Diving, finally

Finally got back in the water Wednesday. Dived around finding my diving skills again, really felt that it was 7 months ago.
Thursday things felt much better and Friday's dive almost felt as it should. Still a few things to work on of course, you can always get better.
Took a few photos and thanks to the photo editing program my amazing sister recommended, the pictures turned out really good :)

Enjoy....

A pair of Longfin Bannerfish at Southwest

Rahul hanging out during the safety stop at Southwest

Mirror images, Longfin Bannerfush at Hin Fai/Biorock

They swam right up to me

Synchronized eating

Synchronized swimming

Pinkbellied seacucumber at Hin Fai

Land work

I went with the crew yesterday to do some snorkelling and try my knee.
This morning I found out that it's not fully healed yet, but that was perfectly alright. I got to spend the day at Save Koh Tao office doing more concrete bottle nurserys.
It was a fantastic day, the team work was fantastic. Everyone were doing a lot of work and having fun at the same time.
Tomorrow I'll be back there doing more new structures and getting a good workout building muscles :-)
I'll do my best to remember to bring my camera tomorrow so you can see all the fantastic structures we're doing.
I think we all had a great day, much thanks to the team leader Spencer and Joel who were really organised and knew exactly what was needed.
Never underestimated good organisation :-)

Monday

My knee was healing up but I did something stupid, stair training, so now I've got to heal up again :-)

Today I've been doing some land work. We dug up the old pipe for the turtle tanks and put down a new better one. The guys also installed the new pump.
Digging under a hot sun with no wind, puh, that is hot, but a good excersise. I was careful so I only put weight on my good knee.
I think the baby turtles will be even happier now with the new pump and pipe.

In the afternoon I walked in the shallows cleaning, it is so much plastic everywhere. You could spend a week digging up plastic and still there would be almost as much left.
We really need to stop using plastic for everything, and when we do use it make sure we take it with us and throw it in a bin.

Today's been a really hot day, almost no wind and a clear blue sky.
I'm getting more and more used to the heat.
Already looking forward to my new job as project manager at TRACC. It's going to be challenging, fun and educational.

Still haven't got much color on my skin, but that's perfectly fine. I'll get more than enough :-)

Friday the 13th

Not only is this my favorite date and day it is also wonderful Mia's bityhday!
I start this evening with the walking dead, sticky rice and pork- and chicken scewers

Little help, please

The Drupella snail is a big threat to the corals around Koh Tao.
Collecting them by hand takes a huge amount of time and the numbers we do collect doesn't change much.
Please help us to afford equipment that can actually reduce their numbers to make a difference.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-drupella-dredger-1

http://www.newheavendiveschool.com/conservation-projects/drupella-dredger/

Life's not bad

Life's pretty good even though I'm still not diving. I'll give my knee a try Monday by going out jogging, if it's ok Tuesday I'm going down!
I'm still in zombie mood, I love my balcony to much. Yesterday I started with the walking dead season one and now I have bought myself a nice drink to accompany me on my all nighters on the balcony.
But I need to readjust my internal click soon :-) Going to bed when the sun comes up is normally when I get up in the mornings.
I have gotten almost no sun on me so I'm still as pale as before :-) guess I'll have to start working on that so I don't burn myself when I go out diving. I never use sun screen when going into the water cause it's been proven it has a negative impact on coral health.
It is so nice to see all the friendly faces here in Chalok. Everyone seems to like my new hair cut.

I gave the baby present to my hosts at Namhasin House today. It was so nice to see how happy he got. Baby and mother is still in Bangkok cause the baby needs extra nutrition, he was so tiny when he arrived. But he is getting bigger and stronger each day.
I wonder if I could ever find a place feeling so much as a home away from home.

Balcony night

Watching Sons of Anarchy on my balcony.
Life feels pretty awesome.
One piece of the puzzle is missing however, my best friend Cizzi!

Bua

Now I've bought food and a food container for Bua.
I got puppy wet food cause she's looking really skinny, and because that was all they had in Akutan. I'll add some sandwich sausage for her first meals so that she gets used to the taste.
Also got adult hard food and different treats.

I've been to Akutan three times today, they must think I'm a tiny bit obsessed with them.
My knee prevents me from getting all in one go (trying to be sensible and smart haha)

I'm at my second home

I have arrived at my second home, Namhasin House, or I arrived yesterday.
I got the same room as last time so it really feels like coming home.

The journey over here was long, and since I can't sleep while travelling it felt even longer.
I also managed to twist my knee when getting on to the transfer bus at Koh Samui. Walking is fine but going down stairs is a little painful. Will wait a couple of days before going diving since I will need my knees when finning and climbing up the ladder.
I slept like 12 hours last night, it was so nice.
Today I went to the dive school, New Heaven, just to say hi. While there I untangeled string and filled up some needles. It was great to see everyone again and the best thing was that Bua remembered me. It took a couple of minutes but she did recognize me :-)
I have also been shopping stuff for my room: a water kettle, broom, toilet brush, cleaning liquid, washing powder, dish liquid, cup, glasses and forks and spoons. And of course instant coffee, milk and muslie.

It very warm and humid :-D My hair looks crazy.