Sand, sea and stings
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
10
82
Trip End
Dec 30, 2009
Ao Nang,
Thailand
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Today we hired a longtail boat and local Thai skipper, Hame. The plan was to visit 5 beaches. First stop Poda Island. We got off with our rucksacks. Monkeys were raiding other groups' belongings so the bags went straight back on the boat again.
On with the snorkels and we headed for the coral, armed with bread supplied by Hame to attract the fish. Much of the coral seemed dead but we did see lots of fish.
A: I was minding my own snorkelling business when I swam into a shoal of fish. Suddenlly I felt as though I had been severely prickled several times and I realised that the fish had been shadowing a jellyfish. I can assure you that it is not easy to swear when your face is underwater and you have a snorkel in your mouth but I gave it a good try. The pain was severe even given my famous stoicism.
Shore did seem a long way away. J was suitably concerned. Hame disappeared off into the interior and returned with a leaf that he ground up and applied as a poultice to my forehead which certainly took my mind off the sting.
J: The Doc is pretty resilient in the face of adversity but I could tell after 31 years of nursing all was not well. I got Andrew back to the boat and then watched as Hame increased the pain even more by his herbal administrations. We spent a while regrouping but were back in the water within the hour.
We went on to have a wonderful day- Overhanging limestone rocks. Cliffs and caves. An island that apparently looked like a chicken. Swimming from white beaches, spectacular scenery. Hame had been working on the water since he was 12 (24 now) skillful, kind and he also prepared a mean fresh fruit salad with fresh coconut milk to drink. He also got us back through a thunderstorm which was the first real rain that we have been out in since starting this trip.
All's well that ends well although I seem to be drinking beer beside a man with a blistering head. He's ok Elizabeth! [that's his mum]
Comments
post jelly
hope the sting is improving, I was always told that Vinegar was the best for these am I wrong?
I love reading all your accounts, you should write a diary when you get back
a stinging rebuke
Hello there A & J. That sting looks painful ... the photo reminds me of the competition on the front page of Dad's 'Pulse' every Wednesday. 'What cerebral lesion has caused this tumour? A correct answer wins 10/-...'
Great blogging! Glad you are staying away from the Thai/Cambodian border. Alice hits 40 today - I'll have a rum and coke for you at her party on Sunday. Love to you both - Sandy