Climate Change Conference.

After having the last few days off and then jetting off to Bangkok for a couple of days attending a Global climate change conference held by the Norweign Embassy, everything seems now, looking back,all a bit of a blur. 

When we first received the invites we were pretty excited as it was something new, in Bangkok, so be nice to have a mini trip, but after attending it, we both came away feeling slightly disappointed due to the fact that nothing new had been learnt.  One bonus was that we finally met a lady called Dr. Suchana Apple Chavanich, associate professor, dept of Marine Science at Chulalongkorn University who certified us as Reef Check Instructors and had a wide ranging knowledge when it comes to research/qualifications on Marine Biology and another was that our trendy hotel was generously paid for by our Course Director who attended the conference as well and led us astray in the bars   …which I must tell you, Simon was paying for it this morning!!

It was a nice change to be away but it’s always so nice to leave the hussle and bussle of a city behind and come back to Koh Tao…

Also, in the last few days, I have been feeling unwell… Sensitivity to light, rashes, and joint pain in my hips and knees which is causing a severe lack of sleep… After a bit of research, it seems that another mosquito spreading disease called Chikungunya has affected a few people on the island, and my symptons match up with it. Hopefully the situation improves in the next few days..

xx

Jenny

Jen was back on to another Open Water course a few days ago, and finished on the 25th. Only 3 students this time, and it was very easy according to Jen.

In the meantime, I worked on UK stuff, and booked our tickets for the brief trip to Bangkok in a few days.  I also, tried to locate some Helium for my xmas pressie from Mum, but alas there is none on the island (must get some when I am in Bangkok!).

A couple of days ago, the video boys were filming new intro scenes, and I decided to dress in full scuba gear and climb a rope hanging from a tree… it was a big effort with the weight of the kit, and I got a rope burn on my leg…. so did the 3 people who wanted to try it, after me!

Nasty eh?!  This photo was taken 2 days after the rope burn… I went diving in the morning, which made it especially raw… so it was “Man Up” time, and got some pure alcohol to kill any bacteria (hurts like hell) and iodine to keep it as clean as possible. On this island, things like this have to be super looked after otherwise infection sets in extremely quickly.. The picture below shows the progression today.. looks alot cleaner… but still sore..

Besides the silly rope burn. We organised a Dive Site Clean Up, with 17 volunteers signed up to do it.. Brilliant.. Also, on the dive… I found a CowFish!! I haven’t seen one of those on Koh Tao for 2 years… what an awesome find..

Add that to the other dive schools who participated, and the collective picked up nearly 300kg of trash on the day… Unbelievable!!

Jen had managed to organise a free bbq for all the volunteers at the clean up, which was well received in the evening… what a good day for all!!

Today, is a day off… Jen and I are spending it together just relaxing!! NICE!!

x

SD

Things have quitened down finally, and we managed to get a team of 17 divers to come out to Junkyard for some much needed renovations.

Although not completed, it was a bloody good effort, especially by the anchor crew who worked their butts off to get a sandscrew in.. 1 more to go!!

The weather is most certainly heating up here… not sure of the temperature but I am sweating buckets within 5 mins of getting a t-shirt on!  Beautiful sunsets continue…

On a side note, we may be heading to Bangkok on the 1st of March as we have been invited by the Norwegian Embassy, to a climate change conference! Sweet!!

xx

SD