I'm back!!!!

Ruth · #1 03-19-2006, 10:42 AM

Sound like Chuckie or something. Anyway back from Thailand and Hong Kong and what an amazing holiday. I took my PADI open water diving certification in Koh Tao Thailand and did 6 open water dives there to some amazing reefs. Saw a lot of really cool fish - clown triggers, queen triggers, PBT's, Blue Ring Angels (huge fish), puffers and lots and lots more. Also a lot of corals - acro's, monti's, etc. etc. etc. I am definately planning on going back next year. Also went to Koh Samui where I did some snorkelling and then off to Bangkok and Hong Kong. I enjoyed Hong Kong but unfortunately got sick there so was not able to see as much as I would have liked and it really is a bit overwhelming of a place. I would like to go back again some day. Thailand is just an amazing place - the people are just so nice, friendly and helpful.
I would highly recommend all of the places that I visited but where I really want to go back to is Koh Tao. It is small and laid back and not everyone is trying to sell you something and they live a more traditional life style there. It is also supposed to be some of the best diving in SE Asia - in fact up until a few years ago you could not even go to Koh Tao unless you were diving.
I took lots of pictures - no underwater ones unfortunately (next time) and will try and post some in the next week or so.
I am still fighting jet lag something aweful but hope to be back to normal (no snide comments required) in a couple of days.

Veng68 · #2 03-19-2006, 11:51 AM

Hey Ruth...... good to see you had a fun trip.

A question about scuba diving......... what are the prerequisite skills you needed for the padi certification? I've always wanted to learn how to dive.

Also........ did you get to go to the "Fish Street" in Kowloon (near the Mong Kok subway stop)? Wall to wall Aquarium shops for at least a square block.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

Ruth · #3 03-19-2006, 03:22 PM

Not really any pre-requisites except that you can float for 10 minutes and swim a short distance (can't remember the exact length). I am not a good swimmer at all and actually was worried that I might not be able to make it. I think that this is why I was so scared to even try diving but am I ever glad I did. It gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation of trying to keep my own little piece of the reef in my home. I am also very glad that I took the whole course in one shot instead of trying to do the pool and book stuff here before I left. The reason I say this is that everything that you learn was then fresh in my mind when I went into the open water.
I did not get to "fish street" while I was in Hong Kong even though I was staying in Kowloon. I just did not feel very good while I was there and so did not do nearly as much touring around as I had hoped to. I guess I will just have to go back (preferable right now as it's GD cold here)

Aquattro · #4 03-19-2006, 04:43 PM

Ruth, that sounds great. I'm going to Thailand next spring and plan to do some diving also. I'll be taking my PADI training hopefully in about 3 weeks in Costa Rica, so that should give me some practice for Phi Phi Island next year!

Ruth · #5 03-19-2006, 04:57 PM

Hey Brad - great choice. I think when I go back I am going to go to Phi Phi and probably Phuket but I would highly recommend Koh Tao as well. Once you get there it is a short (and cheap) plane ride to Koh Samui and then a 2 hour ferry ride to Koh Tao. It is honestly beautiful and really geared to diving.

Xtasia · #6 03-19-2006, 05:44 PM

Sounds amazing Ruth. can't wait to see the pics.

bulletsworld · #7 03-22-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xtasia

Sounds amazing Ruth. can't wait to see the pics.

Ditto to that!

Sounds like you had a great adventure Ruth. I can't wait to see pictures!

Veng68 · #8 03-22-2006, 08:43 PM

There is an article, in the May Aquarium Fish Magazine, about the Hong Kong Fish Market.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

Matt · #9 03-22-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruth

Not really any pre-requisites except that you can float for 10 minutes and swim a short distance (can't remember the exact length).

200M, I believe.

I'm glad you had a great time. I knew you would. I agree that Koh Tao is amazing -- I have the best memories of that place...

Matt

monza · #10 03-23-2006, 12:52 AM

To bad you got sick in Hong Kong I did a China tour in the spring finishing in Hong Kong . The whole trip was amazing. The wierd thing, all the nice tanks I was picking my dinner out of in Hong Kong! The fish market was interesting for sure. Also saw a large Aquarium in Shanghia kind of disapointing but not bad. It was just so full of people, "packed" would be a under statement, it was a national labour day holiday!

Dave