Bamboo Island

I am really burnt now, despite liberally applying spf 45 twice or thrice a day. Snorkelling is deceptively...um...it's deceptive. You have cool water on your back all day until you finish, when you realize that your back is in a world of hurt. Also, with all that water, your need for hydration goes unnoticed even after spending all that energy. But anyway I got in some good snorkelling today here at...Bamboo Island!!

I woke up this morning and bought a ticket for a snorkelling tour boat around the two main islands here. It also makes a stop at a minor (undeveloped) island, bamboo island. I had asked if they would drop me off there and pick me up on the next day's tour, and they said sure (that's the cheapest way to get there for the night, cheaper than hiring a longtail boat). So off we went.

When we arrived here at bamboo island, there were lots of people swimming and playing, but they all left at around 3:30. So now I'm in my tent on this remote Island in the Andaman Sea with no noise but the waves and crickets, no people but the park ranger. But it's really hot.

Fyi: 1 After everyone left, I walked around the circumference of this island and it took about 45min. 2 There is no bamboo on bamboo island. 3 This is my tent's maiden voyage.

Hammock

Now I'm in a hammock strung up on some trees with low-running branches at a beach on Phi Phi island, somewhere in the south of Thailand. I'm typing this on a pda lent to me by a student of mine, and sending it by cellphone.

As every travel agency will tell you, Phi Phi island is where the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Beach" was filmed. It was hit hard by the tsunami, and there is still evidence of that. Also the port area is the ugliest piece of tourist pandering nightlife trash you can imagine. But once you get away from that, it's really beautiful.

The snorkelling at this beach is pretty good with amazingly clear water and colorful fish. Tomorrow I'm going to take a day tour around the surrounding islands , get off and stay on one of them, Bamboo Island, a small undeveloped snorkelling paradise, or so I hear. I'll camp there, then catch the following day's tour boat back to Phi Phi. Wish you were here, whoever 'you' might be.

I'm writing from Thailand

Yes, I decided to take my spring break in thailand. I originally wanted to go to the Maldives, but it turns out that's wicked expensive, so I researched out the wazoo and came up with this Thai island hopping snorkelling and maybe camping adventure.

Now I'm in Phuket, which is nice, but maybe a bit overcrowded with tourists. After finishing breakfast, I'm going to snorkel, then probably take a ferry to Phi Phi island.

I'll be here until April 5th, but I can still check email, so send me something because I'm here alone:)

A Day of Amazing Chance Meetings

Today I had 4 amazing chance meetings with students.
1. At a culture festival held at an elementary school where our church's gospel choir sang, I met a former student from my Wednesday night class, a middle aged man who quit my class 6 months ago and happened to be volunteering as a stage hand today.

2. At the same festival, I met a woman who hasn't been able to attend my class at all this year because of her husband's recent cerebral hemorrhage. It was great to get a chance to talk to her.

3. Then Mike (fellow teacher at the English School, from Tasmania) and I went to downtown Yokkaichi to eat lunch, go to starbucks, and walk around the big shopping center. There, I met another former student.

4. As I was talking to her, another former student walked by! She quit my Wednesday night class (same as #1) at the same time as #1 because she was getting married and moving far away. So obviously I was surprised and glad to see her back in Yokkaichi for the first time since she left and got married a half year ago.

All this, and then one of the video games there in the shopping center started playing the tune of "It's a small world after all"...and THAT after some kindergarteners had played "It's a small world after all" on handbells earlier that day at the culture festival!