Started the day with a cuppa and then headed out on the bike to look at properties to rent. Most of what we came across were just rooms with showers ..we'd really like a place with a living area and perhaps a small kitchen as we want something that we can come back to after a hard days diving and relax and maybe watch a film or even do some entertaining.
After searching around we found a few possible places but we're going to investigate further and make a few calls.
After a hot and exhausting day, we headed to the Crystal bar to catch Nathan (Eco Warrior and also my mentor whilst I was doing my DMT training) to organize a couple of fun dives. At last we'll finally we'll be in the water :-D
On leaving Crystal we headed to the 'Safety Stop' bar with a few dive buddies to log on and have some food, then it was home to bed.
JD x
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Day 5 - Koh Tao
We eventually struggled off the ferry with our luggage to be met by Alan & Heidi's smiling faces.
After loading luggage in the jeep we headed back to the villa stopping off to drop off Si's underwater housing which weighed a ton at Deep Down Produtions (Underwater Video Crew) and then at the motorbike hire shop, where Si hired a XEROW Honda 250.
The amount of changes in just 8 months is just incredible ..the so called road that we used to trapse up is all concreted now, there are new villa's here there and everywhere ...and just how much things have grown.
After settling in at Alan & Heidi's ..we ventured back into town to spot a few ole faces from Crystal Dive. Our first was the 'Safety Stop' pub where we thought Carsten, Simons old mentor would be but after a quick look in, we left and hopped on the bike and went to Dirty Nelly's another haunt of the ole Crystal crew ...where we finally bumped into Carsten & a few faces we knew,. Its was really odd to see them as for us it's the start of our new adventure but for them we're just another couple of divers popping back to Koh Tao ..so I felt a bit flat and unsettled but later Tina turned up, who was part of the our old gang and filled us in on the comings & goings ..so began to feel slightly more upbeat.
After a nice pizza and a couple of drinks, Si & I headed back home for long awaited sleep.
JD
After loading luggage in the jeep we headed back to the villa stopping off to drop off Si's underwater housing which weighed a ton at Deep Down Produtions (Underwater Video Crew) and then at the motorbike hire shop, where Si hired a XEROW Honda 250.
The amount of changes in just 8 months is just incredible ..the so called road that we used to trapse up is all concreted now, there are new villa's here there and everywhere ...and just how much things have grown.
After settling in at Alan & Heidi's ..we ventured back into town to spot a few ole faces from Crystal Dive. Our first was the 'Safety Stop' pub where we thought Carsten, Simons old mentor would be but after a quick look in, we left and hopped on the bike and went to Dirty Nelly's another haunt of the ole Crystal crew ...where we finally bumped into Carsten & a few faces we knew,. Its was really odd to see them as for us it's the start of our new adventure but for them we're just another couple of divers popping back to Koh Tao ..so I felt a bit flat and unsettled but later Tina turned up, who was part of the our old gang and filled us in on the comings & goings ..so began to feel slightly more upbeat.
After a nice pizza and a couple of drinks, Si & I headed back home for long awaited sleep.
New Post Soon
Lots to sort, including a decent internet connection... but please bear with us...!!
SD
SD
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Day 4 - Bangkok to Koh Samui
After leaving Dag last night, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed back to the hotel to pack, had a cuppa, watched Fridays episode of Eastenders (sad I know) and finally fell asleep.
I think the accidental lay in was a big mistake as we only slept for a couple of hours and then decided to watch a few episodes of the Twilight Zone. I think that I must have dropped off in the 3rd episode and suddenly woken by the phone at 5am only to find Si still watching TV with his headphones on.
After a shower and breakfast we caught our taxi to the airport, checked in only to find that the max luguage allowance is 30kg per person ..we had just on a 100kg, 2100 baht excess to pay ..but we managed to haggle them down to 1500 baht (£30) ..thank God we flew business class, else it would have been only 20kg allowance each.
Anyway, we had a great flight, collected our bags, dropped them at the ferry terminal and now sat in the cafe opposite typing to you guys :-D
The ferry leaves at 1.30pm which should get into Koh Tao around 4.30pm where we'll be collected by stars Alan & Heidi (Ex landlord/lady)
JD
I think the accidental lay in was a big mistake as we only slept for a couple of hours and then decided to watch a few episodes of the Twilight Zone. I think that I must have dropped off in the 3rd episode and suddenly woken by the phone at 5am only to find Si still watching TV with his headphones on.
After a shower and breakfast we caught our taxi to the airport, checked in only to find that the max luguage allowance is 30kg per person ..we had just on a 100kg, 2100 baht excess to pay ..but we managed to haggle them down to 1500 baht (£30) ..thank God we flew business class, else it would have been only 20kg allowance each.
The ferry leaves at 1.30pm which should get into Koh Tao around 4.30pm where we'll be collected by stars Alan & Heidi (Ex landlord/lady)
JD
Day 3 in Bangkok
Last night we headed for "Dosa King" where we had the following delicious vegetarian meal (just for you Liz, here is the description!)
Jen's Chickpea Curry
Simon's Masala Dosa
(Potato and Onion in Rice and Lentil Crepe)
Jen is a happy eater!
After eating late, we went for a couple of beers with Dag, and headed to bed.
Unfortunately, I could not sleep (not adjusted to the time yet.) and stayed awake until 4am watching old episodes of The Twilight Zone while Jen snored!. I eventually slept, and we both woke at 2.30pm , much to our surprise!!!
We quickly got ourselves together and rushed onto the Sky Train to go to Chatuchak market.
To try and describe Chatuchak Market is going to be difficult, the place is not just big, its inconceivably big. Think of a peanut in the middle of the galaxy and that would be a good description of us standing in the market. There are 15,000 stalls each selling clothes, food, home furnishings.. generally anything you could ever need.
We spent quite a few hours walking past stall after stall in amazement and confusion. There is so much choice that you forget what you wanted in the first place.
We eventually grabbed 2 pairs of Crocs (plastic sandals... very comfy), some cotton trousers for Jen, cotton trousers for me, cotton shirt for me, and some bikini shorts for Jen. All in all we spent just over £10... !!!
Nearly dinnertime, so we hooked up with Dag for a goodbye drink and grabbed a quick bite to eat before going back to the hotel to pack for tomorrow.
We leave at 6am to head to the airport and arrive on Koh Tao sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Till then...
SD
Jen's Chickpea Curry
Simon's Masala Dosa
(Potato and Onion in Rice and Lentil Crepe)
Jen is a happy eater!
After eating late, we went for a couple of beers with Dag, and headed to bed.
Unfortunately, I could not sleep (not adjusted to the time yet.) and stayed awake until 4am watching old episodes of The Twilight Zone while Jen snored!. I eventually slept, and we both woke at 2.30pm , much to our surprise!!!
We quickly got ourselves together and rushed onto the Sky Train to go to Chatuchak market.
To try and describe Chatuchak Market is going to be difficult, the place is not just big, its inconceivably big. Think of a peanut in the middle of the galaxy and that would be a good description of us standing in the market. There are 15,000 stalls each selling clothes, food, home furnishings.. generally anything you could ever need.We spent quite a few hours walking past stall after stall in amazement and confusion. There is so much choice that you forget what you wanted in the first place.
We eventually grabbed 2 pairs of Crocs (plastic sandals... very comfy), some cotton trousers for Jen, cotton trousers for me, cotton shirt for me, and some bikini shorts for Jen. All in all we spent just over £10... !!!Nearly dinnertime, so we hooked up with Dag for a goodbye drink and grabbed a quick bite to eat before going back to the hotel to pack for tomorrow.
We leave at 6am to head to the airport and arrive on Koh Tao sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Till then...
SD
Friday, 5 February 2010
Day 2 in Bangkok
Woke early and whether it be from the aircon, Si seemed to have a sore throat but nothing too severe thankfully.
Later on that morning we met up with Dag and headed down town to a massage place run by the blind/partially sighted. We just had an hour session to get a taster but I think we might go back for a two hour session tomorrow as it was so good & ridiculously cheap :-D ..Anyway, check Si out in his massage gear ;-D
On leaving the massage palour we took a leisurely stroll, taking in all the smells, sights & chaos around whilst feeling on top of the world and then just by chance noticed rows of restuarants advertising Shark Fin ...then on closer inspection their window displays were just fins in all shapes & sizes. We all found this pretty disgusting and upsetting.
Now lets move onto shopping, Bangkok is brilliant!! ...you can buy everything and anything dirt cheap if you've got the time and energy to bargain the day away. So far we've bought tshirts, a phone (as i couldnt unlock my prototype) & a couple Thai sim cards. Si's been for a haircut and we've drank quite a few Singha :-)
Tonight we off for a good veggie meal, a few beers and perhaps some more shopping
Laters
JD x
Later on that morning we met up with Dag and headed down town to a massage place run by the blind/partially sighted. We just had an hour session to get a taster but I think we might go back for a two hour session tomorrow as it was so good & ridiculously cheap :-D ..Anyway, check Si out in his massage gear ;-D
On leaving the massage palour we took a leisurely stroll, taking in all the smells, sights & chaos around whilst feeling on top of the world and then just by chance noticed rows of restuarants advertising Shark Fin ...then on closer inspection their window displays were just fins in all shapes & sizes. We all found this pretty disgusting and upsetting.
Now lets move onto shopping, Bangkok is brilliant!! ...you can buy everything and anything dirt cheap if you've got the time and energy to bargain the day away. So far we've bought tshirts, a phone (as i couldnt unlock my prototype) & a couple Thai sim cards. Si's been for a haircut and we've drank quite a few Singha :-)
Tonight we off for a good veggie meal, a few beers and perhaps some more shopping
Laters
JD x
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Day 1 in Bangkok
The flight went well and we arrived in Bangkok in the middle of the rush hour..
We picked up our beautiful pink taxi and headed to the hotel, before slipping some flip flops on and zooming over to meet Dag (Jen's friend from work)
After meeting Dag we went to a Dutch bar call Det 5. Dag had Penang Curry, Jen (as always) had Green Chicken Curry, and I had a Pad Thai. Very nice.... its good to taste some proper Thai food.
And to complete the night, we played a few rounds of Table Football with Dag... the winner was Simon!!!! YAY.... worst table I've ever played on though!
Time for bedski now folks.... gonna sleep well methinks.
We picked up our beautiful pink taxi and headed to the hotel, before slipping some flip flops on and zooming over to meet Dag (Jen's friend from work)
After meeting Dag we went to a Dutch bar call Det 5. Dag had Penang Curry, Jen (as always) had Green Chicken Curry, and I had a Pad Thai. Very nice.... its good to taste some proper Thai food.
And to complete the night, we played a few rounds of Table Football with Dag... the winner was Simon!!!! YAY.... worst table I've ever played on though!
Time for bedski now folks.... gonna sleep well methinks.
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