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Archive for August, 2008

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Laziness

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

I’ve been spending my time on Koh Tao for the past few days being lazy. The kind of lazy where you lay on the beach, read your book and sip fruit smoothies. Last night at a pancake cart, I met a group of Swedes. I impressed them enough with my poor Swedish skills to be treated to dinner, followed afterwards by a fruitless search to find a non-existent live music scene. Tomorrow, I will go on a dive to Chumpon Pinnacle, where I hope to spot some sharks. Not the dangerous kind! Fun dives here are incredibly cheap- $21 includes all the gear, the boat, and snacks.

I don’t know when or where I’m going next. Possibly Ko Samui. On my round-the-world plane ticket, I was originally supposed to leave out of Bangkok 2 days ago to go to Singapore. I’m glad I changed it to the 14th, because there are protests going on in Bangkok right now against the government, and apparently a lot of flights were cancelled. I’m sure it will be less chaotic in 2 weeks time.

Under the sea pictures

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

I’m unstoppable. After I received my Open Water certification, I signed up for Advanced Open Water. I got certified today. I can now swim 30 m under the water’s surface with a tank full of air on my back and survive. To become Advanced, I completed 5 dives: night diving, navigation (using a compass), buoyancy (so I don’t float away!), deep diving (30 m), and photography (hence all the pictures). [read on]

Diving

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
First of all, let me say I love, love, love scuba diving. It's just amazing. Before I could scuba, I had to see the local clinic to make sure the medicine I'm taking is okay to dive with. While there, I ... [Continue reading this entry]

I love this place

Thursday, August 21st, 2008
Yesterday, I arrived here in Koh Tao, an Island off the east coast of Thailand. This place is better than I imagined. First of all, it's genuinely stunning here. I wish I could post pictures but ... [Continue reading this entry]

Good night, sleep tight

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
Don't let the bed bugs bite. Last night, I collapsed on the perfectly normal looking bed that took up half my tiny hostel room, fully clothed, and fell asleep. 12 hours later, I woke up and noticed my knuckle was itchy. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Vang Vieng

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

I'm here in Vang Vieng! I took a van ride here from Vientiane and met a group of Canadians. We're splitting a riverside bungalow. The town is very peaceful and full of chickens and kittens and cows that block ... [Continue reading this entry]

Laid-back Laos

Sunday, August 10th, 2008
Vientiane, Laos is the most laid-back capital city I've been to. After bussing to Bangkok, then going up through the Thai-Lao border (and getting ripped off by visa services), I finally made it here. And I'm glad I did. ... [Continue reading this entry]

I shouldn’t have tempted fate

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
I've been waiting for a package my dad sent me to arrive in Chiang Mai (it came today dad!), so while I waited I decided to take a $2.50 bus ride up to the "paradise" of Pai for 2 days ... [Continue reading this entry]