A few nights on the really remote Ko Tao

Hey everyone!

Have met even more people now, another two irish guys called Darrell and Garath. So now there is 6 of us!! They are a real laugth and have had me in stiches since i met them. Its been good to have some more male company around as the girls can be a little bitchy at times! Generally we are all getting on really well. The weather is still amazing. Right now i can see the sun setting out of my window as i type. I can just make out Koh Samui in the distance across the sea. This place is truly amazing. Today its been around 37 degress and as usual we have all fried!

I have just got back from a 2 day trip to Ko Tao. Its a 3 hour ferry journey and all 6 off us decided to go as the diving and snorkeling are amazing there. We all set off last thursday and caught the ferry at 12 midday. Decided it would be a great idea to sit on the top deck and check out the views! This was a bad idea as i got really burnt, but its cool now as im developing a fairly good tan.

The island of Ko Tao is only 23 miles squared, so its really tiny. We got there and were picked up by jeep as the roads there are just mud tracks. The driver could only take us part of the way so we had to get out and treck through the jungle to the little cove we wanted to stay at. It was well worth it, absoulute paradise! I have never seen anythiong like it, white powder sand, crystal clear blue sea and rows and rows of palm trees. We rented a beach hut right on the beach. We counted about 5 other people staying in the cove so we pretty much had it to ourselves. There was this chill out area right on the hill where you could sit on mats at low tables and check the amazing view across the cove. You could just make out the other islands in the distance.

The snorkeling was mind blowing. There was this tiny island off our cove called shark island and you could swin all round it and climb on to it and sunbathe. And yes there were sharks! We saw 2 about 1 meter in length. I was snorkelling with gareth and we were a little freaked out when we saw them. They came right up to us, checked us out alittle(as we froze!) then just swam off! Unreal! There where huge shoals of fish and every tropical species you can thing of! I dived down and swam with this huge shoal of golden fish, they didnt mind me atall, just thought i was another fish!

The island only had electricity at night and only for 5 hours! There is no power from the mainland so its all from little generators! This made going on the internet impossible, phones were terrible. Think that was the most cut off from the world i have ever felt. It was a really cool experience. Im now back on Koh Pan nagn. Really love this island. Tommorow we are going on a diving trip out to the marine park. Its a strech of rteally small islands smack in the middle of the gulf of thailand. Its a national park here so it should be really unspoilt. Cant wait! Tonight we are going to the black moon party on the beach, should be interesting!!

My flight is booked now and i fly from Koh Samui on the 31st of March to Singapore. Not looking foward to leaving this place but glad i have a flight now, feels alot safer. Its gonna be sad saying bye to the girls aswell, but hey we still have some time left here together!

Well i have to fly now, gotta get something to eat. Tryed to update as much as possible on here. So much to tell, just cant type fast enougth!! Hope everyone is well back home and where ever u are in the world!

Matt x