Like Spinning Plates
Trip Start
Feb 26, 2004
1
15
84
Trip End
Nov 16, 2006
Ko Tao,
Thailand
Friday, May 7, 2004
The last week in Ko Tao has been strange, as everyone I had gotten to know started to leave. So that meant alot of going-away partys, but it also meant I had less and less people to party with. I tried my best to get everyone to stay longer. The Danish stayed an extra day due to some riots or something, Ryan missed his boat and stayed an extra night, and I managed to convince Ross to stay one more day.
Still, inevitably, everyone fell and it was back to just me and sick-boy who couldn't drink.
So there wasn't much left for me to do but to give the people what they want and do my Advanced Open Water scuba course. Was fairly cool
1 - The Infamous Kev
. I went on a night dive which was pretty spectacular, although nearly disastrous for me. We saw a barracuda and followed it as it hunted down and ate Nemo.Other highlights included trying to float upside down, and getting a tiny bit Narc'ed on my deep dive. That's when, due to Nitrogen Narcosis, your brain gets a bit spaced out and I kind of lost attention and got a touch of the giggles 30 metres underwater.
My instructor was sound and brought a couple eggs underwater to show what happened to them, and then took us on a hunt for a Whale Shark which had been spotted. Never found it though.
Oh yeh, and I got in to a fight with some fish. It kept hassling me and going to bite me, so I kicked it in the face. Then I added insult to injury by having fish and chips for lunch.
So I'm qualified...which is nice.
Got some major blisters from the fins, so haven't been able to wear shoes for a couple of weeks. Still quite sore. Had to sleep with my feet off the bed for some relief. Ironically, this is the first bed this holiday which isn't far too small for my comically disproportionate body
2 - Kev & I stop traffic with our good looks
.Mike's made a full recovery so he's able to communicate with me again, which is a relief. He had compared himself at his lowest to a young Stephen Hawkins...everyone thinking he's an idiot because he can't talk but actually he's a genius. Frankly I think Mike's giving himself too much credit. This is the guy who once had to get stitches in his chin because he didn't think to put his hands out to stop himself when he fell on his face.
Getting ready to leave Thailand now. we're trying to meet up with a friend of mine, Kev from Equant, in Bangkok before we go. Forgot to say before that we had met up with Angela (another Equant-head) in Bangkok on the way down which was cool. She has since made it to Oz and last I heard she's in Surfer's Paradise.
It'll be a shame to leave this beach. It's been a great laugh. It's not everywhere that a socially retarded chump like me can start talking to random gorgeous girls and they appreciate it, rather than reach for the mace. But we're getting pretty psyched for Australia now.
Have come up with an amazing invention which I think, if marketed correctly in Oz, will rake in a fair bit of money and allow me to travel more
3 - Making Friends In The Airport
. All good!Am also still recovering from the news that my sister has gotten engaged. Was such a shock to find out. Gave her a quick call and the call cost the same as 4 nights accommodation. Ah well. Am trying to convince her to have the wedding in December to coincide with Ben Folds playing in Dublin, giving me an excuse to fly home, but she's not in to it. How selfish is that??
Anyway, Fliss, you'll be pleased to know that, while watching fork lightning on the horizon, lying in a beachside bar in paradise with a large bottle of Chang, I toasted your engagement, along with some random dude called John who sends his congratulations.
He's still recovering from a severe back injury, caused last week when he attempted to jump through a hoop of fire and landed on his head. That may sound far fetched, but he was drinking Sang Som.
