Becky overloaded on the breakfast this morning as we were in for long day snorkeling and she was feeling about better. Our taxi pick up was 9.30am it was GREAT not setting an alarm.
We arrived at the office which was packed full of people. Arranged into groups, wristband plus goggles and snorkel. It was a smooth transition I have to say compared to most things in Thailand. Once that was done it was a short walk down to the pier to get on the boat.
The trip involved 5 stops, the first being Japanese gardens which was atan island called job Nang yuan,just off Koh Tao. Rules were no plastic bottles allowed on the island or extra footwear 🤔 in an attempt to keep the place stunning. It was a beautiful place a stretch of sand connecting the 2 main parts of the island and crystal blue water either side. My idea of paradise, apart from the hundreds of tourists.
We put our towels down just next to the water as we had 2 hours on this island so it was straight in the sea for both of us!
We saw lots of fish all different colours it was amazing to see, as we kept swimming out the visibility wasn’t that great but if I was going to see a turtle I had to go deeper! As we reached the rope to go no further this is when we seen the most amount of fish as they were feeding off the rope and the bottom of the boats nearby. At one point this group of fish swarmed around me. I stayed still to just see what would happen, this one little fish would not leave me alone and kept nibbling at my ear or face!
We decided to try another part of the island to see if there was any turtles! I was desperate to swim with one, I know we seen one diving but it would be awesome to snorkel with one or two or three, asking a bit much there?
Again the visibility wasn’t great the further we swam out but I think there wouldn’t be as much to see this side anyway as all the boats were docking this side of the island. I can’t remember most of the names of the fish apart from angel fish and sea urchins (these things are lethal!!!)
Back to the boat for 1pm and it was lunch time, a packed lunch consisting of you guessed it veg and rice. I could only eat half of it as I wasnt that hungry and just fed up of eating veg and rice. Luckily there was biscuits on offer so I tucked into a few of them to tide me over. After lunch it was time to reapply the sun cream as it probably would have washed off after two hours of snorkeling.
The second site was called mango bay a little cove next to some rocks. This time it was a jump off the 2nd floor of the boat effort into the water. Neither of us fancied it so we used the steps. Becky was having issues with her snorkel too it was letting some water in at the nose so we swapped at the next site.
The third site was just off the east side of the island. We spent very little time in this site as there were far too many people in the water. There were a few more boats on the site too so that didn’t help the situation. Since we got back on the boat early both of us went up to the sun deck to dry off. I applied suncream to Becky’s back as she was staying up for longer but I went back downstairs as I was feeling burnt already.
As we arrived at the fourth site the water was very choppy and it was close to some rocks so we decided it was best if we didn’t go in. Most people were taking life jackets as the sea was that rough. Both of us were starting to feel the effects of both the sun and the swimming all day. A break was needed!
Our final stop on the trip was to shark bay! We were both reluctant to go in as we thought it would be the same as the other sites. However it all changed when one of the staff got in the water first and shouted to everyone that a turtle was in the water. It’s probably the quickest I’ve moved all holiday. I grabbed my snorkel and jumped in, Becky was behind me at one point but then she disappeared, no way waiting! What an experience that is swimming with a turtle! I can check that off the bucket list! I found Becky eventually or she found me 😂 we decided to have a look for another one. Our attempts at finding another turtle failed but we did come across a trigger fish which can be aggressive so we swam away!
Back on the boat we noticed that EVERYONE had sunburn. I was praying I didn’t have it, I had factor 50 on all day! Some people couldn’t have put cream on all day as they were red raw!
Once we arrived back at the hotel it became clear who was burnt and who was not! I was in the clear for the most part my neck was a little red but that was it. Becky however was no so lucky and guess who got the blame! During her time on the sundeck she fell asleep while lay on her front. I did put cream on her back but she was a little red there. Her bum however was like a baboons ass 🤣 it looked so sore. Again I got the blame for not putting cream on it…..yeah my fault completely.
That night I wasnt feeling too great I don’t know if it was the combination of diving all week and that snorkeling trip. Our plan was to go have a nice meal then attend the cabaret that was on. Becky wasnt hungry or didn’t want much to eat. a restaurant nearby would do the trick. As I wasn’t feeling great I wasnt that hungry but was forced to eat as I “hadn’t eaten in days”.
Once we finished we walked round the market to find Becky some glasses as hers broke early on in the day and me some swim shorts as to quote Becky “you can’t go swimming in gym shorts!” Pointless now getting swim shorts with a week to go!
Cabaret time and well what can I say that is an experience in itself. Free entry but your required to buy a drink and they were pricey. Fair enough one vodka and one Bacardi. I think they doubled or tripled up on the alcohol as the coke was almost clear!
This was our first experience of a cabaret and well I was confused by the situation. Guys dressed up as women dancing and miming to songs. They didn’t even sing…. Felt cheated in a way to be honest. Becky was curious looking for scars and who still had their meat and 2 veg 😂 there was one though and this isn’t meant to sound harsh but he/she looked like they had been hit in the face with a spade. Becky later thought they looked like jigsaw from the saw films 😂 it was good entertainment anyway especially when one guy was pulled out the audience for a special lap dance with one of the performers. Thank god it wasn’t me! Becky is now jealous of their bodies and made one of the performers her bodygoal! Don’t really know what to make of this….does she want to look like a ladyboy???🤔
South East Asia 2019 