Back to Thailand...Koh Tao

On Tuesday 9th November we flew from Hanoi into Bangkok with no clear idea of where we were going or what to do when we got there.  It was a relief to fly and so easy, we covered 2000km in 2 hours in comfort!  When we arrived in Bangkok we decided to go straight to Koh Tao, I'm not keen on the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and we didn't feel like there was anything else there for us to see.  So, we caught a bus then a sleeping boat over to Koh Tao -which means turtle island in Thai- and got there 6am on Wednesday.  Hardcore travelling 24 hours straight!

When we arrived it was- you guessed it- raining! We spent a miserable, tired couple of hours in the rain looking for somewhere cheap enough to stay and soon realised we were going to have to give up some luxuries like air con and hot water!  But we eventually found a hut which was cute.  After that we went for an explore of the island and found an AMAZING pasty shop, not quite as good as Marsden's of Chorley, but close.  We signed up for a diving course to do our open water qualification which, happily included accommodation in a swanky hotel.  From hut to wifi, hot water, air con, balcony and cable telly -one happy Timmy!  The island had their worst rain for 4 years that day and the roads were flooded and turned into rivers- recurring theme for us.  

We started the course on the Wednesday night, did some theory and then had homework to do which was a shock.  On Thursday we did theory in the morning then donned the equipment and went in the swimming pool. It was really scary as you spend the whole time fighting your instinct to swim to the top.  We practised 20 skills ready for the sea the next day.