NIGHT ON KOH PANGNAN

On Friday I got my dad to run me over to Koh Pangnan on the jet ski. A guy I just did the course with was over there traveling with his mates. Ended up staying on this little beach that you can only get to by boat or a two hour trek (forgot the name). Spent the day supping shakes, smoking and swimming. At some point we headed off to a club that was a pretty drastic trek through the jungle- and I forgot my shoes- This place was mad fully of the local xpat hippies that more than likely have been stranded there since the 80's. We danced all night- the sun came up at 6ish and that's when it got a little more freaky with all the shroomed-up hippies worshiping and chanting to the sun. I hung around for a few hours then the fear that they were going to commence on some mad cult came and I trekked back to the beach, put my head on the pillow at 9am... The rest of the Dutchies came back an hour later, I woke with a start suddenly sober and very worried about where my camera was, I went for breakfast and found out it was in someones bungalow down the beach, safe and sound, pheww!

Saturday i got a long tail boat back to Samui and crashed out on the couch at about 3pm. Again I just couldn't get to sleep because the dogs kept licking my face so I gave up on the idea of trying to sleep. Ilse called and said they were meeting at six in the morning for a bike ride around the island so I missed the Bolton game, sorted out the bike and went to bed.

Back in Thailand!

So I've arrived in Thailand after 3 weeks in Warsash completing my Officer Nav and Radar course. The course and exam was pretty hard, I was so sure that it was going to be bad news, I had an agonising week there waiting for the results but clever little me, PASSES!!!

It's been 18 months since the last time I visited mum and dad in Samui and in the time that I've been away they have let my pet tortoise escape and have acquired 2, rather large, puppy German Shepards (which, luckily for me, don't seem to mind me staying here). The pair of them are the most spoiled dog's you'll ever come across, I don't remember my dad looking after me n my bro that well when we were kids- he's going soft I reckon! They live on fresh fish, prime steak n chicken breasts, they go for a swim in the sea every morning with 5 walks a day and even went for a jet ski ride yesterday while my mum sat waiting in the scalding sun, with no water, on a rock- classic Ian Greenhalgh Stylee!

Got nothing major to report apart from the gym having to be put on hold for a couple of days due to the fact that I couldn't get my trainer on over the golf ball sized lump that sprung up on my foot after a water skiing mishap...

So at the minute I 'm just prepping myself and my stuff for my bike ride, which commences on 1st December in Auckland and will continue until the money runs low. Hopefully it will see me back in Thailand by mid April but not got a set plan... I would like to cycle all the way home but will have to keep on stopping to build up the funds... not saying that's what I'm going to do though, will just have to see what life brings or what I make life bring!!!

For now I'm looking forward to a worry free holiday. I'm going to be hitting the gym and the chillies hard because they are the two things I've missed most these last 18 months.

I'll get some more pics on shortly.

Photos

Recap Last 15 months........

Here is a slightly depressing, very neglected looking blog page, time to rectify!

So after my 2 week job hunt in France last year I found work on a 52mt Motor Yacht with a world wide cruising itinerary, perfection! But after 15 months onboard I have handed in my notice to begin another adventure. I leave with some memories of the best time of my life so far (been too busy having fun to update this blog lol).

I started off my time onboard with the mandatory, tedious med season with a slight twist- instead on the South of France we cruised and abused Turkey. The Turkey season was two months of back to back "guest's on" made sweet at the end by a very generous tip (usually unheard of on a Private Yacht).

My first holiday away from the boat was in October last year and I planned a road trip around Scotland (my favourite country). I commandeered my Brothers Vito, Mothers bike, Grandads TomTom and whoever elses stuff that I could grab and headed North with the intention of making the boot my bed for the next week. I spent the first two nights in Berwick- Upon- Tweed, Yes I know that's not Scotland but I visited a mate and surprised another friends parents. Then I cruised up the East coast to Betty Hill, my goal was Betty Hill as my dad had seen a farm house up there that need doing up and would have been perfect for my future plans of running an extreme sports B&B (I still think that the place is perfect- the fact that it's a 3 hour drive to the nearest Tesco doesn't matter too much as my plan is to be as self sufficient as possible). Also I believe there's great surf up there as well...

I did the return trip to Bolton down the West coast Via Fort William and Isle of Skye. After my run up the Nevis Range I decided it was time for a shower so I booked into a campsite for the night and cycled into town for some pub grub and a few cheeky Ciders. Anyway this Road Trip kind of started a new obsession with roadys and many more where to come in the next year.

Back onboard and bound for Galapagos with refueling stops in Sint Maarten and Panama. After going threw the Panama Canal we arrived in Panama on Christmas Eve just in time to get the glad rags on and jump into a taxi. The taxi driver informed us that there was nowhere open apart from a strip joint- I didn't believe him but strip joint it was. Our 12 crew rocked up there, after 4 weeks at sea, to find out that it was all you can drink for 30 dollars, long story short, by 1am they changed their minds and asked us to leave (don't think the crew trying to have dance offs with the strippers helped our cause very much). Christmas day is just a blur of Champagne and laughing......

On boxing day we headed to Galapagos to pick up charter. I'd love to say that Galapagos is beautiful but I can't. Unless you dive, if you go to Galapagos all you will see is rocks and birds and lots of them but if you're a diver- unique!

Before Galapagos all of diving experience was in Tropical seas with multi coloured reefs and a n abundance on small marine life, diving Galapagos is completely different- it's all about spotting the big stuff! Sharks, Whales, Dolphins and yet some more Sharks can almost be guaranteed on any given dive. On one dive site you can actually see scholes of about 300 Hammer Heads! Do I sound like I experienced it? Well I didn't- gutted! We don't dive on charter, it's all about making sure the guest see it all- obviously- But we were planning to stay behind 4 days after they left to experience it ourselves. On my first dive there i descended to 20meters and then passed out....... I came round, clung to a rock feeling very dizzy and finally plucked up the courage to surface. I did surface threw a schole of White Tip Sharks though. Needless to say the Captain banned me from all future dives until I'd seen a Dive Physician. I still saw some stuff from the surface though including Hammer Heads, Galapagos Sharks, Whale Sharks, more spinning dolphins than you can imagine, blue footed Boobies and enough Sea Lions to make you hate the smelly things.

Then we did Costa Rica and America for a few months- obviously a lot of stories from the months there but I'll remains on them some other time.

Anyway, the revival of my blog is all in anticipation for the up and coming months ahead. I am leaving the boat in a few days and, after a stop in Samui to see the folks, I'll be heading to New Zealand to start a bike ride that, Pennies Permitting, will see me to Scotland, I'll keep you posted each step of the way, very EXCITED!!!!!!

MAY 09 Home Sweeeeet Home

At the end of May 09 I left Samui bound for Bolton, Gutted! (Well not really) Had enough of Thailand for the minute and itching to get back to work and traveling.

Ill be home for 2 weeks in total and then will be heading to the South of France to look for work on a Yacht.

Not really getting up to much at home, just organizing my endless boxes of rubbish stowed away at my Grans house. I think she's dieing for the whole of our family to leave home and no one as just the now, lol! My Grandma's house is home to Grandad, Grandma, Bro Sean, Auntie Sue, Cous Grace, Mum and Dad (when they're home), Brandon (at weekends), ME (when I'm home) and last but not least Mad Max and Bruce- our little puppies. It's truly a mad house of the Greenhalgh clan!

For my last weekend at home I ventured up to St Marys Loch in Scotland. It was Hannah's birthday and she was camping up there. After much faffing around on Sat Morning, getting the address to load in the temperamental Tom Tom, realising the van was rancid, cleaning the van excetra excetra, I finally set off. So off I went up to Scotland with an empty tank n my fingers tightly crossed that I'd make it to the first Services. The bank holiday traffic to the lakes was hellish but from lakes north twas nothing but open road. Loved the ride up there- country roads are soo much fun! wish I knew how to turn traction control off.

Very glad Hannah and her crew were well set up with tents, food, bevies etc or else i'd have been cold, hungry and thirsty. Camp was set up on beautiful St Marys Loch surrounded by hills n valleys. Hannah and I attempted one such hill with 2 little dogs in tow. Half way up the old legs were burning but we made it to the top and enjoyed the view. We had a few tent dramas due to gusty winds, Davey attempted to act as the missing tent stake and got knocked dooon, lol. Anyway met some top peops and had a fab weekend!

Thailand Jan Feb 2009- KITEBOARDING

I've been learning to kiteboard. It has taken a while but I'm getting there. We've only had like 2 weeks of good wind in the last 2 months- it sucks doing a sport where you're so reliant on the weather but saying that, most sports I do are reliant on the weather, apart from running and badminton. Thailand isn't exactly famous for it's strong winds, I really should have thought this through more.

Been being patient and sticking at it and voila, I got up. I can now ride left foot forward pretty well but when it comes to getting back it takes me forever.

I also, very irresponsibly, took a loan from my parents to buy the gear- it's way to expensive to keep on renting. This way will be cheaper in the long run, I'm Sure!

Thailand 2009- NEW YEARS EVE

Mmmmm Back in paradise. This time I am going to be slightly more productive on my thailand stay. I am going to learn how to Kiteboard.

First thing on the list was New Years Eve. We went to Chewang beach and is was hectic.  I'm not usually into huge crowds but this I could handle. Throughout the whole night people were send off lucky lanterns, there must have been thousands in the sky, it was stunning. Thai's were going around selling fireworks to the tourist and not just little rockets I'm talking fully fledged industrial style rocket launchers. The fireworks were constant for our 5 hours there. A few did veer off into the crowd but I didn't see anyone injured.

I wen there with my mum and dad and the neighbors and had an excellent night.