Careless when happy

Our next and final stop was for snorkeling. The boat circled around before docking alongside other boats. It was located just in front of Maya Bay Beach, between the two cliffs visible from the shore. From the snorkeling point, we could still see the very beach we had visited earlier.

Excited, we got ready for snorkeling, carefully putting our phones into the bag and leaving it on the boat. The moment we entered the water, an entirely different world unfolded before us. The ocean was mesmerizing—vibrant corals, schools of fish darting in every direction, creating a scene straight out of a nature documentary. It was our first snorkeling experience, and though Sam struggled initially, the captain, being friendly and helpful, handed her a floatation tube to assist her.

While in the water, I checked upon our boat and noticed a new local guy had appeared on our boat, who wasn’t there before. He might have been a friend of the captain from one of the neighboring boats. He stood there, observing us with a cheerful expression. Caught up in the moment, I brushed it off without much thought.

When our time was up, we climbed back onto the boat, thrilled and filled with excitement from the experience. The boat then set off toward the shore, marking the end of our half-day tour. On our way back, they served us fresh pineapples.

As we reached the shore, it was time to disembark. Sam was ahead of me, carrying our bag over her shoulder. Just as I was about to step off, a nagging thought crossed my mind that I should check the bag to make sure everything was still inside. I voiced my concern, but Sam dismissed it instantly, saying everything would be there and that I was worrying too much.

Trusting her words, I let it go, and we got off the boat.Read more