Amazing Koh Tao

Warning: this is going to be a long post! (by the way, the pictures below is courtesy of Glenn and Farhan)

so yea.. after 1 month.. im finally posting pictures of AMAZING KOH TAO!!

Day 1: Singapore / Phuket / Don Sak Pier / Koh Samui

so after touching down in Phuket, we took a mini van to Donsak Pier (5 hrs journey) to catch a 3 hrs ride on Ferry to Koh Samui.. On board the Ferry, we started snapping away..

when we finally reached Koh Samui, the island that we've been looking forward to since 3 months ago, we went through a tough time trying to search for a decent place to stay for the night and move on to Koh Tao the next day..

the day ended with dinner at the Ting Tong corner. hah! its really the name of that restaurant! the food was yummy! so after a long day of travelling, it really did pay off!

Day 2: Koh Samui / Koh Tao

at 1200, we board another ferry which took 4 hrs to transport us from Koh Samui to Koh Tao.. it was one hell of an experience and the sun was scorching...

the sun was scorching, the journey was long, the floors were burning but we all had fun!

when we were on the ferry, there were locals coming on board marketing their resorts on Koh Tao. but none of them approached us.. cos they all thought that we were locals. so this guy came and told us about BAN'S DIVING RESORT.. without much hessitation and considerations, we went to the Ban's Resort, along Sairee beach, where we spend the remaining days of our trip there. the beach was so beautiful.... couldnt wait any longer, we changed into our gears and headed to the beach to catch our 1st sun set at Koh Tao

as soon as we reached Ban's Resort, we signed up for the PADI Diving Course at 9800B.. it was a 4 days course and there'll be a test. licenses will only be given to students who passed with 75% and above.. so being Asian students, we spent our 1st night eating maggie and Mr. Murtabak with banana and mugging!!

Day 3: Koh Tao

after a night of mugging, we met up for a morning swim despite our theory lesson starts at 0830.. the beach was fucking nice! the water is so clear.. almost seem drinkable and the sand is so fine.. near the shore, there are dead corals and lots and LOTSA pretty fishes swimming ard.. den we embraced the water and swam carefreely with the fishes.

in the afternoon, after having our lunch at Orchid Restaurant, we were late for our confined waters training... during the lesson, we had to try out the wetsuit and other equipments.. the oxygen tank was so heavy.. but lucky for nor and i, we had our buddies to help us.. Thanx Glenn and Dan!!! in the pic with the back facing us is our beloved instructor NEIL!!

after the lesson we were so tired and after the dinner at Bingo- a very nice seaside restaurant with low tables and cushions.. there is a big screen and everynight they'll play different movies to entertain their diners. a lovely place with friendly staffs!- we knocked out..

Day 4: Koh Tao

today we had our very 1st open water dives. no pictures for that. but more up later.... this is the view from the diving boat out... really pretty ya..

tmr is the big exam day and so we were given a chance to complete the papers and hand it in tmr.. being KIASU, we went to one of the restaurants and discussed about the answers for the exam.. heh heh!

then the water looked so inviting.. so Glenn and i couldnt hold it back anymore, we went to stroll in the clear blue sea.

Day 5: Koh Tao

yay! its the last day for the course and we passed the test with flying colours!! muahahaha!! ok.. although we all had 1 qn wrong, but who cares ! its abv 75%.. and as of that day, we are CERTIFIED OPENWATER PADI DIVERS !

more pictures of the beautiful sunset...

and this was the best time of everyday.. embracing the water and enjoying the sunset..

Day 6: Koh Tao

LIBERATION!! finally... no more worries of being late for lessons, no more worries of not understanding, no more worries of not getting the license.. cos its ALL OVER! hah!

in the morning, when everyone was still lazing in bed i finally did my laundry after dayss.. and aft tt, fad n i left to 7-11 to have our breakfast.. thou it was a long walk, but its cheap! and we lazed by the pretty beach to enjoy our purchase..

and then the rest of the day was just chilling, lazing, tanning, shopping and swimming... the pool is just like 5 steps from the girls' bunk.. and on the right, thats the guy's bunk...

if we're not doing the activities, half the time we'll be chilling at Bingo.. eating, or drinking or writing in the journal... Mango shake and Strawberry shake is a must -try!

Day 7: Koh Tao

another lazy day.. but we (Glenn, fad n i) made an effort to walk to the Mae Haad Town.. hmmm... which way??

along the way we passby part of the beach with lotsa nudists! glenn was having a goodtime den. heh!

pictures along the way...

Day 8: Koh Tao / Koh Pha Ngan

we slept in till ard 12 den woke up.. and aft lunch we dressed up and head to Koh Pha Ngan for the FULL MOON PARTY!! getting there...

and on our way to Koh Pha Ngan, the ferry stalled again! which reminds me of my experience in Cambodia.. haha.. only except this time, theres more passenger, bigger ferry and the water isn't knee height! fadilla arguing abt Khmer numbers.. heh heh..

PARTY TIME!!

Day 9 : Koh Pha Ngan / Koh Tao

so after a wild night of partying we returned back to our little island.. heh! we all so worn out.. i took my stuff headed to the beach and had a gd sleep on the beach and at the same time tanning.. heh! the rest were resting in the room but me. so no pics for this day.. cos everyone was knocked out.

at night, all of us spent hrs sitting ard doing nothing.. it was great. it felt great. we were just chilling, enjoying the soft waves crash upon the shore... i was laying on the sand embraced in the cool sea breeze and then wrote my journal under the silver moonlight. it was AWESOME !

Day 10: Koh Tao

couldnt resist the temptation no more, the divers, consist of Glenn, Dan, Nor and i, we went to sign up for 2 fun dives! at 700 baht each. i think it was worth every cent of it! this time we managed to catch the sight of Stingrays.. an ultra big trigger fish.. super huge promfrets and i was alrdy salivating. heh! a HUGE school of baracudas and Selau Kunning..

more pictures on board the dive boat..

the beautiful sunset.....

so its the last night that we'll be spending in Koh Tao. dinner time, we had a sumptous meal... well, actually all our meals was delicious! *slurps* dinner time, Bingo was playing the 40 Year Old Vigin.. hah! it was funny! after dinner, we were dead beat. when footing the bill, i ran into David.. then he reminded me that we shouldnt be spending our last night sleeping!

so yea.. David. remember the Full Moon Party that i mentioned? yea... during which, nor and i was dancing our asses off while glenn was resting by the beach.. and the rest were eating at Mr K's Restaurant. so David came over with his bucket ( they drink from a bucket where they mix all the drinks and alcohol and drinks from the bucket) and offered us some drinks. so we drank, hoping tt it's not spiked or wad... so he was hanging around and dancing and talking and stuff. later in the night, well.. later in the day, David and i had some time talking.. and we bid gdbye as it was time for us to return to Koh Tao.

and this day tt we were registering for our fun dive, we ran into him again at the door of our Resort. and may i add that there is alot other resorts around the island. so yea. i was quite shock to see him there. so at night, nor n i went to chill at this bar / pub called PURE. it was cool.. very chilled out and relaxing.. so David came to chill too. we were talking about Singapore's history! hah! such a intellectual talk that we engaged in..

this is the best pic i haf of PURE. in the alleviated platform they had huge bean bags around while on the beach they had little holds dug and candles burning in them, with cushions lying ard. so pple just go there get a drink and chill by the beach.. it would be perfect if there wasnt so many mosquitoes around. i returned with more than 10 new bites!

Day 11: Koh Tao / Surathani

so yea. its the last day on the beautiful island. although slept late (like 4am) but had to be up by 1000 so we cld pack up! for the 1st time of the trip, the guys woke up earlier than we did. the whole day was busy.. we lepak at Bingo for the last time, went shopping then, the girls went for Thai Massage, while the guys went for Aroma Therapy. more shopping, dinner and at 2000, we left Ban's Resort to catch our night ferry to Surathani which is the mainland of Thailand.

our last sunset from the Orchid Spa- where the guys had their Aromatherapy massage.

so it was time to bid goodbye to Koh Tao. we board the ferry and the nxt day 0500 we'll reach Surathani. bye Koh Tao.

Day 12: Surathani / Phuket / Singapore

so yea. we woke up in the ferry at 0500.. Fad, Glenn and i headed to Phuket to take our flight back to Singapore. the travelling part is a killer la .. but well, it was budget.. so beggars cant be choosers! so we went to Phuket, had our last meal - Dunkin Donuts, and headed back to Singapore. at the airport, Glenn and i had a little backpack fight. hah! and the view from Jetstar's window which marks the end of my journey.

when we touched down, Michael was alrdy waiting for me at Changi Airport.. so sweet of him.. and i headed home. and back to this little cosmopolitan city!

Bye Koh Tao.. it was fantastic! my perfect post graduate vacation