i spent yesterday on a boat going round the island, stoping periodically to snorkel! i saw many many fish, but not the sharks i was hoping for.

At one point i found myself surrounded by tiny little barracuda. At least 70. I tried to tell myself that they were small (the length of my forearm) and therefore harmless, but i couldn't erase the suspicion that they were communicating in some fishy language and were coordinating an attack where they would take me out by all biting me at exactly the same time. I got the hell out of dodge.

The sea was choppy, and i thanked the gene-gods that I have my mum's stomach, cause andrea and dad would have been puking their guts out within seconds. I was doing fine until that evening when i ordered seafood and noodles... couldn't handle the massive chunks of calamari and tentacles and shrimp and all the little bits of the beautiful fish i'd seen that morning. Pushed the plate away, feeling queasy, and i don't imagine i'll be eating fish for a while. This is a tragedy, because it really is just gorgeously fresh and delicious. More frresh pineapple for breakfast this morning.

I've spent a few days on this island, but i'm getting a bit bored of just sitting on the beach... The beauty of travelling on your own. I met up with a friend for a bit, but now he's going to another Island and i'm going to take a night ferry to Khao Sok tonight - it's a national park with rainforest older than the amazon, and tigers! and there are waterfalls and limestone cliffs and wild elephants. And leopards and sun bears (what's a sun bear? Oh, hiking. I also hear that there are many leeches. Wicked. blech.

Time is flying, but in a good way.

i learned some thai! it's hard... there are five tones. I don't speak in tones... except for high squeaky voice tone. oh... email. expensive. keep fingers crossed for tigers!

1:25 p.m. - 2003-07-20