Good bye Koh Tao

 There is always something melancholic about leaving a place.
You have walked the same path to your room and the dust and film of dirt from the humidity you first felt when walking into your room, now feels like yours. The place you got your Americano every morning now greet you when you come in with familiarity. The bar tender puts an extra shot of gin in your drink with that extra lime he now knows you like.
Unlike other places we will go, I think this place will have a unique feel of community.  We have all been centered around a shared activity. The activity has adventure and bonds you with memories.  Like in community you are there to look out for each other and it's never just about you. No one gets left out and of course not left behind.



Like Anna said, it's just like family camp except for the smoking, swearing, toplessness and drinking.....

Evening fun.... The infamous snorkel test to initiate dive master's in training to full fledge dive masters.
A lot of drinking, skill tests and being dunked with water over and over again....

We chose to do the Islands first, with sand and sun and surf to decompress.  It's working. I did bid on a shift at work and got them.... Brad does still wake up and think of work and how things are going with his Troika team..... But we are soaking in the sun and Brad breathes deeply every day!

I have a goal, that with each encounter that offers moments of conversation I not only learn to listen and learn but that I also speak a truth or encouragement or life to that person's spirit.

 We don't live in isolation and every encounter reminds me that even though we are unique, we are the same and in some way we are changed because of the paths we crossed and the words that were spoken.

So bye to Alex, Natalie, Jo, Tom, Ben, Leonard, Chris, Kim, Evan.... Thanks for the memories.

To the many other travellers, continued safety and joy in the journey!

Good bye Koh Tao