Refresher day

I did my refresher today, I survived the filling of the mask, taking out the regulator and all that J
After the skills I just swam around getting my diving memory back.
Tomorrow I’ll do a fun dive, just so I get a bit more comfortable before joining up with the marine conservation team on Monday.

My computer is acting a bit strange, but hopefully it will sort itself out. Maybe it’s just tired cause of the humidity.
Apparently it was tires because McAfee was doing an update, and I'm also very impatient. But my computer is very slow, don't know why, neither does my IT-technician Cizzi. But at least I'm up again.
When I get a new computer one day I'll make sure it is faster and better. Should have listened to the reviews on this one, the critics said it was very slow working but it has an amazing battery time and is light and small.
It’s very annoying though, stupid computer, my old phone works just fine.

I think I’m gonna sleep lika a baby tonight. After the skills and diving my legs were like rubber and I could hardly climb up the ladder to the boat J My diving muscles has been dormant for a long time.

I really feel like having a pizza tonight but I don't think I will, haven't gotten my bicycle yet and there's no good pizza places around I think, but I'll check it out.

Pizza and a good movie would be perfect. I've watched Sand Sharks (yes, Cizzi it got even more stupid) and Swamp Shark (that was remotely better then the sharks in the sand), tonight I think I'll go for nostalgia Boondock Saints (thank you Caroline)

There's a lot of dogs here everywhere, but they are disgusting, scary and strange, not my boyfriend at all. Can't wait to talk to Terry :)

morning of the 30th

Back to one of the better views you can have.
My plan was to clean the beach, but unlike last time I was here in August 2011 where you had a big stretch of sand now the water goes all the way up to the top of the shoreline.

The turtle kindergarten is right next to the dive shop. They live in these tanks, get fed and grow bigger and stronger before being released into the ocean. This is done to increase the survival rate.

Yesterday the 29th

Today I met with BUA management, very helpful and service minded.

I took a walk to them, and of course being me who can’t read maps, I went much too far, almost ending up in Sairee before I realized I’d probably walked too far. Walked back, asked for directions in a store, and realized just how too far I walked J But I did get some extra exercise.

Finally found them and they had only one place for rent Beachside Resort, and only for a month (Feb. 28^th), I had a look and even it’s not exactly right I decided to take it just so I have more time finding a better place. I’ve rented it already so it’s mine, but I’ll be staying in Tropicana a couple of more nights.

BUA will be looking out for another place that I can make my home, and I will also go looking to see if I can find something that I feel I can feel at home in.

It looks like February is really busy here.

But now I have time to find a place I get the right feeling for.

My lunch was the thing I’ve missed the most, barbecued pork and papaya salad YUMMY!!! Bought it from a street vendor where they have the charcoal grill right beside the stall. It tasted even better than I remember! As long as I have this pork I think I’ll be fine without “rökt sidfläsk” (smoked loin of pork)

I also went to New Heaven talking to Roxanne and Emanuel or Manuel (I suck at remembering names), put my dive gear there so I don’t have to carry that around when moving.
Manuel (master diver at New Heaven) thought it would be best if I did a refresher since it was so long since I dove last, so I get to do the mask on and off etc (again) I really don’t like that, I always get water in my nose. Let’s see if he’s as good as Eileen who did this with me on Pom Pom. She was fantastic.
Just have to tell him that I’m practically blind without my contacts J
I’ll be doing the refresher on Friday so I have one more day off, so tomorrow I think I’ll take a walk on Chalok Beach doing a clean up, I love doing beach clean ups. That is something I know how to do and feel comfortable with.
I have a problem with not knowing how to do stuff, I always want to be good at what I’m assigned to do, if not I feel like a burden. But beach clean-ups I know how to do!
Patience and trust in myself is not something I’m good at, but I’m working on it.
Whenever I’m in a situation where I’m a beginner I feel stupid and like a burden, I think it’s because I’ve been working with what I do at home for so long that I know I’m good at it so when I’m faced with something I haven’t done before I’m really hard on myself.

The baby turtle nursery is right next to New Heaven, so when my sister+friend and dad and uncle gets here I hope there will be turtles there to show them.
For me after Pom Pom baby turtles isn’t that exotic, I’ve seen eggs being laid, gathered them to the nursery and seen them being released.

Rented a bike but the pedal fell off J The service on bicycles isn’t like back home, but hopefully I’ll get my bike in a few days time. Roxanne at New Heaven will be holding one for me as soon as one is returned.
The bikes have like million of gears, 1-3 + 1-like 20…. How will I manage that J My bike at home has 7 gears only, all controlled with the same lever.

I’ll be here for a while so I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it. I bet it’s easier to bicycle with that many gears.

I have no idea how to send text-sms with my thai number J I need my sister J True move apparently doesn’t do it easy, I try to text but it’s never sent, I probably need some extra code or something.

Dinner was pancake with onion, cheese and tomatoe and for dessert pancake with banana, coconut and chocolate.

I’m out…

Yesterday evening and arrival at Koh Tao

Yesterday evening I had dinner at the hotel again:

I got the red snapper garlic and pepper, it was a pleasant surprise, very garlicy and pepper spicy which I spiced up with fresh chili and dried chili. Real nice.
One of these cover bands playing Beatles, Abba, et al…. no Elvis yet… I’ll be gone when that comes up. The band ask us to request songs, I wonder if I should ask Pearl Jam, Silverchair, Roxie 77, London Cries, Linkin Park…. That would be an akward moment for that poor band who only want people to request songs from these mundane boring bands where everyone knows the songs.
I don’t blame the band I blame the music J

Tomorrow Koh Tao J here I come

So today I arrived on Koh Tao, I have checked into my room at the hotel and been by to New Heaven Dive school to say that I have arrived.

Tomorrow I need to go and see the Bua Management about long term rental, but Thursday I'll revive my diving skills, I'll be joining the fun-dive team since it was so long since I went diving.

Feeling pretty nervous about it but I trust the New Heaven team.

I don't feel at home yet, I'm not very good at socializing and meeting new people. I need a couple of weeks to warm up. But I'm sure I will get there and feel more at home here as time goes by, after all I am staying until July 15.

I need my time to adjust and making "friends", when I get started on the Marine conservation I think I will get to know the team a bit better and not feel so out of place, akward. and insecure.

Tonight I'll have myself a nice dinner but first I need to do some shopping for soap, toilet paper and other necessities.

Going to be an early night tonight, feel a bit tired.

At the hotel, of course, I got the top floor, and the stairs are really high, my short legs really have to lift, lift high. With my two heavy bags up those stairs, I think I've gotten all the work out I'm up for for today.

I'm out

Day 2

Being connected where ever you are is nice but when I'm sitting here in the WiFi-area of the hotel I also get sad seeing a young girl trying to get attention from her mom and dad who is really busy in their smart phones and asking her to hush. The dad actually took a break from his phone for a few seconds but the mum is totally unaware and just have her eyes on the phone telling her kid to hush... This is a sad development of being online all the time.

Woke up after a long nights sleep, I was exhausted after the long journey and slept like a baby. The hotel is really nice and quiet which made me get a long rest.
Had a nice breakfast with fried rice, veggie noodles and extra chili and chili flakes and lime. A small plate of fruit to finish the morning feast with.

The hotel breakfast was really good, a lot of different foods, from noodles and fried rice, to the western kind with pancakes, yogurt, bread, jams and the option of eggs and omelettes fried up fresh.

This morning I went for a walk in the midday heat, and bought credits to my new number.

The afternoon I spent by the pool and took a swim in the ocean, I’m glad I brought my wetsuit for the diving, the ocean was a bit cold, not as warm as when I was on Pom Pom.

I’ve been reading a lot today, the book I’m reading “Gone girl” by Gillian Flynn is really good, you don’t know why to believe in and whether the main character is a prick and murdered or not.

Now I’m enjoying a late afternoon on my huge balcony with my book and a beer. Listening to Chris Cornell “Live at O-baren”. After that I’ll switch to the amazing and fantastic Toby Rand and London Cries and also Silverchair “Neon ballroom” with a trip down to the 90-ties.

Tomorrow Lomprayah shuttle service picks me up around 11, for my onward journey to Koh Tao, my home for the next 5,5 months.
Just hope I can find a nice longterm place to stay. Koh Tao is very crowded for the moment and it’s not that easy finding long term accommodation, but hopefully Bua Management can sort that out for me.
I’ll give them a call tomorrow morning to set up an appointment.

Now for the rest of the day I’m just going to enjoy the peace and calm that has come over me.

I think my mom would love this hotel and beach where the ocean is calm with no big waves.

I’ll be having dinner at the hotel again tonight, I want to give them one more try cause it’s really a nice place to stay.
I’ll let you know how my dinner was J

A few pictures of my journey so far.

Don't you just love the name of the flight Hiroshima :)

The journey begins and first day on koh Samui

Please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors in this text, I have slept for like 36  hours (Hey a Roxie 77-song)

Samui Palm beach resort, Bo Phut

Staff: Very friendly and service minded. Spoken English very good (for Thailand) J

Accomodation: De Luxe room – Big bedroom with sofa, table, tv and desk. Lot of floor space, not crowded.

Big bathroom with a separate bath, and separate shower, toilet and good sized table by the sink.
Haven’t tried to functionality of the shower yet, I’ll get back on that one.

Big closet, safety box and drawers.

Furnitures a bit old but functional.

Room was clean but the balcony had not been cleaned, bit of old paint on it.

Location: Right on Bo Phut beach, the beach itself is not cleaned regularly. Even during the day it is trash laying on the beach.
Not much happening around the hotel, tomorrow I think I’ll take a walk to Fishermans village in the afternoon. It’ll be interesting to see if it’s what the brochures says it is.

Environment: Hotel information asks you not to rent jetski’s, to put towels for washing in a certain way and think about your use of electronicty

Food: Squid with curry. Squid a bit chewy, and the curry sauce lacks of taste. Not spicy at all, would have needed a bit more kick to it. No seasoning offered on the side, a bit of extra chili and fish sauce might have turned this dish to an average instead of just boring. Vegetables a bit overdone. Rice over cooked and very bland.
But on the other hand my mum probably would have liked this dish (if it wasn’t for the overdone squid), it tasted of curry and have a tiny tiny hotness to it.
Not at all worth the price which is expensive even in Swedish measures. But after a +24 hours journey I really didn’t have the energy to go somewhere else.
I was given a mosquito spray, guess that is something J
The restaurant is really dead, almost no people here, the beach bar is also totally empty.

Ordered a Gin Fizz, got a Gin and Tonic… that is not the same thing at all!

The hotel overall seems pretty empty even during day time. Perhaps that is why the food is lacking in real taste or maybe it is because that this is a typical tourist place where they don’t dare to spice of the food, but then they really should offer seasoning on the side for us who like food with a bit more kick to it.

The food wasn’t nasty in any way, it tastes nice and is friendly to the ones who don’t like a lot a spice and flavors, but to bland for my liking, or boring J It tasted like squid in curry, which is good, but the lack of taste was disappointing. It tasted good, but I was starving so I don’t know what I would have felt if I’d been in Thailand for a while before tasting this.
It’s probably also due to my high expectations, after the curry squid I remember from New Heaven Restaurant on Koh Tao.

The portions are generous though.

The service is good before you have ordered but after it is not that attentive, but still very polite.
But very friendly staff, I think the lack of guests is the problem.
I don’t understand though why this place is so empty, maybe it is the price range, it can’t be the location, it’s right on the beach and for me that extra service goes a long way, and that is what I’ve been offered so far.

It will be interesting to sample their breakfast tomorrow. I wont be as dead tired then, I’m too old to not sleep for +24 hours J

Weather, the old important weather: It’s actually a bit chilly, I have trousers and long sleeves. I can imagine how cold it would feel for someone who’s living here.

The journey: Qatar Airways
Dreamliner from Arlanda-Doha, a lot of leg room, clean and fresh, food was good for an airplane,
Doha airport was ok, I walked around and stretched my legs.
Doha-Bangkok:Older plane with less legroom but service, food and entertainment was just as good as the first stretch.
Bangkok-Koh Samui: Short flight where you had time for breakfast and coffe. Went smooth.

Had ordered pick-up service from the hotel (500 TBH) that worked perfect. The driver drove calm and it was a very comfortable ride, highly recommend this, even if it’s more expensive than taking a cab at the airport.

A summary:
Qatar Airways – Recommend them, good service and friendly staff and for being stuck on an airplane pretty comfortable (it’s not their fault I can’t sleep on a plane)

Samui Palm Beach resort (only day one when I’m really tired), really service minded and helpful, gives that little bit of extra service that you really appreciate after a long flight.
I’ll get back on my review after tomorrow when I’ve seen a bit more of the surroundings.
I have a full day tomorrow here on Koh Samui before I finish my journey and arrive on Koh Tao.

Got my thai number today but didn’t charge it J Thought it was included in the pack, just like it is in Malaysia J Stupid of me, but I’ll get money on it tomorrow. Tried to do it online but didn’t understand a thing (surprise surprise) J

Know it’s time for a shower, a bear on the balcony (which is really big J) a good good and then sleep sleep lovely sleep.

Tomorrow I must fix my thai humber so I can call Bua Management on Koh Tao. It is extremely busy on Koh Tao so it’s not easy to find a good long term place to stay as it seems.

Pictures and more information to come….

Last night in my little home

I am not leaving until the 25th, but since I will be renting out my appartment I need to empty it of all my stuff and do a good cleaning of it, so that my house guest move in to a spotless place.
To do this I need to move out, I'm working full time so my only chance to clean it out is on Sunday.
Friday-Saturday I will spend with my sister and her "family".
Saturday I'm moving in to my parents :) Hasn't lived at home since -89 :) But I'm lucky having parents like them, I am so welcome to stay with them for a week.
They are also arranging a good-bye party for me on the 24th. There will be a shellfish buffe :) I love it! My parents will be there, my sister and her best friend, my older sister with her kids and husband, and my two best friends!

I'm a bit nostalgic and scared of leaving my flat for such a long time, it's my comfort zone, my home, but I know that I will feel at home on Koh Tao as soon as I have found a place to stay there. I will make that place my home for 5 months.

I don't want to get stuck in my comfort zone here at home, I don't want to be asking myself why didn't I do this and that before it's to late. I'm doing it, and if it doesn't work out then I have tried!

Final preparations in full swing!

This Saturday it's only 2 weeks til take-off!! I still haven't grasped the whole concept of what I'm about to do. I am to busy packing stuff and cleaning my apartment for the person who's renting my apartment when I'm away.
While packing most of my clothes away for storage I realise how much clothes I have.
Now I only have a few items left but I manage anyway, I think this is a sign that I have much to many clothes, and don't mention the shoes, I have loads of shoes :)

In about a weeks time I'll be moving in with my parents, I think when I get there I will be able to enjoy the thought of leaving and also think about my new journey in life and where it might take me.

My parents has planned a small party the 24th when we're going to enjoy lovely seafood together the whole family and my closest friends.

This weekend I'm going to spend with my sister and her room mate, even though I have loads of stuff to do at home I still want to spend a last weekend for some time with my baby sister and my "boyfriend" (that is my sisters Chow Chow Terry :))
Who wouldn't miss this cute "little" guy?
I am so going to have Skype calls with him :)

Packing, preparing and things to think about

With less than 3 weeks until take-off I started packing all my dive equipment, can't believe how much stuff it is.
My bag is already getting full and I haven't even started on clothes and shoes and other stuff.
I think I'll have to be really smart when packing, but the most important things are the dive equipment, battery charges and re-chargeable batteries, my water bottle, a small water-cooker, food-containers, contact lenses and my http://www.renskincare.com/ skincare products, and DVD's to watch when at my new home. I have bought The walking dead, Son's of anarchy, Fast and the Furious, Oceans, and a few other DVD's.

I have only a few things left on my list of things to do, which feels great.

When going on a trip like this, if you like me have an apartment and a full time job, there are a couple of things to think about:
1. Can you get leave of abscence from you work? I got it because in Sweden if you want to study your job can't say no
2. When renting out your apartment, make sure you have a good contract
3. Check your home insurance, what is your cover when you don't live there
4. Travel insurance, check carefully how you are covered. I choose World Nomads because no insurance companies in Sweden were able to cover me
5. Read about the country you are going to, their culture and how to behave. Respect the country and culture  you are visiting, you are their guest.
6. Re-chargable batteries and a charger. Don't forget an adapter for the electricity
7. Reflex and a flash light (if going to an area where this is needed)
8. Bring your own water bottle that you can refill and food container for left overs, perfect for a cold breakfast
9. Be aware that things doesn't run as smoothly as in your own country, patience, a smile and respect will get you a long way. And depending on where you travel, check out the rules for staying
10. Take copies of your travel documents, passport and travel insurance
11. When there - don't litter, think about your water- and energy consumption, respect nature and don't support animal/marine parks, and be consious of what you eat and where it comes from.
12. Don't be afraid to ask for help, people in general are really helpful when you ask for it.
13. Be safety consious, don't ever drink and drive (motorbike, moped, bicycle or car), use relfex when it's dark and a flashlight if needed. Don't flash your money or valuables around, and make sure that when you have a night out you only bring what is absolutely necessary.

14. Respect people, ocean, animals and the environment and ask for help if you need to.

Thanks to http://www.kayavolunteer.com/ and their wonderful staff and http://www.newheavendiveschool.com/ I am well prepared