Sapphire -The end of the first week of our TEFL course was a very welcome break which we were really looking forward to and needed. Feeling much more confident and familiar with the classroom environment and the inevitable classroom dynamics we felt we had earned a nice chilled relaxing weekend.
There is not much else of importance to report with regards to the week. Happily no more tumbles (with or without Scootie) and the only occasion warranting any concern was the mosquito coil incident.
These are simple to operate but oh so necessary, (put coil on the metal spike, light end, once burning blow out flame and coil smoulders gently in the background like incense, driving away the nasty little suckers). Except that one evening, I forget which step? With all the steps followed faithfully but the important one, . . . blow out the flame. We were lying in bed watching a movie and all of a sudden we both saw flames fluttering from the side of the room where I had placed the coil. Yep, bits of burning coil, the smell of melted plastic etc. had me rushing the burning coil outside to the balcony, probably to the great amusement of the lurking mosquitoes.
Anyway, bring on Sunday, the day of our snorkeling trip. The weather was perfect. We all met up at Bob Reggae Bar and from there drove through in an air conditioned (thank heavens) mini van to Thong Krut Pier. We waited while the boat was being loaded with supplies. Supplies of a predominantly liquid nature as well as the ingredients for the beach-barbecue. It was a very interesting bunch of people on the boat besides the two of us and two of our classmates. It was also great to meet up with the first friend we made when we first visited Bob Bar, Esther from the USA.
Gliding through the ocean on the boat was an amazing experience but I could not wait for the snorkeling. Eventually we stopped just off a section of coral reef, put on our life-jackets (so we could concentrate on what we were seeing and not worry about staying afloat), goggles and snorkels and jumped off the side of the boat into the seemingly empty waters. We made our way around the front of the boat towards the coral reef and all of a sudden we were surrounded by, and swimming among, hundreds of fish. Fishes of all sizes and colours were darting around, in front of me, below me, beside me. Some were zipping towards me and passed by so close I could see their eyes.
Mandy and myself were totally lost in this moment which I can only describe as “beautiful”. The only sound you hear is that of your own breathing and the sound of the water splashing distantly as you slowly move forward. A serenity of awe. Seeing nature in a pure form and knowing that for a brief moment I am part of it.
Floating weightless above a silent world teeming with life, floating over strange alien landscapes of coral. Looking down at shapes which seem too sculpted and patterned to have occurred naturally. And then to float away from the coral reef back to the deeper waters where the myriads of fish were still zipping to and fro.
There were also stingrays (we both saw one), a shark (we missed that), a small sea-snake type creature (I saw that).
Every now and then, we both broke surface to take a break, and with her goggles resting on her forehead, Mandy just looked so beautiful and awesome. I was once again reminded of how amazingly special this woman is and how fortunate it was to be here and to be sharing this adventure-life-journey with her. Namasté, I Love You.
I’m sure I saw Neemo but a second later he was gone. I think he was looking for Dory LOL.
We eventually got onto the boat (we were the last lingerers that had to be called back on board) and we made our way to the quiet and peaceful beach on Madsum Island. The captain edged his boat as close to the island as possible (with some very careful skilled maneuvering) and we walked through the shallows to the beach. If you had filmed us, we looked like a team wading in for a new episode of Survivor with our bags and personal items above our heads. Survivor – Madsum Island.
A very chilled afternoon followed. We took a walk along the almost deserted beach, swam in the shallows, relaxed in the shade, drinking, eating, chatting, sharing life experiences and listening to some very interesting stories from Claire and Sonja. Claire, who originally came over on holiday to visit her Dad and never left. She is now a hostess for a company that hosts Private Dinner Parties to holiday makers on the island and Sonja who has lived on Koh Samui for over 20 years and runs her own “Thai Cooking School”. It was interesting to talk to foreigners who reside, work and own businesses here on this beautiful tropical island. Emma, from the Bob Bar, prepared chicken skewers (sosaties if you’re from SA), spicy home made pork burger patties, salad and the most awesome relish-with-a-kick on a small fire she had made in the sand. All relaxed with drinks and enjoyed the BBQ charcoal flavour of the food she cooked on the coals.
The skies started to darken slightly and the captain after looking at the clouds forming in the distance, decided to call an early end to the day as he was concerned that there could be a possible storm approaching. On Koh Samui the weather changes within minutes. It could be sunshine on one side of the island and pouring with rain on the other, so one cant take a chance getting stuck on an island or on the ocean in a tropical storm. We had our last swim in the shallow waters off the beach and then waded through the waist deep waters back to where the boat was parked. . . . . . Hmm, not sure if one “parks” a boat LOL.
The trip back seemed much quicker than our trip out to the island and we were hoping the weather would miraculously clear as we so badly wanted to fit in some more snorkeling time. But unfortunately this was not to be. Both Mandy and myself agreed that if we could find the time, the opportunity and still had enough BAHT in our coffers by the end of the course, that we will definitely arrange to go out and snorkel again before we leave Koh Samui. In the interim, a shopping trip to the shopping mall to buy us each goggles and snorkels would need to suffice.
Amethyst – The Snorkeling Trip and sharing this amazing experience with Richard was most definitely the highlight of the week for me. Watching Richard’s face and how his eyes lit up when he tried to explain to me what it felt like to be swimming among the fish is a picture memory that will be etched forever in my mind. He looked like a little boy who had been given his very first Christmas present. His blue eyes were twinkling and he was smiling from ear to ear while he kept on describing to me what he was seeing. I think he clean forgot that I was right there and had just seen exactly what he was seeing. LOL It was really so beautiful for me to see him so excited about what he was seeing that it made my day. To experience something with someone is one thing, but to experience something with someone who expresses so much excitement and joy in what they are seeing and loving every single moment, is something else.