Ayutthaya

Had an epic journey yesterday...left Ko Tao at 1400 and arrived in Ayutthaya at 1000 this morning! I then decided to jump right in, hired a bike and have spent the day going round as many temples as I think I can handle for a while! Got some good pictures but unfortunatly no means of uploading at the place I am staying. Most of the temples are ruins from when the Burmese sacked the city in 1767 but they are beautiful, apparently like Angkok Wat but on a smaller scale. After leaving my frines in Koh Tao I am on my own again but heopfully will meet new people on my way into Cambodia. After hearing some horror stories about dedicated visa buses I have decide to go back to Bangkok and get the public bus which seems like a better option and will probably be cheaper as well. Today I managed to get a room for 120 B -about2.5 punds- and a bus ticket for 1 pound!

Thank you for the comments, it means a lot to know you guys are listening, I miss you all so much xx

Open Water Advanced

Day 1: After great success on the Open Water Course, decided to stay on and do the advanced. Today we had three dives so I am absolutely exhausted, the extra nitrogen really makes you tired. The first dive was the deep dive where we went the whole way down to 30m. It was amazing the temperatures differences when you hit a thermocline. It feels like a massive difference but is actually only about 1, maybe 2 degrees and you get a weird kid of mirage effect in the water. The second dive was navigation which was actually surprisingly easy so we relaxed a bit and just cruised around taking in the marine life. Then this evening we had the night dive which was actually my favourite yet. We didn't have to do any skills so it was really relaxed, we saw a lionfish which are really rare around here and bio luminescent algae which glow when you move about in the water, it was incredible!

Day 2: Decided as I am here I may as well do everything I can so today I got certified to use enriched air as well which allows me to go deeper for longer. The dives today were basically just fun dives without our instructor which was a bit scary at first but so much fun. My buddy and I swam out to 'Secret Pinnacle' on the first dive so it was just us which is nice as usually there are quite a few other divers around. We got quite a shock when I turned around and there was a huge trigger fish literally right in front of my face. Luckily it didn't get territorial although Julie in the other buddy team got attacked when they went into a territory!

Open Water

Day One: After dancing til dawn at the Full Moon party I then got up after about a hour of sleep to get the boat to Ko Tao. Turned out to be a very good idea as I missed the rush and actually managed to start the dive course this afternoon. The class consisted of a video which I am sure lasted about three hours...a bit of a mission after very little sleep! First dive tomorrow!

Day Two: Had such a good sleep last night :D Started the class this morning reviewing the theory we learnt last night. Most of it is common sense actually. This afternoon we went into the pool which was a bit scary but then again you always know that if something does go wrong you are just a metre from the surface! Tomorrow we have our first open water dive.

Day Three: Very early start this morning as we got the boat at 7:30. We went out to the dive sight where we set up our equipment, did our buddy checks (my buddy is Julie from New York City) and then got in the water. I was actually terrified but I am so proud of myself now. Getting in the water is called a giant's stride. Basically holding onto your weight belt, mask and regulator you take a huge step off the side of the boat and just drop! I think for me that is actually one of the scariest parts! Both times I did it I lost my fins, regulator and mask! Even the second dive was better than the first as I relaxed, controlled my breathing better (so I wasn't going up and down like a cork) and we saw some amazing marine life like moray eels, stingrays and so many different fish!. This afternoon we had our final theory class and then the exam which I passed with 98%. All that is left to do are the skills tomorrow then then I get my certificate.

Tonight we went to a drag cabaret (where the picture is from). I am not really sure how to describe it but it was incredible. I think the pictures will tell the best story when I can upload them! Definitely worth a visit!!

Day Four: Early start again today as we set off for our final two dives. These were a lot more fun than yesterday as we basically just swam about looking at all the marine life as the skills were completed yesterday. Once again I have not managed the entry and lost all of my equipment! At least it is good practice for clearing my mask. It's amazing, I am so much more comfortable in the water now (although those first few breaths still terrify me!) and even on the surface I am a lot better. I am quite surprised that I am having some trouble with my ears as they never pop when I fly but I think with practice I will get better at equalizing. Today we got filmed as well so that should be interesting...hopefully they got my underwater somersault!

Tomorrow I start the advanced course which allows me to go down to 30 metres rather than just 18 so hopefully I will be able to dive some wrecks in the future...no rest for the wicked!

Ko Phangan

Came to Ko Phangan on Sunday after a epic journey and such a rough boat ride. We checked into what was promised to be an amazing hostel but as I was trying to have a quiet night it awful. The next morning there was no water so the one shower we had was rendered useless. Myself, Cat and Michelle (friends from Phi Phi) decided to get a hotel room together so we are now staying in a nicer place for cheaper! Ko Phangan isn't actually that great, the beach is just like Magaluff apparently, loads of British people with blaring music and beer. Two nights ago we went to a pool party and I think I got spiked which was just a horrible experience, luckily I was still with my friends who took me home..kind of scary still though...and annoying as I didn't even leave my drink. Had a quiet day yesterday recovering from the effects of the night before (not pleasant) and found sunset beach which was so lovely and relaxed. Today Cat and I and some of her friends took a ride up to the north of the island but to be honest there isn't much here. We finished off with a game of volleyball on the beach...it has to be done!

Tomorrow I am leaving for Ko Tao to do my diving course (so excited!) and tonight is the Full Moon, though I am trying not to get my hopes up as I don't want it to be a disappointment!

Still in Phi Phi

Still in Phi Phi, this place is incredible! The day before last we took in Long Beach which was beautiful but on the 'quiet' side of the island and had a richer clientele. The walk to get there was a bit of a mission, there was some serious guesswork going on as to where the path was going! Then yesterday 10 of us hired out a longboat to take us around the island, we went over to Phi Phi Ley where we landed on Maya Bay where they filmed 'The Beach', it's absolutely stunning. We also stopped off in various places to snorkel which was unreal. It was my first time snorkeling and did not disappoint... I had a bit of a shock though as my snorkel had water in from where I had jumped in so he first thing I did was inhale a huge amount of water! The was not the best thing in the world as I did panic slightly right ion the middle of the ocean! The fish are incredible, the colours are so vibrant and we saw some coral as well. I dived down to get a closer look and was a bit too late taking a breath so got another mouthful of water...not so good.

I have got my first burn, it's just a tiny patch but it hurts so much. The toe splinter seems to have sorted itself out but I now have a cut on the sole of my foot!

Probably leaving in the next couple of days to hit the full moon on Ko Phangan...promises to be a good trip.

Ko Phi Phi

Well I survived the rock bed but did not fare so well in Phuket town, there was just nothing there so I decided to get the first boat out of there the next morning which was the best decision I have made yet. I came to Ko Phi Phi and it's incredible...beautiful location full of beautiful people. I stumbled across an English guy in a dive shop who pointed me in the direction of the Rock which is the best backpackers guesthouse I have been to and not even in my guidebook!!! I am in a dormroom with about 12 other people and it's amazing, I have made three best friends already and everyone is travelling on their own so we are like kindred spirits.

There are a group of people who have been here for about 2 weeks who took us up to the viewpoint last night where we watched the sunset over the bay before a wild beach party which happens every night where you drink for free! Everyone is sleeping off the effects of last night at the moment but hopefully we will take a boat round to Longbeach later which is the best on the island.

I think I might end up staying here a while, I can see why people get hooked and never leave!

I went adventuring yesterday along the beach though an got a huge splinter in my toe :( ...it hurts.

Laeoo juhhr gan

Phuket

Had my first genuine Thai experience yesterday when I visited a temple out of Changmai and was literally the only westerner there, starving hungry I asked a woman who was handing out food if I could buy some as there were no vendors around (a rare thing in Thailand!). She said no, it was free and invited me to eat with her family who were there for a ceremony to initiate her nephew into the monkhood. Nor was the only one who spoke english so had to translate all of the questions between myself and her family. At the end of the day there was no transport back to Changmai so I decided to start walking in what I thought was the right direction. It turned out I was actually going completely the opposite direction so I ended up hitching a lift to the main road and then catching a taxi back to the city...a bit of an interesting day all in all.

Today I flew down to Phuket which is absolutely beautiful though I probably won't stay long as it is full of package tourists and is very expensive. Also my bed is like a rock!

laaeo juuhr gan

p.s. Thank you for the comments, it's so mice to hear from you all, I miss you loads xx