30th April 2013

Wow!!!  SO BUSY!!

So continuing the students advanced course... I had 3 more students added to the mix... Conducting 2 afternoon dives, and then a night dive...   Tired, I went home almost straight away... and off to bed for 2 early morning dives..

After some fun morning dives the next day at Chumphon and the Wreck.. I was informed that the dive school needed me to conduct 4 Discover Scuba Dives (people who have never done it before)... with 1 Russian, 1 English, and 2 Chinese non swimmers!!!

After 2 very exhausting dives coping with everyone... it was time to return to dock and do yet another night dive.!!!  Boy was I tired... and my ear is definately complaining!!

Waking up today, very early... couldn't sleep cos my ear was sore... its time to look at dental work for Jen... Her bridge is coming loose, so she is going to need some major work... Today, we are looking into dentists in Bangkok, where we may have to stay for a week very soon... trouble is, there is so much choice!!

More news on that when we have a solid plan!


xx

SD

27th April 2013

Its been another busy week..

With almost back to back Open Water courses for both Jenny and I... I was also helping out with the setting up of the film festival.

This year, we can 10 entries... of which I submitted the Buoyancy World movie (with the March Update)...  This film had never been seen outside of Crystal or Facebook... so no other voters had ever seen the movie.

I was quite surprised to find out that it had won... and I was given an EMP Instructor course (too late!  I already am!)... plus a UV night dive for 2... plus a T-shirt and lots of other goodies...

It was a great night, which raised 25,000 baht for the eco projects on the island.

Straight after, thinking we had a day off, we planned to chill the next day... but were called in for another Open Water course.. Students finished today, and I have work in the office to do, before the video at 7pm... Tomorrow.... continuing to Advanced Open Water... HTMS Sattakut... here we come!!

xxx

SD

21st April 2013

A quick personal message to my Mum, who was taken ill yesterday.

I hope you are feeling better today, and will give you a call when its a decent time to chat..


xx

SD

16th April 2013

After a very smooth visa run, it was time for Songkran... the annual countrywide water fight to celebrate the Thai New Year.

While Jen was unfortunately teaching a course, they did manage to finish early and I made my way down to the resort, managing to avoid the multitude of water hoses, buckets, and pistols and arrived completely bone dry :-)

After a couple of hours at the dive school which was like a ghost town, we ventured down to Sairee Village, where all the action was happening..

We ended up at Maya Bar, where they had built a big water slide from the decking of the bar down to the beach. I managed to give myself a nice whiplash by slipping on it and smacking the back of my head on the slide... doh!!

Carsten had a unique way of dealing with the water pistols... by wearing his rash vest and mask... he looked like a gimp... very amusing..

After trying to find somewhere that was serving food... and eating probably the worst thai food ever... Jen and I sneaked off home.. worn out... and it was only 9:30.!!

Last night, Jen had a girls night in with some of her friends... Turfed out on to the streets, I made my down to the bar and ended up having dinner with a few friends... till closing time... Jen was watching tv, gossiping and doing face masks etc... oh what a sight to behold...

Hannibal Lecter????


x


SD

9th April - Carstens Birthday weekend in Samui

We have just arrived back from a fun filled few days in Samui to celebrate Carstens 40th birthday.

We left on Friday via the ferry and within a couple of hours, 20 of us had descending on to Cocooning Hotel (now owned by Dave and Therese, ex owners of Vibe Bar).

After all the guys ordered McDonalds (I don't know what their obsession with it is).. we had a few drinks, a laze around the pool, and then Dave set various challenges for Carsten..

Challenge 1 involved 3 friends to go down Walking Street (lined with market stalls) and buy the most ridiculous outfit that Carsten would have to wear for the rest of the night.

 Challenge 2 involved Carsten having to find various points on Walking Street and have his photo taken there... Lots of very strange looks I can tell you!

 The evening ended with quite a few drunken people (I was okayish) and everyone retired.

The next day, we were booked for an afternoon cruise on The Escape. A beautiful big boat that is owned by a friend called Scandy Andy... we boarded at midday after a lovely breakfast cooked by Dave, and the party continued... even with the resident pig called Bacon...  The boat was moved to the other side of the island for calmer waters and then we all jumped off the boat for some cooling water.

After a couple of hours, it was time to return...on the way back... we recreated The Harlem Shake

Click here

Crystal Shake Video


Straight off the boat at 7ish, and straight into The Emerald... a very english style pub... it was here we sat for hours drinking until I had to walk Jen back home and put her to bed... then I went back to the pub again!

Coming home at 2am, I jumped into the pool with Johannes for 1 more beer before bed....and then retired.

Next day it was time for some to head back to Koh Tao, while the rest of us nursed sore heads. In the afternoon, we returned to The Emerald before going to dinner at an Italian place... and then back to The Emerald for more drinks!  My intention was to stay up late to watch MotoGP but I couldn't make it... so Jen and I went to bed...

Yesterday, most people left Samui, while Jen and I stayed an extra day to take some photos that Dave had asked for... A very relaxing day driving around the island, and then an early one..

Today, we arrived back on Koh Tao, and have to pack our stuff again as its visa run time tomorrow morning... the joys!!


x

SD

5th April 2013

Hey all,

Well after a very busy week of teaching... we are off to Samui for 3 days to celebrate Carsten's 40th birthday... It should be fun, and plenty of photos to come..

After that its a visa run, and then Songkran madness arrives... so the next week is going to be rather busy... and fun!!

Will update asap with Carstens photos..

x

SD