Apr 2007

Koh Lanta > Koh Lak

After a queesy and long journey down here (beers on the balcony were a good idea at the time) we made it to the TVC (Tsunami Volunteer Centre). First day was a Thursday, and Friday is the day that everyone goes to the beach in the afternoon, so only a couple of days of grafting till we get a rest! First day we had a little briefing, learned some interesting facts such as:-

it was the worst affected area in Thailand
78% of people died
the wave was 11 meters high and 1.5 km deep
40km of Thailand was in a bad way after

After this we headed to Nam Khem where the building of 56 new houses was under way. On the ride there we saw loads of palm trees which were just trunks as the tsunami washed all their tops off as well as boats washed up on the land. Although the first day was a little slow due to building materials not being delivered, but it still felt rewarding none the less. Second day was better, still not used to these early mornings, but everyone seemed zombied so we fit in! Loved the power digging sweating my ass off in the 35 degree plus heat, it made me feel like i was doing something good for the world! All the locals were always helping to built the houses too which resulted in some good laughs, nearly geting married to most of them, and learning some funny Thai such as 'I like to lick dirty toilet seats!!'.

When the weekend began, so did the best experience ever! After a lazy Saturday doing exams and chilling in a pool, breathing underwater of course, Sunday arrived and so did SCUBA diving at one of the worlds top 10 dive sites!! The 2 hour boat ride made us fee a mixture of queezy and butterflies of excitedness, and definately more of the latter when we got closer and started to put yesterdays learning into practice, gearing up and diving into the unknown. Exercises were testing but relitively easy, taking the mask off, buoyancy control, and not panicing while getting you breathing regulator pulled out of your mouth, among others!! After passing those, me and Hussey followed the instructor around the amazing coral reef which was just like Finding Nemo, a whole new world, and a really personal experience due to the inability to talk, except to yourself! It isnt natural and when you float upside down with your feet in the air looking at a mad fish and some beautiful coral reef get lit up by the sun it feels odd, but amazingly engrossing.

Second day was amazing too. Due to the small group of only Hussey and myself we passed all the final test and the activites yesterday and so monday was simply 2 free dives with no messing about! Today was at Koh Tao a different Island to the ones yesterday but equally as good. You could say better, as as soon as we were in the water a giant Manta Ray glided elegantly over us and the sheer size of it amazed us! Underwater camera in tow, we swam about going as deep as 22 meters (even though 18m should be the limit) hunting down more manta rays, tiger fish, lethal parrot fish which try to bite your face, a big octopus, nemo fish, evil looking moral eels and hundereds of other multi-coloured fish, swimmming in shoals, fighting, chilling or following us, all which took our breath away, but not enough to make us drown underwater!!

After Sean the Marine left us, taking a poor 'Spaffingly' friendly bar womans last t-shirt with him, the rest of the week entailed some kind of party each night, a different excuse each time, followed by a day of tired, hungover, power digging holes for drainage systems and water systems, again all in the sweltering heat. After the Sweedish site manager took us to 'Dave the ladyboys' restauraunt for a weekly dinner, i'm sure not by accident, funny faces were pulled, then in the next bar Tom-Tallula came out and gave us a private dance!! See vid for further info...!!

An emotional goodbye to Huss was had after a big BBQ with all the volunteers and locals was had, including a massive beer funnel, Frank the Tank stylee!! Me and Blakey continue onwards and Eastwards, to no less than the Full Moon Party island of Koh Pagnan!!! Yessss!!!

Chok dee khrab!