Here the sky-train track wraps its way through Bangkok near the traffic-congested Siam Square. There is a walkway below the skytrain which is quite useful if you want a breather from the crowded sidewalks below.

Aaron arrived on Friday the 13^th and we’ve made the most of our time so far. We explored Bangkok via the sky-train the subway. The subway is the nicest and cleanest mass transit train I have ever been on. It is fast, efficient, and easy to use. The only drawback is that there is only one line. It offers connecting service to the sky-train which is also a very nice system. There are two sky-train lines and between the two systems you can travel around Bangkok to almost anywhere you want to go. This method of travel is much better than taxi or tuk-tuk. While taxis are nice, air conditioned, and incredibly cheap… they’re prone to sitting in giant traffic jams that make LA driving look like Eastern Montana.

Aaron and I have spent most of our time wandering through markets and eating almost anything we see. We generally buy some food, talk about how good it was, then go buy some different food. This was one street stall we decided to pass. This man was selling various bugs but the scorpions attracted the most attention. In this picture he is handling a live scorpion that will soon have the same fate as the fried scorpions below.

*I previously reported that these scorpions were "cockroaches". I don't know why I typed that.. As little as I know about eating bugs I did in fact know what these were.

I felt like we were "Lost in Translation" as we walked through the MBK shopping complex in Bangkok. We strolled by a series of karaoke pods where people of all ages pay money to sing along to their favorite songs. It was pretty funny watching people sing their hearts out while none of the sound escapes the booth.

Every month Ban's Dive Resort, where I have been staying, has a party in honor of a different country. This month it was Germany. Now the fire dancer pictured above has nothing to do with Germany, I still thought it was a picture worth sharing.

For some reason the dive instructors did not seem to be happy with the German theme this month. I heard several saying, "there is nothing to celebrate with Germany" and they were very bothered by the giant German flag that was draping the beachfront bar when our boat returned from the dive site.

*I thought the German theme was great, although I didn't try the German sausages they were serving. I did drink some Heineken but that really doesn't count as it is brewed in Bangkok and Germans generally dissaprove of calling Heineken "German".

I am leaving Koh Tao today. I will travel by ferry (no, not by fairy) for 3 hours to Chumpon. In Chumpon I will board an overnight train to Bangkok. I arrive in Bangkok around 6 am tomorrow and I will be meeting Aaron Jones in Bangkok that afternoon. He arrives around 12:30. We will probably stay in Bangkok for a couple days then make our way north to Chiang Mai, provided it hasn't washed away in the flood.

I saw something today that many divers wait a lifetime to see. I was about 10 meters deep and a whale shark swam by me very slowly within about 5 meters. It was incredible. I didn't know what it was at the time, but I knew it was huge. It was 5 meters in length.

After my buddy (the diver I was paired with) and I saw it we made our way to the surface (after a 3 minute safety stop at 5 meters). When we surfaced we yelled back to the dive boat and within 30 seconds about 40 divers were jumping from the 1st and 2nd floors of the boat with their masks in hand. Everybody was going crazy and fortunately almost everybody got to see it. It was hanging out near the chumpon pinnacle about 20 km northwest of koh tao. My instructor said it was 5 meters in length and the first he had ever seen. Some people have been diving everyday for more than five years here and haven't seen one. It was truly special.

*the above photograph is not the actual whale shark I saw, rather it is an image I found online. There were several people that had cameras and did get pictures today and I will try to get one from them.

Before the whale shark I swam with many smaller reef sharks. Most were about 1.5 meters in length. I have to say sharks are the most incredible creature I have ever seen. It was incredible and I can't wait to see more in the future. Today was an incredible day of diving with visibility nearly 30 meters.

Here I am again having a meal with an incredible view... This restaurant overlooks "Shark Bay" on the south end of the island.

Today I am finishing the final day of my advanced scuba diving course. Yesterday we did a deep dive to 100 meters, a navigational dive, and last night a night dive. The night dive was incredible as you can turn off your torch and see bioluminescence in the water. This is a chemical reaction wich causes a light emission from contact with an organism, such as plankton. A wave of the hand leaves a trail of light like you see when you wave a sparkler. It is very cool.

This afternoon I will make my final two dives. Both will be in an area known for sharks. I hear that swimming with sharks is one of the greatest dive experiences. I can't wait. (like most sharks, these are harmless)

Koh Tao evenings are quiet and relaxing... Restaurants that line this beach often attract customers by playing movies on projector screens. The night I took this photo I had a banana shake and watched "Anchor Man".

The internet has been down the last couple days on the island so my postings have been delayed.. I'll have some new pics and stories up tomorrow. I just finished my first night dive. It was incredible. Check back!

Here's a map showing where Koh Tao is. (I forgot my camera card reader in my room so no new pictures now)

I took my final exam today for my Open Water PADI certification. Before the exam I told my instructor that I think I've learned more about the English language than I have SCUBA. Now I have learned a lot about diving... however, before this course I had no idea what my instructor would have meant if he said, "Bollucks, you're taking the piss now mate!? Now, as I said, whack your answers down and fuck-off till tomorrow you bloody wanker"

You can't see it in the picture but the 7-Eleven on the left has 5 pairs of sandals sitting outside the door. When you enter a home, restaurant, or shop, it is customary to remove your shoes at the door. There is also a flip flop monster that steals your flip flops so when you walk outside they are gone. That is just part of life in Thailand and why the best flip flops are only 80 baht ($2).

I don't know what kind of "curry" I've eaten before, but if what I had last night was real curry then the other stuff wasn't. This beautiful restaurant sits right on Hat Sai Ree beach in Koh Tao. I had an incredible meal with a banana shake for just a couple of dollars. Life here is quite grand.

I found a resort on Koh Tao where I will complete my open water dive training. I arrived this morning around 10:00 am and the class starts today at 4 pm. It is a 4 day course. I am staying at the resort for 200 baht per night. (about $5.30 USD) The rooms are discounted for students. The normal price is 400 baht per night.

The resort is beautfil with multiple swimming pools and cascading waterfalls. My room is on the third floor overlooking the ocean and the upper pool.

Koh Tao is an incredible island. It reminds me of St. John with far less development. There is a main road that is about the width of a boardwalk that spans the western side of the island. You can rent a motorbike for $4.00 per day or you can walk or hitch a ride on the back of a bike.

I arrived at the Chumpon ferry dock at 5 am this morning. The sun had just began to rise. I left Bangkok at night and travelled overnight so the trip was not very scenic. However, everybody seems to travel at night because you don't waste a day and you don't get stuck in Chumpon overnight. (you also save on a nights lodging)

I met one American on the trip.... a 22 year old who "moved" to Thailand 4 months ago from Texas. He is the only American I have met thus far. There are loads of tourists and they all seem to be from Europe and Australia. A local Thai told me they rarely see Americans in comparison to Europeans and Australians. Also, he said there is a surprisingly large number of Canadians... hmmmm. (I have only met 1)

Tuk Tuk ride during rush hour traffic.

So far I've only been involved in 1 minor traffic accident. My taxi today hit a motorcycle.. there were no injuries with the exception of the paint on the taxi and the motorcycle.

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to travelling to Koh Tao tonight. I will leave Bangkok at 8pm for the island of Koh Tao. I will arrive tomorrow morning.

Bangkok is a great city but I am looking forward to some relaxation after 3 days in this thriving metropolis of 8 million people.

I am planning to spend about 1 week in Koh Tao while I get my PADI diving certification.

I arrived in Bangkok Monday afternoon (16:00) and took a taxi to Khao San Road. The weather was muggy and it was raining lightly. I was exhausted and somewhat out of it and I needed to find a place quickly. Unfortunately that meant I wasn't going to find any of the places I have been recommended to stay.

I tried about 3 places before deciding on the 4th. The first 3 were probably better but I was tired and the price difference was small. I paid about $15 for a room with a single bed, private bathroom, hot shower, and cable television. The television was nice because I woke up this morning to watch some MNF before going downstairs for the included breakfast.

My next step is to find a better place to stay. Tomorrow I am leaving Bangkok for Koh Tao.

Wow.. 13 hours later I'm in Taipei. The flight felt so incredibly long. I can't say how relieved I am to be off that plane. 4 movies, 2 meals, and 300 passengers.

The flight took off at 6 am (pacific time) from Seattle. After a warm towel service we were served dinner. I had the fish and rice. It was pretty good. Several drink rounds, and 4 movies later we were served breakfast. 2 hours later we landed.

This airport is incredibly sterile. There are thermal imaging cameras that monitor people for a fever. If you have a fever you have to wear a mask. The terminals are all quarantined. (they take bird flu very seriously)

I once again found myself in the exclusive first class lounge for EVA air. This lounge is their flagship lounge complete with a video game room (xbox 360's and flat panels), business lounge, showers, gym, and more. Oh yeah, all the food and drink you want. Right now I'm sipping on some Johnny Walker Black Label.

Seattle Layover.. Wow, I'm glad I met Jeff standing in line for my flight from Seattle to Tapei. I ended up with a 12 hour layover, but thanks to Jeff I spent it hanging out in the first class lounge.

Members are allowed to bring one free guest and since Jeff was travelling alone he said he could get me in the lounge. It was great. All the food and beverages you want for free.

T-Minus 1.5 hours.. Here I am leaving my house with everything I'm bringing to Thailand.

After increasing my eBay feedback score by 5 points and using my Amazon.com $30 credit for opening a credit card (which I cut up afterwards) I am ready to go. So far I am packing the following:

1. Toiletry bag: Inside are various essentials such as: small first aid kit, bug spray, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, shampoo, Crew fiber, generic allergy medicine (loratadine), anti-malarial medication (doxicycline), sunscreen, face lotion, razor, shaving cream, and probably a few other small things I'm forgetting.
2. Prescription sunglasses and prescription glasses
3. Battery operated I-pod charger
4. I-pod
5. Full sized and face sized travel towels
6. Travel Pillow
7. Day bag
8. Inflatable pillow I got for $0.99 that I will probably dispose of after the flight to BKK.
9. Zip-Lock bags for clothing (separate clean and dirty bags)
10. Various guide books (LP Thailand, SE Asia on a shoestring, 1 map Bangkok, 1 map Thailand, phrase book)
11. Travel camera tripod
12. Blackberry GSM based so I will have a local Thailand phone number while traveling. It will also provide me with internet, e-mail, google talk, google maps, and more 24/7 virtually anywhere I travel. (for keeping in touch with Lindsay)
13. Silk bed liner (inside the orange stuff sack)

Not Pictured: Petzl headlamp (I seem to have misplaced it at the moment)
Camera (I had to use it to take the picture)