This little guy above was the very first thing we heard when we arrived to the ferry port (after an over night bus from Bangkok) around 5 am. We were pooped and this rooster sent us into a very surreal state. The cherry on top of a looong journey.

Chicken for breakfast or . . . . . Oragne Cake?!

This cake was the most descent thing we could find to eat at a rest-stop on our bus ride. And yes, it is spelled o-r-a-g-n-e.

Here is the little harbor from where we departed. At first we thought the crazy (10 ft.?) waves were fun. That delirium lasted about 10 minutes when we started hearing people everywhere getting sick. Things got a little bit nutty. One of our party fell quite ill and Chad managed to crash into a picture frame (among people who were not doing well holding on to their digested breakfast). Glass flew everywhere (it was incredibly comical and as a person not getting sick I was trying to hold in my giggles. . . I am a bad sailor’s daughter). Later on Eve, who was sitting upstairs, saw one of the crewman throw a huge pile of glass overboard. Ooops. We made a point to avoid that area for diving.

Oh, so happy on the boat!

Coming in on our lovely island home (for a week).

A view of Dave and Chad basking in the sun in a little cove near our dive resort.

All geared up. I may look comfortable but OH MAN, I wasn’t!

Feet hanging over on our early morning dives (last 2). 18 meters! We had to leave at 7:30 AM.

Getting our gear prepped!

Here is all of our gear! Let’s see if I can remember the buddy check. Bruce Willis Ruins All Films. Okay, Chad just had to help me but that’s okay because he was my buddy! Poor guy had to hold my hand the entire time we were underwater.

I’m almost done!

Dave.

Our certification group! Team Australia (red hair guy and hoody guy), Team America (us, yeah, you know the next part), Team Dave (our Dave (far left) and other Dave (second to the right) we had two Daves), Heathe Ledger (red coat) and Tim (older & waving).

Dive Site!

Relaxing with a book before our final meeting.

Pretty view at some restaurant we scooted to.

My Chad with a smoothie. You have NO idea how many fresh smoothies we had while on Koh Tao! SOOoo many!

That’s us.

My favorite travellers!

Chad kissed my shoulder after putting sunscreen on. . . .

More to come!

These little guys, monster-men, Chad and Dave are all at the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace was full of amazing building. Each corner just glittered.

Eve and I both had to get different clothes to wear in the Palace. I just had to get a shirt, Eve got to wear a bright green wrap around skirt. It was pretty funny. We paid the equivalent of a few dollars then went into a tiny locker room with a free standing hanging wrack where we grabbed a shirt. When we were done we put it right back where we got it for the next tourist!

Aww, my fellow travellers.

Okay, this was one of my favorite meals on our entire trip. It’s just these huge noodles with basil and chili pepper. It was perfect. I miss it.

Sunset on our way to see Marlie! Marlie is one of my closest friends from Perugia and she just spent the last 5 months or so teaching in Thailand! I got to see her while we were in Bangkok and it was wonderful. The first night Chad and I went out to where she lived about 40 minutes outside of Bangkok. We had dinner and took scooter taxis to see her market area. The next morning we all headed into Bangkok to reunite with Dave and Eve (and Sisco).

*A quick non-photo related note: The bathrooms in Thailand made the Korean bathrooms seem logical and luxurious. In Korea the majority of toilets are glorified holes in the ground. At home and at school (in the teachers’ bathroom that is heated and plays classical music) we have western style toilets. Everywhere else in Korea is usually a hole with toilet paper. Fine – icky but we deal and always carry tissues. So, Thailand’s bathroom don’t flush. Well, they do but it’s you with a hose. Okay, I got used to that, fine. Here is the catch, their toilets are holes too BUT they are holes on a pedestal, like a throne. You have to climb up on the throne! It you don’t like potty talk just skip down, there is one more thing. So on the glorious occasion that I found a Western style toilet I always fond the seat up. As I started paying attention in the bathroom I realized that the women were putting the seat up to use the toilet. I have come to the conclusion that they must squat on the rim of the Western style toilet. A little bit absurd but it made the South East that much more exotic.

Okay, the next few pictures are kind of random but fun.

An outdoor massage area where I got a facial for the equivalent of about $4 and Chad got a back rub. This is outside of a gas station that becomes a bar at night.

This is Dave. Dave is from new Castle.

These are hats that woman kept trying force on us. We took a picture with them. Nice. Dave actually bought one for Chad so that Chad would wear it. That lasted about 20 minutes. . . maybe.

Here are Marlie and Sisco. Sisco is the gem trader from Gambia that led Chad around Bangkok to find my engagement ring.

Marlie & Chad – Partners in Crime

Sharing a “bucket” which was delivered in a vase.

My travelling family.

Eve loves ice cream! Can a face get much happier?!

This is a few hours after Chad bought the engagement ring. He was really giddy and I thought he as just happy to be on vacation but in retrospect I think it may have been a little more than that. Poor guy held onto it for about 10 more days before he had a chance to pop the question! Isn’t he the cutest? He is mine!

Oh man, deja vu back to Italy! I love my Marlie!

Inside a temple. Usually it is absolutely forbidden to take pictures in the temples but it was allowed in this one. Feats your eyes on this or go to Thailand and see for yourself! Then stop in South Korea and see us, please.

This is a final hookah/juice stop. We had just spent the entire day shopping on Koh San! i love bargain shopping. Check Chad’s cool shades! The text is something about the warm in Iraq which was a little strange.

Wow, I look sleepy. I just thought this was a funny one.

More food. I miss the food!

A quick technical note: Chad has been working like crazy to get a new Spicy Fishy webpage up. Due to all of his work and tinkering the Feedblitz emails are not going through. He will get it done soon AND hopefully you will also get to see a whole new Spicy Fishy soon! Everything he keeps showing me looks great! So, hang tight!