We’ve had a very productive week – working, catching up on admin, figuring out onward plans, getting our Vietnam visas, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and trying to dye my hair (which resulted in this disaster – carrot orange. Today I attempted a fix-up with dark mahogany, which turned it extremely dark brown. Luckily I’m not too precious about my hair colour!)

So we decided to reward ourselves for working so hard by going on a day trip yesterday – a snorkeling day trip to three islands, with a barbecue fish lunch on the beach thrown in. It’s a popular tour around these parts, every second hotel seems to be advertising it, so I didn’t really have very high hopes… But it was wonderful! A really great day.

The minibus picked us up first thing in the morning, and took us for a simple breakfast (baguettes and jam) before dropping us off at the boat. We went on a 20 minute-or-so boat ride to the first snorkeling spot (lots of fun, I love boat rides) and then snorkeled amongst the coral and fish there for about half an hour… Next we were taken to Bamboo Island, where there’s a long beach and the clearest warmest water you ever did see. We swam there for a while, and ate our freshly barbecued baracuda (yum!) then walked through a coastal forest to the other side of the island, where an even more pristine beach was waiting for us. Like something straight off a postcard… Quite incredible.

There were loads of other tour boats around, it’s obviously a popular route, but for once it was kind of nice to be around other tourists. Everyone was loving the perfect weather and beautiful ocean, and we met a few really interesting travelers and had some great conversations. The boat took us to one more snorkeling spot on the way home, and then we landed back on the beach – exhausted, happy, sandy and, regrettably, sunburnt. I mean crazy sunburnt – bright red lobster sunburnt. Which is odd, seeing as we applied sunblock at least three times during the day.

Still, it was a wonder-full day, not only for the overdose of natural beauty (I take it all back about Cambodia not being beautiful – these beaches were extraordinary) but for a day of fun and playfulness and nothing on our To Do Lists. We’ve had to start thinking of ways to make money as we travel (travelling is a lot more expensive than we’d hoped), so it’s been a week of planning and thinking and figuring out. Fun, in its own way, we really enjoy using our brains, but such a treat to have a day of total silliness.

Mark and I had a lengthy handstand contest. I like to think I won.

Best of all, it was a completely stable diabetes day. I was a bit concerned, because we were out and about all day, exercising a lot (swimming, snorkeling and walking) and eating whatever we were given, but I balanced the exercise and food well, and I felt fantastic all day. Love it when that happens!

This weekend we’re off for an even more exciting trip – a weekend away on an island with a company called Eco Sea Dive, where we’ll visit (and scuba dive!) at two remote islands. I am EXCITED! And a little nervous… Scuba requires a lot of forward planning so you don’t go low, because it takes up so much energy, so I’ll have to have juice and biscuits on me all the time. But mainly excited!
The reason for our weekend trip is because it’s a Celebration Weekend. It’s Mark’s birthday tomorrow, and our 3 year anniversary on Sunday, so we wanted to do something special.

(Note the screech-orange hair!)

I’ll tell you all about it next week! For now, we’re off to pop (imaginary) champers and eat (imaginary) cake. Will have to find a replacement somewhere!