farewell, ko tao

it wasn't until this morning that my heart sank a bit.

alex woke up around 7:30 and went across the path to chaba for coffee. as much as i've said i'm ready to leave ko tao, and as many times as i've tried to get ready to leave, i'm finally quite comfortable with where we are. i left the bungalow to meet up with alex, and, without even grabbing my shoes, walked over to chaba. i'm so content with not needing my flipflops. i love taking them off when i go into restaurants and reception. i love that i could leave them for hours at a time while i walked the beach or went to the boat. i love that the internet cafe welcomes me openly, and that the lady with the fresh fruit shakes will take out the equipment for me in the morning, and that the spiky-haired boy at chaba greets us with a huge smile, saying "red wine?" at night and "coffee?" in the morning.

this morning, the sand that lined the pathway was extra warm around my feet and the sun a little brighter. i feel slightly at home, but moreso the utmost comfort with where we are. most tourists here leave within three or four days, staying only long enough to get certified, coming and going as often as the tide. we've been here long enough to convince ourselves that dsd was worth it... then for alex to get certified... to enjoy a few days on the beach together... and for me to get certified. we've officially overstayed our thai visa and it's been worth it.

i'm going to miss "swa-tee-kaaah" and "corp-kum-kaaaah," everywhere we go. the freshly fallen coconuts that i see around me. the waves. floating in the ocean. the dogs that fish. banana coconut milkshakes and lassi. putting on diving gear. and my lips tasting like salt.

somehow all of my stuff fit back into my bag after it had been spread on the floor for eleven days. i think i was sad about that too. maybe if it hadn't we'd stay.

for as ready as i had been to leave seven days ago, i'm sad to go.

i'll wave to the island, the sand, to sairee beach, idc, chaba, and our instructors, as we depart.

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a few pictures from where we stayed in ko tao.




reception, the classroom and equipment room at island dive club.






chaba bar, across the path from our bungalow and idc.




more seating for chaba, beachfront. we were very used to these by the time we left.

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we're heading to siem reap next, which means probably 36-48 hours of stressful and strenuous travel and we're not sure if or when we'll have access to the internet. we leave today at 2pm and arrive in bangkok at 5am. we may or may not make the 6am train to aranyaprathet - poipet border, which will determine the itinerary for the rest of the day.

wish us luck.

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Y rae. racho. d.