Whilst waiting for a couple of the gang, one of the guys took me to a view point, 'Two Wheels' It was a 5 minute cycle up a track and then couple minute walk up a really steep section of road ..and then a small climb ..The view was incredible ..the pictures I've took with my phone don't really do it justice.
Sunday, 29 June 2014
29th June 2014
Last nights cycle was hard but really good. Only half a dozen of us turned up. It's brilliant that the group go out every night. I can certainly see myself getting fitter as time goes on.
Whilst waiting for a couple of the gang, one of the guys took me to a view point, 'Two Wheels' It was a 5 minute cycle up a track and then couple minute walk up a really steep section of road ..and then a small climb ..The view was incredible ..the pictures I've took with my phone don't really do it justice.
Whilst waiting for a couple of the gang, one of the guys took me to a view point, 'Two Wheels' It was a 5 minute cycle up a track and then couple minute walk up a really steep section of road ..and then a small climb ..The view was incredible ..the pictures I've took with my phone don't really do it justice.
Saturday, 28 June 2014
28th June 2014
The last couple of days I've had a really easy Advanced Course with my 2 students (Lauren & Thomas). They were very attentive and did exactly as I said. It was the first course in a long time that they made me coffee, they were kitted up and in the water before me and actual had a real passion for diving ..so refreshing to see. It's good to know that they'll definitely carry on diving in the UK and are already planning their next diving trip.
Si on the other hand has had a stressful time. Dealing with multiple nightmares, UK, Crystal Images and website design ...Its never ending for him sometimes. He's helping out with Wild Challenge today and then dealing with more website stuff, UK work, Crystal Images and Crystal Dive
Today I've got the day off, so trying to organize the next trip up to see the Dentist in Bangkok to sort my implants out and I'm also trying to sort our next trip to the UK. I've mailed the dentist but it seems that I'll have at least 3 visits ...which I'm dreading!
As I left my bike at Crystal last night, I'm going to walk down and collect it before joining the Thai gang for our evening cycle...
Si on the other hand has had a stressful time. Dealing with multiple nightmares, UK, Crystal Images and website design ...Its never ending for him sometimes. He's helping out with Wild Challenge today and then dealing with more website stuff, UK work, Crystal Images and Crystal Dive
Today I've got the day off, so trying to organize the next trip up to see the Dentist in Bangkok to sort my implants out and I'm also trying to sort our next trip to the UK. I've mailed the dentist but it seems that I'll have at least 3 visits ...which I'm dreading!
As I left my bike at Crystal last night, I'm going to walk down and collect it before joining the Thai gang for our evening cycle...
25th June 2014
These past few days I've felt a bit home sick which is very odd for me ..I think with Joel (our Nephew) getting married and a few other things ...we both feel as though we need a break of some sorts which we'll have to arrange very soon.
I've been teaching Open Water with an English guys and 2 French girls. As the French didn't speak much English, I had a new French Instructor, team teaching It worked quite well but for some reason my guy thought he was told to turn up at 1.45pm for dives 1 & 2 when he should have been there for 11.45 ..perhaps lost in translation ..anyway, I had an easy time, just had to listen in on the briefings trying to make sure that everything was covered and then critique after ...luckily the girls were pretty good, so the new instructor had a relatively easy time with just a couple of tweaks here and there.
So after finishing the French girls course in the morning, I went straight out on the boat for Dives 1 & 2 with the chap ...he had hardly any issues which made my life really easy. So back on land, I finished work at 8pm as I was on late shift, so after a 13 hr day, I was shattered and cycled home, showered, had something to eat and went to bed ready for another early morning.
The next day, Dives 3 & 4 were easy, this time I had his girlfriend with us, she decided to do all the skills that he had to do, just for a bit of practice ..it was fun. Visibility wasn't brilliant but I think everyone had a good time. The weather was bit unpredictable this morning and I did offer the guy a sea sickness pill but guys being guys, didn't want one ..I took one, so did his girlfriend and the only one that was sick was him ...I had no sympathy and couldn't help but laugh ...I'm so cruel!
On to Advanced Open Water with them both (Tom & Lauren) tomorrow.
I've been teaching Open Water with an English guys and 2 French girls. As the French didn't speak much English, I had a new French Instructor, team teaching It worked quite well but for some reason my guy thought he was told to turn up at 1.45pm for dives 1 & 2 when he should have been there for 11.45 ..perhaps lost in translation ..anyway, I had an easy time, just had to listen in on the briefings trying to make sure that everything was covered and then critique after ...luckily the girls were pretty good, so the new instructor had a relatively easy time with just a couple of tweaks here and there.
So after finishing the French girls course in the morning, I went straight out on the boat for Dives 1 & 2 with the chap ...he had hardly any issues which made my life really easy. So back on land, I finished work at 8pm as I was on late shift, so after a 13 hr day, I was shattered and cycled home, showered, had something to eat and went to bed ready for another early morning.
The next day, Dives 3 & 4 were easy, this time I had his girlfriend with us, she decided to do all the skills that he had to do, just for a bit of practice ..it was fun. Visibility wasn't brilliant but I think everyone had a good time. The weather was bit unpredictable this morning and I did offer the guy a sea sickness pill but guys being guys, didn't want one ..I took one, so did his girlfriend and the only one that was sick was him ...I had no sympathy and couldn't help but laugh ...I'm so cruel!
On to Advanced Open Water with them both (Tom & Lauren) tomorrow.
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
21st June 2104 - A very special day!
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| BEFORE ..Two amazing people |
 | ||
| AFTER ...One amazing couple |
Congratulations
Mr & Mrs Kendall !!!
Thinking of you & sending lots of love
X X X
J & S
18th June 2014
18/19th June was the annual 'Save Koh Tao Festival' Various activities go on, Giant clam, Turtle releases and Thai ceremonies. During the evening, dozens of bars, food stands and stalls open selling all sorts. On the big stage, you've got Miss Koh Tao, which is a competition for the best recycled outfit, Dive schools perform and then later on, Thai bands and DJ's play the night away. It's a brilliant event for such a small island. A lot of work and effort goes into the festival grounds.
In the morning, Si left early as he was finishing off his Open Water course. I on the other hand was off but had entered myself in the Koh Tao Cycle. I had registered a few days earlier and got a free 'T'shirt and flag for my bike. There were far more entrees than I had anticipated. Kids on bikes with stabilizers and groups of riders that had come all the way over from Koh Samui with some really nice and expensive bikes. As I wasn't feeling too brill, coming down with a sore throat and fever I was eager to get going but for something that was supposed to start at 9.30am, we didnt get going until after mid day ..oh the heat!! It wasn't too bad as lots of restaurants and establishments were giving free fruit, drinks and food away, for one day only, so you could stop, eat, drink and rest as much as you wanted/needed. Everyone was so supportive and smiley ..it was lovely, language didn't matter that day :-D
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| Thai dancer |
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| Turtle release |
In the morning, Si left early as he was finishing off his Open Water course. I on the other hand was off but had entered myself in the Koh Tao Cycle. I had registered a few days earlier and got a free 'T'shirt and flag for my bike. There were far more entrees than I had anticipated. Kids on bikes with stabilizers and groups of riders that had come all the way over from Koh Samui with some really nice and expensive bikes. As I wasn't feeling too brill, coming down with a sore throat and fever I was eager to get going but for something that was supposed to start at 9.30am, we didnt get going until after mid day ..oh the heat!! It wasn't too bad as lots of restaurants and establishments were giving free fruit, drinks and food away, for one day only, so you could stop, eat, drink and rest as much as you wanted/needed. Everyone was so supportive and smiley ..it was lovely, language didn't matter that day :-D
Thursday, 19 June 2014
17th June 2014
Oh the last few days have been very tiring. We've had the Full Moon idiots ascend on the island. So starting in the office at 9am. I was up for starting academics in the afternoon. The final student count was 30 which was going to be split between 5 instructors. I picked all lads ..2 English which were lovely and 4 Americans which were a pain in the **** the whole way through the course. They were all about 23/24 but were high maintenance. One chap freaked in the deep end of the pool so I had organised to come in early the next day to do a one on one so he could join the group in the afternoon ...but he didn't show and turned up around 11.30 with not even an apology ...he thought it would be cancelled due to the rain ..ARGHHHHHHHHH. So down to 5 students I continued the course having to make various threats about safety, not certifying them etc to get them to listen and not to prat about ..I've never knew a bunch of Americans, New Yorkers to be so rude ..when asked by my manager "Did you get any Con-ed (continuing education) ..I have never been so pleased to say "NO"
Oh and one more thing ..the day my course finished, Si was working late shift and they only came into the office moaning that they didn't want to pay for the extra night that they had stayed and slated Crystal... A full blown argument ensued before the Thai staff called the police... not pleasant ...so sorry that Si had to deal with them.
Jen
x
Oh and one more thing ..the day my course finished, Si was working late shift and they only came into the office moaning that they didn't want to pay for the extra night that they had stayed and slated Crystal... A full blown argument ensued before the Thai staff called the police... not pleasant ...so sorry that Si had to deal with them.
Jen
x
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
13th June 2014
No emails or text from Crystal, so yet another day off. Obviously the Full Moon party goers have not hit Koh Tao. So feeling lazy, we caught up with emails, watched TV and Simon put the finishing touches to the Rock Band drum set, so the only thing to do was to try it out. It took some time getting used to it again but after a few songs, we rocked!! :-D
After a lazy morning/afternoon I decided to meet up with the cycling team, which consist of half a dozen Thai guys, all with very expensive mountain bikes and one western chap ..who used to cycle courier in his youth. So thinking I'd be the one holding the group up on the hill climbs, I ended up being one of the strongest which I was so relieved about and the guys were pretty amazed. YAY!!
I was so pleased that I text Si.
After a lazy morning/afternoon I decided to meet up with the cycling team, which consist of half a dozen Thai guys, all with very expensive mountain bikes and one western chap ..who used to cycle courier in his youth. So thinking I'd be the one holding the group up on the hill climbs, I ended up being one of the strongest which I was so relieved about and the guys were pretty amazed. YAY!!
I was so pleased that I text Si.
Saturday, 14 June 2014
12 June 2014
As it was such a lazy day yesterday ..Kirsty and I decided to do some exploring. I started off by cycling to Sairee to find out the start/routes for this years Koh Tao Festival cycle ride which I fully intend to do ..although I'm undecided to which route (easy/hard) to take, as I've not been been that strict with myself. So don't want to lag behind on some of the long hill climbs ..but still a few days to train :-D
So along the way I met Alan & Heidi, the couple who we'd first stayed with on the island for a little chat and then cycled towards the resevoir, hopefully meeting Kirsty on route. Expecting to catch up with Kirsty as I neared the dam, I was amazed to see her at the top, laying in the shade.
It took both of us some time to cool down before we headed off again. I'd bought some banana's & mango for a little pick me up which came in very handy.
Heading off up the hill, we decided to cut across to the Wild Challenge course as Kirsty hadn't seen it and then make our way back. We looked at most of the obstacles and Kirsty even tried a few of them while I had to push & carry my bike.
By the time we got home, we were both shattered and possibly had too much sun that we both ended up with raging headaches.
So along the way I met Alan & Heidi, the couple who we'd first stayed with on the island for a little chat and then cycled towards the resevoir, hopefully meeting Kirsty on route. Expecting to catch up with Kirsty as I neared the dam, I was amazed to see her at the top, laying in the shade.
It took both of us some time to cool down before we headed off again. I'd bought some banana's & mango for a little pick me up which came in very handy.
Heading off up the hill, we decided to cut across to the Wild Challenge course as Kirsty hadn't seen it and then make our way back. We looked at most of the obstacles and Kirsty even tried a few of them while I had to push & carry my bike.
By the time we got home, we were both shattered and possibly had too much sun that we both ended up with raging headaches.
11 June 2014
After a good sleep, I got up and made breakfast for everyone (Simon & Kirsty) ...poached egg & beans and a pot of fresh coffee which was greatly appreciated.
Simon was a busy bee, on his computer advertising my old laptop and video camera with underwater housing ..and then brought out the Guitar Hero equipment which had been sat collecting dust under the stairs to see if everything worked. The drum set was in need of a little soldering and glueing but that was about it..
So after testing out the guitars on a few songs, then attaching the mic ...we rocked the afternoon away!
Simon was a busy bee, on his computer advertising my old laptop and video camera with underwater housing ..and then brought out the Guitar Hero equipment which had been sat collecting dust under the stairs to see if everything worked. The drum set was in need of a little soldering and glueing but that was about it..
So after testing out the guitars on a few songs, then attaching the mic ...we rocked the afternoon away!
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
10th June 2014
The last couple of days it was a chill out time...
A little snorkelling, a bit of laying by the pool... and returning to restaurants for food..
A little snorkelling, a bit of laying by the pool... and returning to restaurants for food..
Simon and I were up and dressed early. The plan was to shoot down to Maehaad to meet
Simons father & Kate for coffee before they caught the 9.30 Seatran Ferry but
their hotel transit had dropped them with their heavy cases at the ferry terminal and
at the wrong one …so rather than sipping
coffee at Café Del Sol, we only had a brief time with them before saying
goodbye and boarded the Seatran to reserve their seats and get comfy.
It’s been fabulous year so far, so many family members
coming to see us and what’s brilliant is that finally they can see where we
live, work and understand what’s so appealing
..everyone says they’ve had a great time and would like to stay, so
hopefully they’ll be back or come and visit if we set up home elsewhere.
Our visitors this year
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| Rosie |
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| Chris, Fiona, Chloe & Iona |
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| Roger & Kate |
Saturday, 7 June 2014
6th June 2014
It was time for a tour of Koh Tao... by boat...
We met up at midday, to catch our own little longtail boat around the island to see a few sites.. Sea sickness pills taken (just in case), we then set off..
Bad timing as waves appeared from nowhere, which gave our driver a hard time getting the boat to go in the right direction... however eventually we made it around the island to Hin Wong Bay.
We snorkelled around looking at the marine life of this quiet bay, and then ended the session by Jenny, Kirsty and me freediving through some underwater caves 6m below the surface.. Brilliant.!
Next stop was the small island next door to Koh Tao, called Koh Nang Yuan. We hopped off our boat and began the climb up to the view point... At the top there were a few granite boulders to climb before getting the famous view...
Then it was back to the bar for a couple of beers, and dinner at Pranee Kitchen... I think we all went home and slept well.
x
SD
We met up at midday, to catch our own little longtail boat around the island to see a few sites.. Sea sickness pills taken (just in case), we then set off..
Bad timing as waves appeared from nowhere, which gave our driver a hard time getting the boat to go in the right direction... however eventually we made it around the island to Hin Wong Bay.
We snorkelled around looking at the marine life of this quiet bay, and then ended the session by Jenny, Kirsty and me freediving through some underwater caves 6m below the surface.. Brilliant.!
Next stop was the small island next door to Koh Tao, called Koh Nang Yuan. We hopped off our boat and began the climb up to the view point... At the top there were a few granite boulders to climb before getting the famous view...
Then it was back to the bar for a couple of beers, and dinner at Pranee Kitchen... I think we all went home and slept well.
x
SD
Friday, 6 June 2014
5th June 2014
Today, was a working day... Jenny had Discover Scuba Diving students to attend to, while I created a new promo for the video guys...
We left Dad & Kate to chill out at their hotel for the day... and we were going to meet up in the evening for a BBQ at our pad.
I had lost my phone after leaving the restaurant the previous night... So spent some of the day calling it and sending lock codes out.
Anyway, after several hours I made a new promo video... Click here to view..
Then, a couple of hours running around getting food, making potato salad, and getting the BBQ going...I popped out to check if my phone had been found at the restaurant... and YES!! I have my phone back... Phew!
Dad and Kate eventually arrived after a small downpour and we ate some food and showed them the house....
Then, it was time to retire... Dad & Kate caught a taxi back to their resort... ready for a busy next day touring the island....
x
SD
We left Dad & Kate to chill out at their hotel for the day... and we were going to meet up in the evening for a BBQ at our pad.
I had lost my phone after leaving the restaurant the previous night... So spent some of the day calling it and sending lock codes out.
Anyway, after several hours I made a new promo video... Click here to view..
Then, a couple of hours running around getting food, making potato salad, and getting the BBQ going...I popped out to check if my phone had been found at the restaurant... and YES!! I have my phone back... Phew!
Dad and Kate eventually arrived after a small downpour and we ate some food and showed them the house....
Then, it was time to retire... Dad & Kate caught a taxi back to their resort... ready for a busy next day touring the island....
x
SD
4th June 2014
They were put into a bungalow which had broken air conditioning, and after a few hours of trying to fix it, the hotel gave up and moved them into "The Royal Suite!!!"
Boy had they lucked out.... it was like a palace!!
After admiring the rooms and long balcony with a lovely view, we headed to the pool to chill out and mess around with our Waboba water bouncing ball.
I also had a practice of my breath holding, and reached 1min 55sec.... not bad for an unfit oldie like myself!
After a few hours, it was time for me to head off as I had another meeting with the video company
We reconvened at Safety Stop later for a beverage before heading to Yangs restaurant for a yummy local Thai dinner (hot hot hot!!).
Food done, I managed to sort out a taxi from the dive school to take the guys back to Jamakhiri...
x
SD
Monday, 2 June 2014
3rd June 2014
So we had a plan of the day which we had discussed over dinner the night before. Jen and I would bring a bunch of dive equipment to the hotel for Dad and Kate to try out. Then later in the afternoon, we would have a walk to the Wild Challenge site.
It was way too hot for Wild Challenge, so we scrapped that immediately and gathered up some dive kit. Cheeky Jenny managed to convince Crystal's taxi driver to take the kit to the Koh Tao Regal for us, which saved a lot of walking up and down the beach.
After chatting with Dad and Kate, there were obviously a lot of nerves from previous experiences, so we took it nice and chilled... splashed around in the shallows until everyone got used to it. I mainly focused on Dad, and Jenny took care of Kate...
After a couple of hours, of pool action they have agreed that a shallow dive would be good to try. I shall have to organise something in the next couple of days for them.
Then it was chill time for a bit... For me it was a great time to watch Isle of Man TT races.
After a while I left Jenny lazing in the sun, it was back to Crystal to catch up on some UK emails...
Dinner in the evening was at Dolce Vita... an Italian restaurant up the road... it was tasty!!
x
SD
It was way too hot for Wild Challenge, so we scrapped that immediately and gathered up some dive kit. Cheeky Jenny managed to convince Crystal's taxi driver to take the kit to the Koh Tao Regal for us, which saved a lot of walking up and down the beach.
After chatting with Dad and Kate, there were obviously a lot of nerves from previous experiences, so we took it nice and chilled... splashed around in the shallows until everyone got used to it. I mainly focused on Dad, and Jenny took care of Kate...
Then it was chill time for a bit... For me it was a great time to watch Isle of Man TT races.
After a while I left Jenny lazing in the sun, it was back to Crystal to catch up on some UK emails...
Dinner in the evening was at Dolce Vita... an Italian restaurant up the road... it was tasty!!
x
SD
2nd June 2014
Yesterday was a day to chill out by the Koh Tao Regal.
Sun, sea and sand was the agenda for today. I went to attach new hoses to my regulator that came with my BCD, while Jenny went to get various bits (map, sim card, water etc) for Dad and Kate.
Then we plodded to the pool for some chilled out time...
I left later in the afternoon to discuss business with the video guys, and then we met up for dinner at Fizz Bar in Sairee. We had a couple of "South Side" cocktails before having a nice meal.
After having dinner and watching the fire guys in the sea, it was time to walk back to the hotel and bedski...
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