Scuba Steve

Before I get into my description of my epic scuba diving adventure, I'd like to share with you a few minor India details.

• I broke down and went to the new branch of FabIndia today.  It is much, much smaller than the one in Mumbai, but still relatively fabulous.  I bought nothing because after paying half of the balance on our carpet, we are kind of short on cash.  I'm not allowed to go to the ATM, due to reasons.  (Actually it's due to the fact that Matt gets per diem in rupees which are very hard to exchange into dollars, so I have been told to "wait it out" repeatedly on the money situation, as we will get a plethora of cash shortly.)
• While at FabIndia, I met a lady expat(riot) who invited me to the big weekly lady expat meeting next Tuesday.  We exchanged phone numbers, and she promised to call later with the time and location of the meeting.  We'll see.  I don't want to get too excited because I think I may have inadvertently given her the wrong phone number.  I'm still pretty excited, though.  I like expats.  Sometimes they drink a lot.  That's about the extent of my knowledge of expats.  See, sometimes shopping does pay.  
• I have decided to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) while here in India.  I looked it up online, and I think I can take it in Ahmedebad, which is only a couple hours away.  I haven't actually decided on a graduate program, or decided what I would like to study in graduate school... or decided if I even want to do graduate school or if I should just man up and get a job... but I figure studying for and taking the GRE can't hurt.  Well, it could hurt a little, I guess.  Especially if I don't do well. 

Anyway, I will keep you posted on the above happenings.  In the meantime:

 

                                                                                                 Photo by Mary P.

Kat and me in all our scuba gear.  Matt says I look good with my equipment.  I think he's running out of compliments.  

We did, in fact go scuba diving on our ExTRA trip.  I was told (and I kind of figured) that it wasn't the best diving trip ever, due to the bleached out coral and lack of fish, but it was still pretty awesome. (Sorry, I lied about the sharks and the sunken ships.  What can you do?  Sometimes I lie.)  Just breathing underwater was an incredible experience, as was trying to swim with flippers.  I'd never actually done that before, and I wasn't very good at that part.  I was good at the breathing, though.  Not to brag, but I've known how to do that for ages.

Anyway, we did see some cool stuff underwater, but I don't have any pictures of it.  We saw loads of jellyfish, of which I was initially terrified, but then grew to love after I got to dribble one on my hand like a basketball.  Also, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a seahorse that my instructor pointed out, which was pretty rad.

 

                                                                                       Photo by Danielle S. 

After diving, we stopped at this island for a breather.  No big deal, just a pit stop at one of the most beautiful places on the planet.   

Aside from diving, we also took an island-hopping trip to a few random islands off the coast.  No big deal, just visiting three or more exotic islands in a matter of hours.  All in a day's work.

 

                                                                                      Photo by Danielle S.

Hong Island. 

As a part of our island-hopping package, we got to go snorkeling (always a good time) and sea kayaking!  I'd never been sea kayaking before, and it was really fun, but definitely more taxing than I was prepared for.  I think maybe all that beach laying made my muscles start to atrophy (also not getting much protein or nutrients in general in India might be a factor).  On our sea kayak trip we went from Hong Island (above) to Hong Lagoon (below), which we had already visited once at high tide.  

 

                                                                                     Photo by Danielle S. 

Hong Lagoon, pre-kayak trip. 

By the time we got back to the lagoon in our kayaks, it was a dramatically different sight.  Almost all the water was gone, and there were hundreds (probably) of starfish lying around!  

 

                                                                              Photo by Danielle S.

Mary and I got a big kick out of the starfish.  Please excuse my hair.  It knows not what it does.  

Anyway, so that was about the extent of our Krabi extravaganza.  I know, I know, it was amazing and beautiful and possibly the best place on Earth, but fear not, it wasn't all fun and games.  I got violently ill on the longtail-boat ride back from island-hopping.  By violently ill, I mean I just got really insanely nauseous but didn't actually throw up.  See, it wasn't all good.   Anyway, I know this is long, and for that I apologize.  

Krabi

I've just spent an hour trying (unsuccessfully) to update the look of my blog.  And then I realized, everyone who reads my blog gets it as an email, so I should stop worrying.  I would be irritated at the time I just wasted, but hey, what was I going to do anyway?  Sit by the pool?  

In other news, I spent the afternoon sitting by the pool.  The weather has cooled off quite dramatically in India, but it's still around 90F during the day.  The pool water is very cold, but it's also very dirty, so I don't actually get in the pool.  I sit near it in a puddle of my own sweat, panting like a dog and chugging water.  Nice visual.  

 

This is the only picture I have from Krabi.  I'm posting it in honor of my sister, whose name just so happens to be Aura, thus the picture.  

Anyway, so after that entertaining weekend in Pattaya, we flew to Krabi, which is in the southern part of Thailand.  And it is incredible.  Way more than just amazing and beautiful, this is quite possibly the best place I've ever been.  With huge limestone cliffs jutting out from the Andaman Sea (yes I had to look that up), the islands that make up Krabi have the most amazing beaches I've ever been to - which is saying a lot because (not to brag) I've been to a lot of nice beaches over the last three years.  Thanks UOP.  Anyway, I'm no good at describing this stuff, and you wouldn't believe me anyway, so I'll post some pictures.  

 

                                                 Photo courtesy of Danielle S. 

 

                                                          Photo courtesy of Danielle S.

Phra Nang beach, Krabi.  These pictures really don't do the place justice.  (Which is in no way a reflection of Danielle's photography skills.)

We were in Krabi four full days, and surprisingly, only two of those were spent laying on the beach.  I could've easily spent the entire vacation (all three weeks) in some sort of a semi-coma on one of these beaches, waking only to get food and the occasional beer, but in retrospect, I'm glad we were a little more productive than that.  Mostly.  

 

                                                             Photo courtesy of Mary P.

Getting foot scrubs on Railay beach, Krabi.  Also, I know I was the one who said no swimsuit pictures on the Internet, but this one's from far away! And it so perfectly captures the moment! 

In an effort to make you even more jealous than you already are, yes, we got four simultaneous foot scrubs on the beach while drinking beer and listening to the waves. Yes, it was amazing.  It probably would have been more amazing if the lady scrubbing my feet hadn't kept pointing out all my disgusting dead skin to the others, but that's okay.  I'll take one for the team.  

 

                                                        Photo courtesy of Danielle S.

Phra Nang beach, Krabi.  I couldn't help myself.  I had to post one more.