Ko Phan Ngan: Padi Diving Course

Guess who finally made it to the Thai islands? So i actually caught my flight yesterday, wierd?, from Siem Reap to Ko Samui(Ko means island in Thai). There was definitely a little bit of a freak out moment though. So when i was packing my stuff in the morning after going out till about 4 with some people from Siem Reap I noticed i couldnt find my camera! WTF? So i scoured the room and went through my bag over and over to no avail. So i must have lost it the night before, damnit! well i stopped by the police station and left my info and stuff about the camera, then made close friends with my driver and told him about a huge cash reward of 50 bucks and I definitely dont have my hopes up but...I actually made my flight! not with any time to spare though.

Moving on to more pleasant news, I met John and Sandy who live in Colorado, Ft. Collins and Steamboat respectively. John is VP of an environmental consulting firm which he has run for 30 yrs, yes we talked about his business most of the flight, and Sandy actually runs the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurand in Steamboat which Colin and I ate at while snowboarding there a couple of years ago! Talk about meeting cool friends. They want me and colin to come visit them in Steamboat this year so they can show us how the locals do it!

By the way, after getting off the plane I was so happy to have temps around 85 degrees and a breeze and the water everywhere! Amazing and so much less jacked up than what ive seen in mexico. Made some friends on the minibus ride, we grabbed a beer and waited for the ferry to Ko Phan Ngan, which is renowned for the Full Moon Parties, and off we went. I had to stay the night in Ko Phan Ngang so i decided to stay close to the pier so i could get to Ko Tao for diving early, but events changed my plans. I met some really cool people in the night market who live and work here. First dude, Steve who works for Lotus Diving, told me there was diving here on Phan Ngang and that it would save me an almost 2 hr ferry ride tomorow. Check, decision done. And i met a chick who taught at a muay thai boxing camp? cool folks.

Now here is where the Murray clan will be proud. I got up at 6 am and scheduled my first PADI dive course. Got picked up and rolled over to do my PADI Instructional training to become a licensed diver. I met Thon, my personal instructor, who is a Thai dude who is just all smiles and happiness. I proceeded to take all the classwork quickly in anticipation of the dives. Got in the water and everything was awesome. Diving is actually mainly just all common sense with a couple of precautions here and there to make sure you dont freak out. I loved every freakin bit of it. My instructor was very cool with my fast pace and ready to get rollin. He said "JOhn, you are fast learn dive, nice." The underwater parts of my learning were more interesting and much more intriguing than the surface but i only got to finish all the inclosed pool parts today. I will be going in the open water tomorow, wait, hahah, not tomorow because im going to the Half Moon Party tonight! Of which Thon is also attending and everyone else onthe island. I am extremely excited to be able to use my new skills in actual open water dives. I had done something called SNUBA before which is similar to scuba but I am ready for the real thing. happy with the competence and professionalism of the staff and I think they probably have the nicest restroom in Thailand!

After Diving i went back to my hostel, Why NOt Guesthouse, and upgraded rooms from 6 bucks to 10 bucks(splurge, i Know) and took a nap for 3 hours. Time for food and then off to the Half Moon Party in Ban Tai. Definitely glad i get to check out the half moon one first so i have a little idea of what Im doing at the FULL.

More to come and I will get a camera as soon as possible ...