Much has happened since my last update. My trip to Krabi was fantastic, and I dove Phi Phi for the first time. Visibility and currents were not the best, but I still managed to see some stuff. Got caught in my first ever barracuda tornado too, which was nice.

My next trip after Krabi was to Tioman, and that's where I managed to screw up my sinuses enough to prevent me from diving for a good while at least. My eustachian tubes are clogged and sounds are a bit muffled in my right ear, but it should go away eventually. Nevertheless I had a great time. I did my first ever wreck dive and saw a gigantic batfish - I had no idea they could grow to that size! When I recover I'd like to dive Raja Ampat and hopefully by then I'd have my own set of tiny fins instead of having to make do with ill-fitting rental gear. It helps, too, that I currently live above a dive shop which stocks almost everything imaginable.

Meanwhile, pictures:

Wednesday 15th August

Heading back to Singapore in a few days. Japan was um.. interesting and I had a great time despite not knowing the language. I spent most of my time in Tokyo with the exception of day trips here and there. Here are some handy tips for those wishing to come here soon:

1. I have found that foreign bank cards are almost impossible to use at ATMs with the exception of 7-11. There are a dozen and one different chains of convenience stores and if you find a 7-11 it is definitely recommended that you get out a few bob if you foresee yourself running out of cash soon. POSB and DBS cards work fine at 7-11 ATMs as they carry the cirrus logo. I'm not sure about UOB cards, though. The same for credit cards, they're not used as often as they are in outher countries, especially when paying for food.

2. It is exceptionally hot at this time of the year. I found it to be FAR hotter than Singapore mostly because indoor places that you'd expect to be air conditioned (e.g offices and department stores)are not. In Singapore you'd spend maybe 10 minutes out in the sun before you find yourself in the comfort of an air conditioned underpass or bus. This isn't the case here. Be prepared to sweat like a cow.

3. Diving, my newly acquired favourite pasttime, is also exceptionally expensive in Japan. We did have a great time while we were at it, though, but it is definitely not something we could afford to do on a regular basis. To give you an idea, a three day one night trip to Tioman with transport, accomodation and all meals provided cost between 300 - 350 SGD (Just over 60,000 yen)on average from Singapore while the same price will get you only as far as a one day dive here. Despite this the waters were fantastic and the reefs appear to be in a much better condition than Malaysia or Thailand. Waters in summer averaged about 19-21 degree with the exception of thermoclines, which basically freezed our butts off.

4. Do take the time to explore the unbeaten path. You can get the main tourist traps done within the first 2 days or so, then take your time exploring the 'piss alleys' and little roads around Tokyo. I went for a run in my area one evening and was really surprised to discover little shops that were lost in time and small little establishments with old Japanese women sitting around fanning themselves. So cute.

5. It's allright if you don't know the language. Just don't act like a jerk and expect people to understand you. You will be surprised how far a smile, a small phrasebook, some humility and an immense amount of bowing and nodding can get you. Whatever it is, let yourself be surprised. I ordered what I thought was fish but turned out to be pork. It was absolutely gross and hard (crunchy actually) but I learnt to identify the character for Pork after that - problem solved!

6. Domestic flights are also extremely expensive, and so are shinkansen tickets out of town. I'd definitely, DEFINITELY get the Japan Rail pass in future. I realised this already on my last trip to Japan but didn't think about it this time round. You really do save a lot of money on that and it makes things all that more convenient should you decide to get out for a bit on a whim. Rail passes are only available to foreigners BEFORE they enter Japan so plan ahead.

7. Returning back to point 4 - Jogging on pavements can be a tad bit challenging especially around residential areas since there are a million and one traffic lights you have to stop at. I don't know about elsewhere but in Ebisu I saw very few people running in public. I reckon most just head to the gym. Parks are nice for running but they take a while to get there (unless you drive). It's not impossible to run outdoors though, you just need to do it at the right time at the right place I reckon, and that is *if* you can take the daytime heat.

8. Japan seems to be a very smoker friendly place. You can smoke in many restaurants and bars In public though, there are designated smoking areas and at some train stations there are smoking rooms for you to have a puff without killing other innocent bystanders. All in all a good trip and it helped that I was here for 'free'. We might end up coming back here again for longer in the near future.

Next stop Krabi, Thailand !

Sunday 29th July

Still in Japan - will be here for a while. Just got back from a weekend dive to Atami, and am quite burnt. I upload my photos regularly so you can see an almost photo-essay like record of my time here. Oh by the way, I *heart* daiso very much.

Monday 1st July

Back from Pulau Aur in Malaysia- went there last weekend to continue my diving adventures , and here are some pics. Next stop, Tokyo! Recommendations (especially dive sites) are welcome!

Saturday 2nd June

Back from Koh Tao!! I had a great time diving.

Koh Tao is an hour and a half away from Koh Samui by boat, and there is really little else to do on the island except dive. Scooters are available for rent on the island (sans helmet) but many tourists inevitably meet with accidents and have to spend the rest of their holidays bandaged. Not fun if you are planning on touching sea water. We stayed with Crystal Dive Resort on Koh Tao and had a wonderful experience.

Food is extremely cheap (Thai Food, that is) and it is entirely possible to get by on $5SGD per day on food / drink. There are a surprising number of GOOD Italian / Tapas places on the island and a hearty pizza at Farangos is definitely recommended if you're hungry enough, as pizza portions are huge. Koh Tao is also well stocked with many pharmacies, clinics, and 7-11 shops so you will be able to get most of your basic items there.

Many dive resorts offer discounted lodging at 200 - 300 bhat per night for a basic room if you sign up for one of their courses.

The island is inhabited by many Europeans who have either stayed on to teach diving or open other businesses such as restaurants, bars and even real estate companies, which lends a very international feel to the island. However anyone looking for a slice of authentic Thai hospitality will be sorely disappointed as Koh Tao is really only good for diving. If you are looking for a slice of Thai culture I'd suggest heading elsewhere.

I did a short specialisation in underwater photography and realised that it really is a completely different thing altogether. Colours tend to 'disappear' the deeper you go.

But hey hey I did manage to get some half-decent photos but I'll need a lot more practice and a much better camera for future use, though.

Just an hour away from Koh Tao is Koh Phangnan, home to Thailand's infamous Full Moon parties. At the tip of Koh Tao is Koh Nang Yuan, an eco-conservation project which disallows any form of plastic bottles or cans to be brought on to the island.

Because of the need to stay on land for at least 18 hours before flying (due to cabin pressure / nitrogen levels in your system) we spent our last day splurging on good food and a luxury hotel in Koh Samui. It was extremely decadent considering our time on Koh Tao was spent in a basic hut with no hot shower, no flush, and no air con. Still, most of our time was spent on the boat anyway so it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

Overall, this was a very good trip and we'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to be certified whilst having a vacation.

Next stop - who knows? I'll go wherever time and money permits.

Meanwhile here are some photos. Enjoy!

Me descending using a reference line. LOOK AT THOSE TINY FINS!! blub blub blub blub blub blub..................

 

 

 

 

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