Trip of a lifetime

maart - mei 2016

Een 54-daags avontuur van ctkeefe Meer informatie

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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 2 apr. 2016 22:38
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Hoogte: Zeeniveau
- Thailand Changwat Satun Koh Lipe 6.489286, 99.3079226°29’21” N 99°18’29” E
Dag 5
Traveling to the island of Koh Lipe
2 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
An early morning got us up to go to the airport, fly to Hat Yai, drive 2 hours to Pak Bara port, take a 1.5 hour speedboat to Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe is off the west coast near the Malaysian border.

We got to the beach and stopped into the dive center (right on the beach) to see if our friend, Kiera was there. She was teaching a yoga class but we ended up having a couple beers with the other staff and some clients.

She arrived after her class and took us to our hotel. We had a swim and a shower and had about ten minutes before we were to meet her for dinner so we lay down. Bad idea! 40 minutes later we wome up!

No biggie. She was with some of her other clients feom Switzerland and they had started without us. We had a great authentic Thai meal with them, called it a night to rest up for another long day tomorrow on our first day if the open water PADI course.Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 3 apr. 2016 16:30
- ⛅ 32 °C
- Hoogte: 5 m
- Thailand Changwat Satun Koh Lipe 6.489028, 99.3072746°29’21” N 99°18’26” E
Dag 6
Sunrise and scuba learning
3 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Woke up super early (still got jet lag) and realized this late sleeper could actually catch a sunrise. And I'm a block away from sunrise beach. So that's where i enjoyed early morning.

The morning and early afternoon took me back to school days. Hours of videos and tests about diving. I will say the information was super important and made me understand the intracies of submerging yourself deep under the water with only access to oxygen through a tube.

Then Kiera took us out. A couple of exercises and we were diving. Yes maybe only in a few feet but you got it. Enough to keep you motivated to keep on learning how not to suffocate yourself.

Had a little problem with one of the exercises, taking my mask off breathing in through the tank with my mouth and out through my nose. Will figure it out. Tomorrow swim tests!Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- Delen
- 3 apr. 2016 21:41
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Hoogte: 5 m
- Thailand Changwat Satun Koh Lipe 6.489023, 99.307226°29’20” N 99°18’26” E
Dag 6
After diving
3 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Exhausted after a long day of school work and a little diving, we had a drink on our balcony (https://youtu.be/Y4qqJnUANj0), went to sunrise beach, swam and had a drink.

Home, shower then off to a bar Kiera suggested. "God" is the bartender and its the local jaunt. Had a great conversation with a Belgian local and then had another great Thai meal at Kin.Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 4 apr. 2016 22:00
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Hoogte: 5 m
- Thailand Changwat Satun Koh Lipe 6.489051, 99.3072816°29’21” N 99°18’26” E
Dag 7
Day 2 open water course
4 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
The watched the last if the videos, thank goodness. Then went out into the water for some more exercises. A lot of them to deal with emergencies or unusual situations. Had a problem with the mask thing again but made it through. Did fine with the other things like taking off and putting on weight belt, removing and putting back on BDE, think I got the buoyancy thing down. Oh and the swim test, 200 m swim and 10 minute treading water was so much easier than expected.

So we finished theorectical and confined space exercises, tomorrow is our first real dive!

Had lunch right on the beach which was lovely.

After training back to the room for a drink, down to the beach for a swim and a little practicing. I was also pretty pathetic in breathing out slowly but got it after a few tries. Then to the beach bar for sunset and witnessed a super cool storm cloud offshore.

Night ended off with a yummy dinner with Kiera and a couple of work buddies and friends visiting.Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 5 apr. 2016 22:09
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Hoogte: 5 m
- Thailand Changwat Satun Koh Lipe 6.489086, 99.3072436°29’21” N 99°18’26” E
Dag 8
First dive
5 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
So today was the first dive. Drove out on the boat to our spot. Geared up and went in. This was still a training dive and killed it except for the full mask flush. I freaked out again but recovered. Can't help but want to breath through my nose! Did well with all the other tests though. Tom killed it. He's a natural.

Being under the water and chilling is amazing. As a kid all i wanted to be was a mermaid and this is pretty darn close. I'm in even if that damn mask thing freaks me out.

Back at shore, we did our ritual of a drink at home. then we went to Sunset beach for sunset which was anazing. Backto sunrise beach to meet Kiera ( our instructor) for dinner but she was sick.

Instead met a great couple from Europe and chilled at Happy Vibes bar. Then dinner in Walking Street then home.

Kiera still sick and Tom had a thing too. Hope it's not serious and only mild food poisoning as i sit here while they sleep it off.Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 8 apr. 2016 00:54
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Hoogte: 30 m
- Thailand Changwat Songkhla Ban Thon Khlong Tha Akatsayan Hat Yai 6.936282, 100.3937686°56’11” N 100°23’38” E
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Dag 11
We're certified!
8 april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Last day of training. Kiera luckily felt better. First dive we had to do the damn mask thing again. This time taking the whole thing off then out it back on. Panicked a little but getting better. Then we just swam around. Gorgeous and so cool to glide around. Saw some amazing fish. I missed the giant barracuda that Kiera and Tom saw.

The 2nd dive we had one small task to do so it was basically supposed to be a fun dive. Well. There was a current and a pretty big one. It took all my focus just to keep close to Kiera. Good to know what its like though.

Took our test and then did the same ritual of a drink at home then head to the beach. Met up with our new friends, Vivian, Georg and Thomas at Happy Vibe bar again. Bad news!

We hung with them for a while at the beach. Then went to dinner with them and Kiera at the Box, then closed Maya. Went for a swim at the beach and more drinks in their hotel room. Needless to say we over slept, missed our boat ride and of course our flight to Bangkok. We're now about to board the next one and will have 2 hours to make the transfer. Way to leave Thailand with a bang (hopefully)!

Update: we made the connection with 5 minutes to spare. Now in Sydney waiting for the kids to get back from school!Meer informatie
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Now that's the life !!!
07-04-2016Reageren
Nothing like rushing to a plane with a hangover !! Been there ! Ended up at the Heathrow Hilton with Richard Branson's kids sharing our chines dinner with us !! Lol ! Then a couple years ago in Athens, we had drinks with the now retired, nanny of those kids !! Small world, full of Branson's !! LOL !!
08-04-2016Reageren
You're all crazy - Aub and Ev
08-04-2016Reageren
Congrats on the cert guys!
09-04-2016Reageren
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 8 apr. 2016
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Hoogte: 8 m
- Australië State of New South Wales Randwick Coogee Coogee Beach -33.92075, 151.25685133°55’15” S 151°15’25” E
Dag 11
First day in Sydney
8 april 2016, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Dov (my brother) was at the house when we arrived. We head out to Bronte beach just down the road for breakfast. We went just around the corner to an investment property that they've bought. Absolutely amazing views of the beach. Then back to the house to get settled and clean up.

Vasco came home from school and we head back to Bronte to meet up with Zidan and Dov. Had a couple glassrs of wine while Vasco surfed.

Once Judite came home from work we head out to dinner at the Coogee Hotel and had an amazing steak. A joy after all the Asian food in Thailand.Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- 9 apr. 2016
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Hoogte: 10 m
- Australië State of New South Wales Woollahra Watsons Bay Gap Park -33.845947, 151.28342533°50’45” S 151°17’0” E
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Dag 12
Sydney tour and AFL game
9 april 2016, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Took a drive to Watsons bay to see a winderful view of the city and Harbour Bridge. Drove to Parsley Bay, Rose Bay and back through Bondi Beach.

Then we stopped at Tamarama for a coffee and some typical Oz banana bread.

Went to an AFL (Australian football) game, big competition between the Swans from Sydney East and the Giantsfrim Sydney West. Super fun!Meer informatie
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Looking cool ! xx
11-04-2016Reageren
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- Delen
- 10 apr. 2016
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Hoogte: 24 m
- Australië State of New South Wales Randwick Kingsford Writtle Park -33.914139, 151.23271233°54’51” S 151°13’58” E
Dag 13
Sports day with fam
10 april 2016, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
In the morning we went to Coogee beach to watch Judite do a 1 km swim. Doesnt sound like much but in the ocean it certainly was a feat. We stuck around to watch her best friend's Brendon and Janine do theor 2.4km swim. Crazy!

Then we head to Vasco's AFL game. He did well, cool to see him play after seeing a professional game the night before.

Then it was off to snorkel at Clovelly. So nice to check out the fish without remembering to breath or worrying about your emergency procedures 12m below the surface. Water is quite a bit colder here though.

Then it was off to watch Zidan play soccer. 2 goals and assist by her!

Phew. Day in the life...

Late afternoon Brendon and Janine came over for a bbq. Excellent steak, boerwors anf some great salads. Oh and some sparkling wine to celebrate Judite's accomplishment swimming her first 1k swim!Meer informatie
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ctkeefe Trip of a lifetime
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- Delen
- 11 apr. 2016
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Hoogte: 5 m
- Australië State of New South Wales Manly Fairy Bower Beach -33.799332, 151.29171833°47’58” S 151°17’30” E
Dag 14
Day 4
11 april 2016, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Donovan dropped the kids and us off at Circular Quay in downtown Sydney to take the ferry to Manly beach on the North side of Sydney. The kids went and swam whike Tom and I had lunch at a lovely Mexican restaurant on the beach.

Then we all went to Shelly Beach and snorkeled. A little cold but super fun.

Then back to Central Sydney and a short walk through the Rocks and over the bridge to Sydney North. Judite met us at a pizza place and then took us to a surprise.Meer informatie
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