Life is Busy but Life is Good

To my nearest and dearest.
I apologise for my lack of communication, but I've been so busy recently, that the thought of explaining everything is a little unbearable! However, it's my day off today, and i've woken up without an alarm for the first time in I can't remember when, and am watching Pirates of the Carribbean in my pyjamas.

So I will let you know what I've been up to.

In my last post I said I'd had my stiches out (don't worry this is still the case, I haven't aquired any new ones). I sold my first DVD. Then I went fun diving with Elisabeth and it was awesome because we spent 10 minutes with a hawk-beak turtle.
I then filmed a French family with Adrian, and when I asked if they wanted to buy it the pretty much walked out of the bar without saying anything but bought it two days later.
The day after the French family I filmed seven students, I think, I can't remember. Yeah, seven students, 2 DMT's with Alex. And it was loads of fun to film 'cos there were so many students and they were rubbish at the navigation haha - when are they not. And I sold FOUR DVD's, I was so so happy! I took Virginia to TukTa for dinner, then went to Choppers where she sang with Dodsy and we danced on the table and drank vodka manao and towers of Tiger beer.
Then I filmed 2 German girls with Simon and they bought one even though they told me in the morning that they weren't going to so I was really really happy! Unexpected sale!

Then I had a day off and Brianne came back from the Perinthian islands. I organised loads of stuff for Virginia and Jocelyn's birthday, and went swimming in the pool. And then there were five snorkel tests, so lots of drunk people and I was looking aftrer people. Hilarious the next day.

Then Saturday... I filmed... I have no idea actually. But I was working doing something. Chumphon, I know I went to Chumphon but I can't remember who with but I saw my first sharks - two of them. And I cried in the water because it was so amazing. Something you're usually so scared of just cruising right by you not caring. So inquisitive. And you want to get closer to get a better shot. Nuts!
Then Sunday I filmed DMT's for the twins birthday dive which was loads of fun. We decorated
their tanks and fins and BCD's with loads of ribbon and they messed about loads in the water. That evening we showed their birthday video then went to dinner at Farango's, but I was drinking Chang so I was tired and went home pretty early after giving the girls their presents.
Monday I filmed Alex with four guys and 2 DMT's and it was average. I wasn't expecting a sale but what made it worse it that one of the guys asked to borrow it to copy it. I told him I was going to punch him in the face. I had suffered so many problems in the last two hours with creating DVD menus and trying to get Kim & Vince's leaving videos done in time, and then I dropped my customer DVD and had to burn another, then there was a power cut. Just issue after issue, and I got home and had a mental breakdown to Nell. Then came back out to sit in Shalimar with everyone on Kim and Vince's last night. Dodsy said that everyone has decided that I work too hard. But I don't, I work hard enough.
Yesterday... I filmed Adrian and three customers. Adrian had loads of energy so we messed about loads on the second dive which was hysterical. Hung around for ages to see Kim and Vince before they left which was sad, then went back to the office to edit.
Showed and didn't sell, but it was a good DVD. Then I know Jocelyn was sad because Kim had left, so I took her out of Sairee past Mae Haad, and went to this restaurant called Golden 99. Where basically you cook your own food on grills in front of you, and it's only 99 baht which is like £1.30, and you can eat as much as you like. It's absolutely amazing. Then went to Choppers and watched some of Man on Fire with Virginia then went home.

I have a day off today so me and AD are going to go sit in the pool and drink beer then I'm going to get a massage.
I'm so excited about this day off, and tomorrow I'm filming five students with Brianne and Cheyanne and Claire.

And, I've decided to do my DMT out here, which means I'm going to be very very busy, but I know I'm going to love it. And means that next year when I come out with Hannah with my one-way ticket I can to my instructors course.

As I just said to Louise, it feels like my lifestyle is too settled to remember my life before it, and at the moment I can't imagine ever leaving.

Much love as always xxxx

The Best Days Ever

so basically these have been an amazing few days

i finished making my hilarious movie, then made a leaving video for arj which was awesome but i was really sad when we all watched it so he blew a raspberry on my necvk to make me feel better, then we all went for a massive indian which was delish

the next mornin i did camera maintenance then in the afternoon i watched Aidy edit and then saw Arj off from mae haad :(

day after i did a dry shoot so basically everything except underwater footage and edited with elizabeth's underwater footage. went out for a tiny bit for my friend's last night then went home when it started raining and watched fantastic 4 with marmite and chocolate = heaven

then i had a day off so i got my stitches out (yay) and loads of people came to my bungalow and we drank beer and watched faulty towers and the office and extras and family guy and the might boosh. it was such a good afternoon. then i had work but the bar was dead to we put on some family guy and me brianne and alex all chilled out chatting for ages which was rele nice.

this morning i had a morning dive so was up at the office for 6:45 to get the camera and housing ready then went out on the boat. alex ahd 2 open water students but they didn't want a dvd so i filmed them as practice as if they were real customers, and did the whole dive video. i saw a whale shark dad, it was absolutely amazing. it was only small, but so graceful and plyful, just dshing into bubbles letting them tickle her belly and swallowing them so they came straight out of her gills again. just swimming straight into divers with no fear and racing all over the place. it was absolutely amazing. i did a 50 minute dive and came up on 20 bar but it was worth it!
2nd dive saw triggers and it was generally awesome. got back and started capturing then went home and showered then came back and edited in 2 and a half hours which is good apparently. it played at 6:30, my first dive showing, and everyone was really impressed and said it was good. but what was even better was that one of the customers bought it! i sold my first dvd! absolutely amazing, couldn't stop grinning. Aidy told me i was 2 days ahead of my training.

tomorrow i'm just fun diving with elizabeth in the morning doing more underwater camera skills, and practicing editing a bit more in the afternoon. then i'm working in the evening at the bar.
tuesday i'm making another DMT video and am sad that arj isn't here to be in it. i've also got my evaluation thet day then on wednesday i officially start my internship. i'm working at the bar on friday and saturday night making more spondoolicks.

everyday this is becoming more and more of a lifestyle, and i know it's going to be so hard to leave.

Turtles and other things

As always, I've been having an absolutely amazing time here in Koh Tao.

A few days ago I led my first dives with DMT's (not customers). I gave a full dive briefing on depths and times, what we might see, hand signals etc... Then I navigated the sites, and I didn't get lost and came up on a buoy line! I was so happy with myself. And the sites were beautiful, with amazing visibility and just hundreds of fish everywhere. At Chumphon we saw a massive grouper, and just as we started ascending for our safety stop a big school of bat fish just sailed along beneath us. Then at White Roch it was the same good visibility, and as we were coming round the South pinnacle Nyc spotted a turtle tying down under some coral, so we just hung about with this turtle for a while. I lay down on the floor a foot away from this turtle looking it in the eye loving it. Definately one of the best experiences I've had since I've arrived.

On another dive earlier in the week it was Arj, Cameron and myself diving Chumphon and White Rock again, and Cameron was taking photos. He got a bit to close to a trigger fish (they're very terratorial) and it started attacking him which was hysterical. Just going for his fins non-stop and butting out of the way. It was hysterical!

Yesterday is was really really choppy out but we didn't go to Mae Haad where we can get on at a port, and the long-tail crashed into the side of the big boat making two big holes in the side (above sea-level luckily), then when coming off the boat and coming to shore the longtail just run a-ground on the coral and all the divers had to walk accross the coral cutting their feet up in the process with their kit and dry bags (not so dry - they flooded). Nightmare!

Yesterday I also assisted somewhat with my sister's Open Water, buddy-ing up with a Kiwi guy. It was an average dive, but good just hanging around, keeping an eye on the divers, and helping them if they needed to. Aidy - the videographer and guy I'm doing my internship with - watched me on the dive and said that after 5 minutes he could tell I was comfortable in the water enough to get my hands on a camera finally! So that'll be startting Monday.

Last night I worked my first shift at the Tradewinds Bar which is where all the DJL divers and staff hang out. So it's not so much work but serving drinks to friends all night and then getting drinks bought for you at the end of the night. We had ring of fire jenga and swimming, and I had to walk one of the instructors home because he was so drunk. It was hysterical.

I've been loving it, and having the family here is brilliant. Just diving and being able to do my own thing during the day but then having my family here at the end of the night it just amazing.

My heart is so full of happiness.

Meet Everyone

Let me introduce you to my friends. (There's a slideshow @ the bottom of the page if these links don't work)

Amelie. She is hysterical. Canadian, don't get her started on food cos she won't stop talking. We get on so well, and can continuously chat to one another about everything without getting bored.

Jocelyn (on the left) and Virginia (on the right). They're twins, and are amazing. They both make me laugh so much and I have so much fun with them. When we dive we are lovely, when we go out we dance like crazy people. They are Not EV's! (Energy Vampires).

Dave. He is hysterical and drinks loads of straight liquour and is hilarious in the process. One night he got really drunk and tried to free a bird from it's cage but was so wasted he couldn't undo the string that was holding the door in place, so he was chewing at the string when this thai guy comes out shouting at him so he hides is 1ft of sea. Nutter.

Nell. She's South African, and injures herself a lot. She is lovely.

Marc (left) and Max (right). They came here together. Marc is doing his DMT and Max is doing Tech Diving. They are both great fun and really nice guys. Nell and I got them drunk in the rasta bar on their first night. Good times.

Vince (left) and Brianne (right). Vince just did his IDC and is hilarious dances like a crazy person and will buy you a drink at the bar. Brianne is amazing. She has the most expressive face ever and looks about 5 years younger than she really is. She makes me laugh a lot, we had a sleepover :-)

Arj. He's lovely. Gives amazing hugs and is always good for a Borat banter. I like! We fight under water.

Vince. He's hardly ever like this which is a shame cos he was hysterical this night before he passed out, but he's funny anyway, because he thinks he's black and it makes me laugh. He's from America and is a medic student with
Kim (right), who maes me laugh all the time and has funny tales of her dives - mainly her acting funny like admiring her tan.
Jojo is on the left. He's Burmese and works at the bar. Everyone loves Jojo.

Cheyanne (left) and Alex (centre). Cheyanne is married to Brianne, and always takes the piss out of my laugh and says things like "It's so hot I could shit". He makes me laugh all the time. Alex calls me munchkin and likes hand massages, and is ALWAYS sitting at the bar. With his sunglasses on.

Cami. She's from London and is a good laugh. She doesn't take shit from anyone. I like that about her.

Well, I think that's about it really...
It's raining outside, and I'm diving tomorrow morning, and think I have a cold coming so I'm going to sleep.

Night all! xxx

Live to Dive

I was speaking to a couple of friends yesterday, and we were saying they that diving has lost the razzle dazzle it has for everyone else. If you're not diving tomorrow, it just means that you'll see that person at lunch, or at dinner, rather than see them on the boat or dive with them. We're not tourists who come out, dive, and think it's a bit of a song and dance. It's normal, we know the dive sites (kind of), and granted we'll still love a great dive when you see loads, but it's a normal part of our everyday lives.
I was talking to Nell, and she said that she met someone who wasn't diving on Koh Tao. And I think thet's ridiculous. Because in my opinion, you either dive, or you drink, or you do both. But drinking during the day usually leads to less drinking at night so you dive during the day. And if you don't dive... what do you do?! Koh Tao is littered with dive companies and you get to recognise their boats, pray certain boats aren't there, know which ones might run you over if you're not careful (it's happened). To not dive here is ridiculous!

I was supposed to take a few days out of the water once I got back to Koh Tao after being in hospital on Samui (=absolute luxury), but after one day out of the water I had to put my name down for a dive. I was so bored it was unreal and was back in the water the next afternoon. There's no stopping me, I'm a water baby and being able to breathe under water is the best thing in the world. It feels like you're flying you're so free under there, and it's so much fun, that even at the most simple and perhaps dull of dive sites you can mess about with everyone. Riding people like a rodeo, biting their fins, dance moves, parrot fish impressions... the list goes on. And it;s just so relaxing. I hate coming up to the surface - especially at the moment because it's so fucking choppy you get exhausted swimming back to the boat, then get slammed into the ladder whilst trying to get on because the waves are making the boat move so much.
But then you get on the boat, have a cup of tea and a buscit, maybe a little lie down if you feel like it, perhaps fight with Deesa (the Burmese guy who works on the boat), change your tank and do it all over again.

Here, I live to dive, and couldn't ask for anything more.

Much love xxxx

Dengue Fever is not so Fun

So today I get to go home. I know I've only been here for two nights and three days but they've been so long and I've been so bored that I can't wait to get out of Koh Samui and back to Koh Tao to see everyone.
Being ill sucks a lot, and I definitely don't plan on it happening again any time soon!!
I don't actually have much else to write at all here because I've been doing nothing but lazing about, eating food and watching films, oh, and sleeping for the best part of a week so I guess I'll update once I start living normally again.

Diver Diver! Are you OK?!

HAHA! So now I am officially a Rescue Diver. This has been the hardest two days of the trip so far! No doubt.
Today is Sunday... So on Thursday it was the IDC party (Instructor Training), so everyone was getting drunk and swimming and there was a free BBQ. Then we went and bought beer and liquour and came back to my bungalow to watch south park and play ring of fire. Went back to DJL, and got picked up by Mr Noomski and he drove us up his 100m very steep hill to Sunset View. The most amazing view again but rubbish sunset because it was really cloudy. Vince got horrifically drunk and threw up all over the decking so I looked after him. After dropping everyone off at DJL @ about 8 Dave & I took him home then went back. I felt sober, so was bought a beer, 2 jaegermeister shots and a bloody mary. Went swimming for a bit, then apparently had a half hour unresponsive nap on the table before throwing upon Alex's shoes then walking home at about 11pm.
Came in at 10 (which was the worst thing ever) to start my rescue diver theory but basically ended up dying a bit inside so lay down eating crisps until we went out for our skills dive. Rescuing is really hard work and the current was quite strong at Japanese Gardens so it was nightmare getting victims to the boat. I was so dehydrated I kept getting cramp! In the evening we went to Choppers for dinner (half price Thai Food) then Virginia and I went upstairs and fell asleep watching a movie.
In again at 10 to do more theory then went out in the afternoon for a fun dive at Red Rock then did our rescue scenarios. When bascially the DMT's just went missing or were panicked at the surface, or had drowned or had a jelly fish sting.It was such hard work, and really put you under pressure to remember all the skills we'd learnt the day before. So rewarding though! And exhausting.
Went to simple life for dinner, right on the beach, gorgeous sunset. Then went to choppers again and fell asleep for a few hours before heading home.
Did my test today so am fully qualified as a rescue diver, and am going home to sleep now so I feel better to go out tonight.

Awesome :) xxxxx