February 29, 2008

Koh Tao (THAILAND)

Worshipping the Sun, and Touring the Island on a Motorbike

Today was the first full day for treating my bites, so I was still taking it easy and stayed away from any diving. Although the saltwater might do me a world of good - drying out my skin so the bites will heal quicker - I don't feel like diving with all the itchiness and general discomfort. Instead, I spent the day tanning along the beach, making up for six months spent in Tokyo's winter. Of course, every time it got hot I breached the crystal waters, where I can walk out 50 meters before the water level reaches my knees. Plus, there are plenty of great restaurants and cafes lining the beach, so banana lassis, ice-cold Chang beer, and Thai curries where never hard to find.

I am also growing accustomed to driving a motorbike, and spent a few hours today circumnavigating the island, or at least as much of it as I could safely manage. In reality, the only semi-paved road exists between Mae Head (where the pier is located) and Sairee Beach (the closest town to where I am staying), so it has been a real crash course - nothing too serious has gone wrong, yet.

Most of the roads are no more than pock-marked dirt paths, the inevitable result of heavy rains and poor drainage, and although the motor-bike is manual - Koh Tao is mountainous and there are many steep climbs - it isn't actually all that difficult to shift gears.

I have a couple of American friends who are studying with me in Tokyo, Neil (California) and David (Minnesota), who will be arriving tomorrow, so the pace of life should pick up shortly.