Up till now...

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Sorry it's been such a long time everyone! I've just been really lazy I guess, and since there's always somthing going on here in Koh Tao, I never seem to get my butt into gear to write something on my blog! Also, the internet is damn slow here as it's a remote island and we use satellite for internet, it's tough to upload photos and costs a bomb with internet charges in the cafes!!
So how's life going for me at the moment? How are my travels? Well, I think the travelling part is pretty much over for the moment. I've been in Koh Tao, Thailand for nearly 5 months now! I'm now a fully qualified scuba diving instructor! I finished my course shortly before my birthday, so there was quite a bit of partying! You'll also see photos of my snorkel test at the end of my divemaster course shortly before I started my IDC (Instructor Development Course).
You see, life is kind of different for me now. I'm taking a break from the 'normal' life that most people have, working in front of a computer everyday, working 9 to 5. Since Sev and I broke up, I really have no reason now to go back, or finish my 'travels'. So I've decided to stay here for a while, possibly a year or so. Work is slow at the moment as an instructor. I work behind the bar too which covers my rent, and any courses I do is extra cash to pay for food and drink. Unfortunately it's low season at the monent, and I've only done a few scuba reviews (refresher course for people who haven't dived for a while), and one day Discover Scuba Diving courses. I actually have my first Open Water course tomorow with 2 students which pays well! Looking forward to that. There's something of a hierarchy here though, so obviously the full-time, long term instructors get the students first, and any extra or if they're busy, come to the freelancers like me. I will be going around the other dive shops too asking for work. Just need to weather out the next two months till January, when high season kicks in again.
Other than that, daily life is pretty much the same day to day, but it never gets boring. There's always the same crowd of friends here, working at Ban's, but you also get the customers coming through, and it's amazing meeting so many different people. I've made some really good friends and met some lovely people working here. It just cannot compare to life back in London, doing the usual 'respectable' work. I don't know how I could even go back to it after all this...
So yeah, life has changed a lot for me. It's a big decision, it feels weird at the moment, especially with a big bill to pay off here at the moment (about 600 quid!), but I'm paying it off slowly with the money I'm earning here (albeit slowly!!). So again, I'm kind of stuck here anyway until I pay it off, but I'm planning on staying anyway, so it kind of works out!
Anything else special? Yeah! I went back to Hong Kong a few weeks ago for my mum's 60th with Tsaki, a good friend who's also an instructor here in Koh Tao. That was quite a fun week, with the theme of my mum's birthday being early 20th century chinese. My sister also proudly announced she's pregnant on my mum's birthday, which, as the photos will show, made my mum more than happy with tears!! Can't believe I'm going to be an uncle next year!! I still felt young turning 29 in September, but it suddenly feels old now I'm going to be an uncle!!
Plans for Christmas? Going back to Hong Kong for a few weeks where I'll meet up with Kosh who's staying over then heading into China for a well deserved break for himself. God knows I know what it's like, living this life now and him still stuck in the City working in front of a computer all day! In fact, I feel sorry for you all, and you should all save dosh and do what I'm doing!! You won't regret it!
Back to Thailand in January again, continuing my new life. Hope you all find time to come and visit! Miss you all loads you know, that's the only thing that I miss a lot. I miss my friends (yes, and I still miss Sev too), but we can't all stay together for all our lives. We all make decisions that change ourselves, and although I thought about it before travelling, I've gone and done it due to things that have happened to me during my travels, and yeah, I am still nervous about it, but I'm enjoying it so far, and apart from the stuttering financial start to the new life, it all looks rosy for the future!
Come and see me soon all of you!!