Today's two dives were at 18m and 16m deep. The skill I hate the most to practice is taking my mask off completely, putting it back on and blowing the water out. Scares the shit out of me. Apart from that, we saw wonderful stuff including an white-eyed murray eel, a Nemo couple, a pregnant porcupine fish, a stingray and the greatest of them all: sea cucumbers! I literally point at them and think "FOOD"!
Now that we've completed the Open Water Diving Course, we're wondering if we should go further and obtain the Advanced one. It's another chunk of money (way over Math's and my budget) but the underwater beauty is just overwhelming. It also seems we are a lucky group and see creatures which are rare or hard to see (for example we saw a sea snake). If we proceed to the next level tomorrow, we'll have the chance to swim right next to a whale shark (biggest fish in the sea) and that's a huge incitative. Especially since people haven't seen one in Koh Tao's waters for the last couple of months.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
3rd Day of Open Water Diving Course
6:30am
The alarm wakes up Math, Daniel and I. Time to put on our bathing suits and to head out for breakfast.
7:30am
Along with other groups and instructors, we hop on a boat which will drive us to the first diving site: Mango Bay.
We gear up and jump into the water. Damn, this is the real thing.
We start off with some basic exercices, ajusting and making sure everything is ok.
And off we went! Over the reef! At the bottom of the ocean!
How to describe? I think the scariest part is to go down. As you're descending and equalizing at the same time (so to lessen the pressure in your ears), all I'm thinking is how with every meter, I'm getting further from the surface/safety. And this comes from a girl who knows how to swim and can hold her breath underwater for quite some time. But that's exactly the problem! Rule #1: Never hold your breath while diving because it will cause lung injuries with the pressure.
But once I get used to the fact that I must breathe continuously by the mouth, a whole new world just opens up. To see the coral reefs up close and all the life surrounding them is absolutely incredible. Today's highlights were to spot a fish with giraffe prints on it, being motionless and letting a curious rainbow colored fish swim between my legs twice (I believe it liked me) and getting REAL up close to a massive school of fish. THAT, my friends, is maybe one of the top WOW moments in my life (another one would be strolling in the Djemaa el Fna market in Marrakech). Picture thousands of fish swimming in unison and you're suspended in midwater right under/next/in the middle of this fishy crowd. It's just beautiful. Really.
The alarm wakes up Math, Daniel and I. Time to put on our bathing suits and to head out for breakfast.
7:30am
Along with other groups and instructors, we hop on a boat which will drive us to the first diving site: Mango Bay.
We gear up and jump into the water. Damn, this is the real thing.
We start off with some basic exercices, ajusting and making sure everything is ok.
And off we went! Over the reef! At the bottom of the ocean!
How to describe? I think the scariest part is to go down. As you're descending and equalizing at the same time (so to lessen the pressure in your ears), all I'm thinking is how with every meter, I'm getting further from the surface/safety. And this comes from a girl who knows how to swim and can hold her breath underwater for quite some time. But that's exactly the problem! Rule #1: Never hold your breath while diving because it will cause lung injuries with the pressure.
But once I get used to the fact that I must breathe continuously by the mouth, a whole new world just opens up. To see the coral reefs up close and all the life surrounding them is absolutely incredible. Today's highlights were to spot a fish with giraffe prints on it, being motionless and letting a curious rainbow colored fish swim between my legs twice (I believe it liked me) and getting REAL up close to a massive school of fish. THAT, my friends, is maybe one of the top WOW moments in my life (another one would be strolling in the Djemaa el Fna market in Marrakech). Picture thousands of fish swimming in unison and you're suspended in midwater right under/next/in the middle of this fishy crowd. It's just beautiful. Really.
Yesterday, we had our first dive in a confined space, the pool. I got tangled with my mask and slightly panicked underwater even though I wasn't even one meter deep. Then, we moved to the deep end and swam for a while, practicing other skills. It seems Math is very lucky and doesn't need any weight when he dives (even in the ocean we'll later learn). Mainly because he has almost no fat. As for myself, I need one weight in saltwater and none in the pool. But that's probably because of my bone density and not the lack of fat ;)
In the evening, we had another theory class but this time, in the resort's restaurant right next to the beach. So it was really chilled out, nice and breezy.
In the evening, we had another theory class but this time, in the resort's restaurant right next to the beach. So it was really chilled out, nice and breezy.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
In Bangkok again...
Just to illustrate how bad the shopping sprees are in this city:
1) I'm in an Internet cafe and I just heard a guy skyping someone and telling the person all the stuff he bought today. It was a long list.
2) This morning, I went to the post office to send some postcards. I met a couple and another guy. Both parties had to send stuff back home in boxes because they couldn't carry everything in their backpacks.
It makes me feel better...
Just to illustrate how bad the shopping sprees are in this city:
1) I'm in an Internet cafe and I just heard a guy skyping someone and telling the person all the stuff he bought today. It was a long list.
2) This morning, I went to the post office to send some postcards. I met a couple and another guy. Both parties had to send stuff back home in boxes because they couldn't carry everything in their backpacks.
It makes me feel better...
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The best part about this water festival is that everyone participates. Adults, kids and foreigners.
You're usually given a timeout when you're inside a restaurant (even if you're on the terasse) or in a shop. But whenever your feet are on the street, watch your back!
So picture this ugly fat 4 eyed white woman. She looked mean and it seemed that everyone was letting her walk without splashing water on her, simply watching her go. Then Math gave me the okay look so I aimed her back and fired my watergun. She turns around and yells: WHO JUST DID THAT? The whole street goes silent.
Of course, I was too shy to answer. But Math and a guy from our guesthouse were laughing in their sleeve. So the woman starts yelling at the man: You think it's funny? I'm so sick and tired of getting wet. Blablabla. And all of a sudden, our guesthouse's OWNERS, respectable Thais, yell back: Hey! This is Thailand! It's Songkran! Everybody gets wet! Why you come here?
And everybody just laughed while the lady walked away.
I felt a bit sorry for her but mostly, I felt foolish for listening to Math. He obviously played a prank on me. And the man who got yelled at? He thought it was hilarious. Ouf! It seemed that the lady had already passed on the street previously while I was still in the guesthouse and that she got mad when the kids and foreigners gave her no mercy. And Math knew I didn't know that ;)
You're usually given a timeout when you're inside a restaurant (even if you're on the terasse) or in a shop. But whenever your feet are on the street, watch your back!
So picture this ugly fat 4 eyed white woman. She looked mean and it seemed that everyone was letting her walk without splashing water on her, simply watching her go. Then Math gave me the okay look so I aimed her back and fired my watergun. She turns around and yells: WHO JUST DID THAT? The whole street goes silent.
Of course, I was too shy to answer. But Math and a guy from our guesthouse were laughing in their sleeve. So the woman starts yelling at the man: You think it's funny? I'm so sick and tired of getting wet. Blablabla. And all of a sudden, our guesthouse's OWNERS, respectable Thais, yell back: Hey! This is Thailand! It's Songkran! Everybody gets wet! Why you come here?
And everybody just laughed while the lady walked away.
I felt a bit sorry for her but mostly, I felt foolish for listening to Math. He obviously played a prank on me. And the man who got yelled at? He thought it was hilarious. Ouf! It seemed that the lady had already passed on the street previously while I was still in the guesthouse and that she got mad when the kids and foreigners gave her no mercy. And Math knew I didn't know that ;)
Songkran has started and we spent the first day water-battling our neighbours and the surrounding guesthouses' owners' kids. This is war, no kidding. Our waterguns are definitely not powerful enough. It seems the local kids are much more experienced and prepared. They dispose of multiple weapons, plus their parents prepare giant buckets of ICE water. That's a killer, that's for sure!
On the second day, I was sick (because I had spent the previous day drenched in water) and I felt pain in my left shoulder. I'm sad to say this, but I guess I AM getting old. A bit of exercice and I get all weak :)
The good part was that it rained all day so I could stay inside watching Asian Food Channel without missing any action.
On the 3rd day of the water festival, we warmed up with the kids in our street then took off with a couple of Frenchies to the main street. It was UNBELIEVABLE. People were crammed on the sidewalks with giant buckets to refill the small buckets and waterguns, motorbikes and cars were doing their best to get through traffic, trucks were filled with people shooting and throwing water into the crowd.
My best battles were against a guy selling waterguns (he was vicious), another man at least twice my age but who was having fun like a kid and finally, the 3 Thai boys who put a mixture of water and flour on my face.
We should really have this water festival Montreal!
On the second day, I was sick (because I had spent the previous day drenched in water) and I felt pain in my left shoulder. I'm sad to say this, but I guess I AM getting old. A bit of exercice and I get all weak :)
The good part was that it rained all day so I could stay inside watching Asian Food Channel without missing any action.
On the 3rd day of the water festival, we warmed up with the kids in our street then took off with a couple of Frenchies to the main street. It was UNBELIEVABLE. People were crammed on the sidewalks with giant buckets to refill the small buckets and waterguns, motorbikes and cars were doing their best to get through traffic, trucks were filled with people shooting and throwing water into the crowd.
My best battles were against a guy selling waterguns (he was vicious), another man at least twice my age but who was having fun like a kid and finally, the 3 Thai boys who put a mixture of water and flour on my face.
We should really have this water festival Montreal!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Songkran" is a festival to celebrate the Thai New Year. This year, the celebrations are held between the 13 and 15 April. But really, it has already started.
In Chiang Mai, there are so many bazaars and walking streets which stretch forever that I can't feel my feet anymore. Thai
people also have this tradition to throw/spray/shoot water with all kind of devices (water bucket, watergun, watering hose, etc.) on cars/motorbikes/passerbys.
And don't worry. Us, "falangs" ("foreigner" in Thai) do reply and participate in this fun festival. After getting so wet yesterday, I'm definitely buying some weapon to defend myself but also to attack other people. And oh, I shall wear my bikini whenever I go out from now on!
In Chiang Mai, there are so many bazaars and walking streets which stretch forever that I can't feel my feet anymore. Thai
people also have this tradition to throw/spray/shoot water with all kind of devices (water bucket, watergun, watering hose, etc.) on cars/motorbikes/passerbys.
And don't worry. Us, "falangs" ("foreigner" in Thai) do reply and participate in this fun festival. After getting so wet yesterday, I'm definitely buying some weapon to defend myself but also to attack other people. And oh, I shall wear my bikini whenever I go out from now on!
Math and I spent 4000 bahts (Thai currency which equals to 130 CAN$) in a 3 days shopping spree. Wonder how much you can buy with that? Let's see...
Pat:::
5 dresses
1 pair of pants
2 pairs of shorts
1 tank top
1 bikini
4 pairs of earrings
1 summer hat
Math:::
1 pair of pants
4 t-shirts
2 shirts
Conclusion? We <3 BKK!!!
Pat:::
5 dresses
1 pair of pants
2 pairs of shorts
1 tank top
1 bikini
4 pairs of earrings
1 summer hat
Math:::
1 pair of pants
4 t-shirts
2 shirts
Conclusion? We <3 BKK!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
In Laos, several cats had their tail cut off. A lady told me it was because people believe that if you bring the animal far from where you live and cut its tail, it won't remember how to come back. Hence, it's a way to get rid of the cat. Quite superstitious. And obviously this method is not working since you can see loads of cats everywhere in the city. Poor kitties...
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