkeling in the underwater world. I joined a German tour touted as 'eco-friendly' (really, they just remind everyone not to touch things, dump trash, and such). we took a ...

... the place looked very romantic, and the serried ranks of liveried staff couldn't have done more to make the day perfect. Then it was time for June, accompanied by Emily & Olivia to make her entrance - not as is customary, to the strains of 'Here comes the Bride', but to the wedding march from Lohengrin. June looked absolutely stunning [this is DWP's description] in [this is Aileen's description, verbatim] a long browny/grey and white printed ...

It was a beautiful morning at 0800, by 0900 it was still beautiful but bloody hot and the humidity was already getting a grip. So, lathered in factor 50 (with extra in my rucksack for later!) we hopped into the truck to be taken to the start of our trek in the jungle. Fortunately we were going to be walking uncover of trees, so the sun wasn't going to be too much of an issue, but the heat was still there and that combined with the humidity made ...

... you to a series of Thai massage huts - price ranges from 250 - 350 Bhat (or $9) for 1-hour. I walked about a mile down the beach to an area that looks totally untouched by human development. Turns out it was a thriving fishing village before the killer wave struck. Now it looks like a perfect setting for a Robinson Caruso, castaway movie. The best fish dinner we ever had ...

... really just a walking dollar sign. After this we arrive at the floating markets. They are as the names suggests - locals paddling up and down the canals trying to sell thier goods. The people live in wooden buildings on stilts along the canals and many have their stall set up on a more permanent basis along the waters edge. Historically these were used on a daily basis by locals to sell local produce etc. However today's market is very much tourist orientated with the vast ...

... their cards. Not a dry eye in the house. The parents made vague references to their own illnesses, and told their sons and daughters what they wanted for them in their lives. The kids told their parents they loved them, and wanted them to be healthy. And they exchanged cards of terrible, adorable artwork. It was intensely emotional. One of the caregivers was 15 years old and her sister was 11, HIV+. That 15 year old was more responsible, more mature than Brent and I put ...