Koh Tao - Roads To Heaven <2009.5.4>

After 3 days continuous diving and finishing 10 dives in total I decided to have a break for a day to explore the island.



Before that I checked out from BANs place due to mentioned issues and checked in at Scuba Junction - a much smaller shop with moderate rates.

The bungalow goes with the diving for 200Baht (4 Eur!) which is a tenth of my previous place – but it is not bad at all:

Next I hired a scooter for another 200Baht a day and trip can start.First I went up north to visit Nang Yuan View point where I had a spectacular view of the approaching thunder storm ;-)

After some snorkeling I got hungry and stopped by the delicious local street vendor for grilled chicken. I was lucky as during this time the rain just hit the island. Within seconds all streets were flooded…

But nothing lasts forever and already after 30mins everything is back to normal and so I proceed to the very south to Freedom Beach.

You know that the roads of Koh Tao lead straight up to heaven? Actually this is not because of the beautiful landscape, but more the dangerous roads which runs of the main street. So that`s my try:

Quick Reality Check:
After all those nice pictures, did you ever asked yourself where everything goes after we you throw it away? No recycling – just to a place, which no one should ever see …

These impressions are quickly forgotten when you back on the beach, having a sip on your favorite cocktail, the sunset at your front & some kids playing with fire ;-)

Right from hell

13 Hours On The Sea <2009.4.2>

To make long things short – this was a great diving day! I planned to have 3 dives, one in the morning & 2 in the afternoon, but due to rescheduling I got my tomorrows night dive as well today. So I spend about 13 hours on out there from the early morning until long after sunset arriving about 20:30 back on the beach.

Today`s dive site where all close by to Hat Sairee which are White Rock, Twins, & Hin Pee Wee.

All have their highlights and can`t be rated against each other. But the highlight of today was definitely the night dive.
I spend 60 min down in the dark with an instructor for myself, where we together tumbled over everything possible to see during such dive: Crabs, Morrays, Shells, Shrimps, Sleeping Trigger Fish, Rays, Porcupine Fish, Large Barracudas … name it.

Here some impression from all dives:

Barracudas

I read many bad feedback about Koh Tao diving, but the dive sites are still a great place to dive. As long you don`t expect large fish like sharks, manta`s or similar and rare macro shots this is a great place to dive. Lively, colorful, great visibility (15 – 30m) and unbelievable warm (30+)!

If you want to make your license, then I believe BAN is a good place to go. For FUN-divers I can`t recommend this place. Even you have your own dive master every 4 person, there can be up to 50 people on one ship. These leads to crowded ships, little space, no personal treatment, nearly no briefings and worst of all short dives. During the dive the instructor more dive their plans as they seems to be happy not to have a course after long time.

So I recommend every experienced diver, who just want to enjoy the dive sites, check out the smaller shops, which run up to 25 people; some of them even give Nitrox for free after 6 dives (BAN charges 400 each!) which is nice if you make 4 dives a day. And this is very likely and easy too.

I will change after my first 10dives to get an idea about different providers too!

To Be Continoued

Koh Tao – Diver`s Paradise <2009.4.2>

So where to start – actually it all started with sunny day which turns into my first tropical storm, which I could observe during my ride in the bus from Hua Hin to Chumporn, where the ferry will leave to Koh Tao.

After a 2hrs bumpy ride in gulf of Thailand the sky cleared up, the sun came out and suddenly was standing in front of a picturesque Island as you can know from the Hollywood movies.

But let`s start with a game – please find 5 differences between these two pictures ;-)

Picture A


Picture B

... wasnt that hard - was it ?!

Yep – there is a difference between Bangkok and it`s tropical islands – and this is just 500km away from each other.

I checked in at the BAN`s Diving resort which seems to be the largest PADI dive center in the world! They have over 30 instructors running the business & countless licenses each day. Even it is big there is no group over 4 people / each instructor.

The remaining hours I used to explore the beach just in front of the resort which is the biggest & busiest on Koh Tao – Hat Saree:

No more to say as: I finally have arrived!

Yours Robinson Cruiso

Religous Monkey`s <2009.3.31>

An other day which greets me with temperatures at about 35 deg and a blue sky whereever you look at.



It`s time to have a closer look at the sight seeing spots in & around Hua Hin. So I chartered a scooter for a day and went to the most famous sights within 20kms.

I started 18km west at the Wat Huay Mongkol, which was home to the immensely popular monk Luang Phor Thuat who was famed for his ‘miracles’. Commissioned by the Queen of Thailand, Wat Huay Mongkol houses the largest statue of Luang Phor Thuat in Thailand in a park-like setting.


Every statue has its power for luck or even ... you can find out by yourself below ;-)




13km to the south you can find Khao Tao (Tutle Mountain) were you can find several tmeples with quiet uniqe statue`s - like those 2 friendly fellows:




Let`s have a break for local customs. For those who had never visited south east asia - I`d like to introduce the average toilet (if you are lucky it will look like this ;-)

They all consist of a whole in the ground (like the camping toilts in Italy in the past) - sometimes already offering a place to sit & a basin with water. To flush you use the bucket next to you, by taking the water out of the basin close by and you simulating the flush ... got it?!

Don`t search for toilet paper, you will find out why the left hand is seen as dirty one around this continent x-)

Wish you good luck next time and you will wonder how less trained you are when you have to do this in the same psotion as Hermann Maier during his world cup ski races ;-)

AND next to you will do this a 80 year old women in just half the time and a grin on her lips...

Next highlight is Khao Takiap (Monkey Mountain) - 6km south -which you immediatly will finsd out where the name come from:

There is also a mix of several other gods & believes around

Finally I enjoyed the sunset on the hill, looking down on the 6km coast line of Hua Hin.

Time to say goodbye and move on to the southern islands.

One night in Rio

Hua Hin - Going South <2009.3.30>

After several days in Bangkok, I got tired of the city live during these hot days and seek for something new, refreshing and close to the sea.


So I decided to head south via Hua Hin to Koh Tao, where you find one of worlds best dive spot.

First I will stay 2 days in Hua Hin, which is Thailands first official Beach Resort area established by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII).


I never come here before as I always fly out from Bangkok to one of its islands.
This time I packed my backbag and get down to Bangkok Railway Station and got on the next train to Hua Hin. As budget traveller - I asked for the cheapest ticket - very bad idea ... ;-)




But I safely arrived - even half frozen to death in the A/C cabin whitch more works more as a fridge for the delivery service - at the famous HUA HIN station: The wooden building used to be a royal pavilion in Sanamchan Palace, Nakhon Pathom province. It was rebuilt at Hua Hin in 1968.

When I left the station a friendly foreigner offered me has place (guest house) as stay for the next days. As I didn`t have any place yet, I check out his place and found a real lovely place full of John`s (the owner) memories.

KING`s HOME: I really can recommend this place if you search for a quiet, still central and nice place to stay. Don`t expect 5Star, but expect a lot of friendly service, homey atmosphare and a living museum as your place to stay. Even it looks historical, all rooms can access to wireless internet - where I am writing to you know! BIG + from myside!

Here you can find more information about it:

http://huahinkingshome.blogspot.com/

Below you can find my room, all in all for 750B ~ 16Eur

After I moved in I left to check out the surounded highlights.

Closest Wat & it`s guard :-)

And finally the BEACH! Not really the one from the movie, but still better than I expected:

Nice place for sunbathing or just hanging out with a cool beer

In the sea you can`t snorkel as it is just sandy and really shallow. Also forget to cool down a bit the water temperature is around 31 deg - I measured with my dive computer!

Finally I end the day at the local night market, which is famous for its sea food hawkers

Enough reasons to make this stay a memorial one...

RELAXED