I know, many of you are waiting for an update and none has come yet. It’s not lack of interest in you, but a general feeling like there’s simply not much to tell. I keep launching Word on my laptop, staring at a blank screen for a while and then impatiently turn my attention to something else.
Our second year in Thailand is under way and we’ve returned to the island for another season: back to Fatty and Little Girl, back to A27 Valentine Bungalows and back to our respective work places.
August, for me, brought, as predicted, quite a bit of work, though perhaps a little slower than last year. Then full moon arrived on August 25th and overnight everyone left the island and only a handful of people are hopping off the ferry every day.
I found my place back at Barakuda amongst a handful of colleagues, the numbers of which are dropping daily. Lee, the owner, has left us with the most insufferable manager who is pushing people out the door faster than dengue spreads through a mosquito infested Thai island. Those of us left are planning mutiny. Those of us left are still there because we enjoy each other’s company and because we like the shop and the money that’s to be made there. But none of us is willing to spend high season under this oppression. He’s a mean mean man and I can’t listen to him anymore. He’s a drunk and is worse after he’s started drinking, which starts earlier and earlier every day. So we are going to put forth to Lee that the problem needs to be fixed, letting him understand that we will all leave if it doesn’t change without making it sound like an ultimatum. I’m just not sure Lee cares though – I’d already told him that Ed was out of control (as had many of my colleagues) and that’s when he promoted him to manager. So we might all be looking for another job here shortly. Now the key is to find a place that will take 3 older American instructors.
Speaking of dengue, the mosquitoes have been abundant, large, vicious and disease ridden. Ryan had it. Two of our neighbours had it. Most of Ryan’s work had it. I’m not sure what I had, maybe dengue light. I was breakfasting at Ruthie’s one morning with our friend Caroline and she pulled out a mosquito carcass that she’d saved from work claiming it was the biggest mosquito she’d ever seen.
A couple of highlights of the past month:
We have had some unbelievably good diving. I think that I like low season better. It’s much quieter, there’s a lot less divers on the reefs and as a consequence there’s more sharks on the reef. I’ve had a few dives at Shark Point with leopard sharks swimming around everywhere and bamboo sharks in every hole. And recently we had visibility at Bida Nok like I haven’t ever seen, I don’t think. We could see Black Tip Sharks swimming around from 20 meters away.
I’ve had the opportunity for lots of Yoga. Keira is away visiting friends and family in Europe, but she’s had a replacement instructor: Jennifer from Venice, CA. I’ve been getting stronger and better and still really enjoying it.
I’ve gone with the girls up the mountain a couple of times to explore some of what’s on the other side and found some lovely beaches and seen some cool critters up there as well: lizards and monkeys and ants and butterflies.
Cats on the island have been insane. It’s mating season. There’s a cute little tabby girl at Ruthie’s that’s about to give birth before day’s end. And we spent about 3 days being entertained by a female cat across the street from the shop with all her male kitty suitors.
Well that’s all the news that’s fit to print at the mo. I’m trying to enjoy time with my friends as this time may be short if the proverbial hits the fan at Barakuda.
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