Got my blue paper!

Woooo hooooo! No whale sharks (well, not yet - Therese, I need some stronger vibrations on that front), but a very scrappy piece of paper stapled to my logbook saying I have my Open Water qualification. But it is the best looking piece of scrappy paper I have seen since they thrust that temporary green paper ID into my inkened, fingerprinted 16 year old hands. Yes that ticket to a driving licence and, for some (not me) with modifications and a photocopier, into Sarah's/Rosalind's [nightclubs].

So I can dive. I may not be able to hear very well, but I can dive. Yeeeehaaaaa! I had to trade choppy water and the chance of seeing whale sharks for calmer seas and lower likelihood of ear problems before descent. It was in a place called Japanese Gardens, off the coast of beautiful Koh Nang Yuan, a cluster of 3 islets joined by a sandy causeway, north of Koh Tao (pictured below) I came here the other day on a boat snorkelling trip - clear water and amazing snorkelling. I needed that trip to escape the wildlife living in the bathroom of my rustic retreat on the south of the island. Aish! A spider so big not even I felt physically able to take it on with shoe and win, and some vermin which crept in and stole my redskin peanuts from next to my bed. Just a few, from a hole nibbled in side of packet, but enough for me to lose my appetite for peanuts. They spat the red skins out in the bathroom, after relieving themselves next to the basin (peanuts and figs for supper I believe).

Anyway, back to diving. So, some navigation skills, careful ear-popping, heart-pounding underwater mask removal and then off to see the fish again. Nudibranches, electric flatworms, a giant clam, lizard fish and others, and lots and lots of different kinds of coral. Mmmm.

And next? Well, maybe another yoga class at Blue Wind resort tomorrow morning (if you want to know: dingy-looking bungalows, overrated pastries, indifferent cafe staff and very many flies but a peaceful yoga studio open to the fresh air, and a fabulous teacher). Then back to Bangkok, and off to Cambodia on Monday morning. The grumpy ferry staff told me no-ferry-plus-train tickets to Bangkok til next weekend, but the lovely people at Thai travel agency thailandtrainticket waved their speedy magic wand and found me a berth (second time they've sorted me - highly recommended!). So, lesson learned: you can be relaxed but not tooooo relaxed when it comes to key travel plans.

I'm still undecided on whether I really, really need more than one day for temples, or whether I will have sensory overload after a day. I know you will be unamused that this is the difficulty-level of the decisions I have to make at the moment....well, alongside whether I need a snorkel with a bendy bit and purge valve or not. But, if you can set aside your disgust for a second, any suggestions on temples (and, if you wish, on snorkels) would be most welcome. And J and Nicky, I'd value your views on this, but perhaps with some moderating input from other halves, bearing in mind I'm not photofanatic/guru like you guys.

That's all from me for a while. I need to go in search of some DEET. 

Posted from Koh Tao, 16 March 2012 (around 18.15: Chang-o'clock today).