Another day in paradise ;-)

Tos bro, it could be better, not diving at moment.

So here on island to learn and get certification as dive master so I can continue following my dream of career change from the office rat to sea rat 😊 so my office view will change from the wall and window to the ocean and palms and boat. However this is now postponed due the fecking ear infection which does not want to go away and after week of treatment of right ear and four more “just to be safe” days I was finally cleared for diving by medical professional on Monday afternoon what was such relieve that I have immediately inform my instructor and got into elevated happy mood like a child with new toy. Got back to hostel and happily informed all travel friends about it as it was a long time since I could dive so everyone was wishing me quick recovery and we went to dinner since everyone was hungry and sometimes it is better to eat with company rather than alone. So much anticipation that I had troubles to fall asleep but eventually I did just to woke up early in the morning on the fecking pain in my left ear….. unfuckingbelievable!!! This is a joke at this stage but I thought that this is just some mild issue maybe from pillow “hopeful thinking” and it will go away during the day. Well head off for a class of theory in the morning and kept positive that the pain will go away and I will be o.k, however as the day progress the pain was still there and since the medical clinic is around the corner I went there to get professional opinion as I would be too positive and pushy to go into water. Well not so long after I entered clinic the nurse saw me and she was asking what do I do here ? “You were here yesterday! You go diving today” she said and I said that I have pain in left ear so I rather get checked on which she responded no possible as I was o.k yesterday but took me in the investigation room and prepared camera for another ear movie shot. Since previously she was talkative and smiley this time I sensed that there is some issue as she sat down, quietly and just shook her head at the recording of my ear. “Not possible” she said after few seconds, “You were here yesterday and all was good….. did you went diving or snorkeling yesterday evening?” No I replied and that she said she does not understand it as overnight the healthy ear turned to infected one and quiet badly… another dose of antibiotics, pain killers and no DIVING !!! holy cow I think that it must be some curse or what ….. she mentioned that this could be result of a shower as the water on island is not treated / supplied form government water treatment plants as they actually do not exist here. Well what a fucking day ! Thankfully I had some antibiotics in my first aid case from home, not saying that I do not trust the Thai sold generics but maybe just maybe they are not as good as the one in Europe “Curious mind of European” but hey still need to buy some as I have only limited supply for few days. I had passed the theory test and now I need to dive and pass the practical skills in the water, what is a bit difficult with ear infection as I’m not allowed into water and therefore I just sit and assist with theory in the school and counting minutes as the day pass really slowly, when everyone else is on the boat and diving.

Thankfully there was party / snorkel test last night for Patty  who had completed her dive master training and it was reason to celebrate, what took my mind of the ear pain for a bit since it was lots of people came to watch her get drunk during  the games what are procedures what were funny to some degree. I like to meet instructors and students as since I’m not diving I’m out of contact with them, because they are on the boat most of the day and I find painful just hanging around the shop since I cannot dive. Turn out was good and BBQ was amazing, such succulent, tender chicken, that I thought it is cat instead 😊 Lots of food some drinks for those who drank and some juice for me as with pills I would not go for alcohol, not mentioning that since I start diving I do not drink. Chat here and there and then the fun was starting as they put tray of flour on the table front of Patty and she needed to find the questions in it by blowing or by nose probing, which she hesitate for a bit but then trusted friend push her head fully into to flour from behind and she looked like Casper with long hair. After few dramatics moments she blow the flour away to see the first paper with question number written on it. Obviously the focus and aim of the game is for her not to guess the correct answer and every time she   said wrong answer she need to drink “not sure what it was but it must be strong or not tasty as her face expression did not showed happy, tasty feelings. Well some of those questions were funny as for example age of one instructor, trying to burst balloons held by some male colleagues what resulted in her trying to climb, jump and otherwise reach the balloons, held high by guy in one arm.  Meanwhile we ate the BBQ food, drink some drinks and watch a little of alcohol humiliation. After ten questions and 9 drinks was time for the real snorkel test what is simply pouring pitcher of some alcoholic drink down her snorkel to force her drink it without taking breath since her nose is blocked by mask. Then the main proper test of scuba diver came what is to assemble diving gear blindfolded and drunk with obviously someone mess with the settings as twist hoses, lock buckle etc and she need to get this done on time. After second or third time extension she finally done it but for safety reasons she was not let to put it on her back. Congratulations came as she was officially named the Dive Master and then the tray of flour was thrown on her and rest of us fortunate bystanders who did not move fast enough to avoid white powder. Thank God for close friends as one of them took this big bin full of water and drench her into as if the rain poured down in spot and therefore she was washed of flour and again some fortunate bystanders were not happy campers as they have laptop in bags and as we all know water is not on friendly terms with electronics so few frown foreheads and grumpy faces were around trying to quickly empty the backpacks and dry the laptops and phones. Obviously the remaining balloons filled with water were used for a bit of water fight but with more people somehow not happy with water around their electronics, the fight ceased and clean up operation started as the crowd slowly starting dispersing into the night. With few stragglers who wished to party to continue, some of us headed towards the Leo bar where the fire show was about to be held and also to the nearest Fish Bowl Bar for a party. Well since there were two parties heading to the same direction but with time difference the one what arrived earlier decided to paly some pool in AC bar until the arrival of the second platoon so they can hit the bar together. Two games of pool later and one swim of new dive master in the pool the second platoon arrived and we all walked towards the Leo bar, where we regrouped and sat down to watch the fire show. Few minutes later I realized that I do not want to stay there and went home to sleep. Doped on antibiotics and ibuprofen I fell asleep quite fast, just to be awoken some time in the morning by Jessica knocking and entering my room, talking something. It took me few seconds to get my sound receptors back to operation so that sound she made now was understandable as English language, while she tried to explain that Frida need to help bring her home as apparently she was followed by some guys on the way home from the bar and is scared for her wellbeing and safety so i dressed up and went outside when Jessica remind me that by scooter will be better and I returned to take my helmet and keys and we went on search and rescue trip. Thankfully the island is not that big and modern technology of mobile phones helped us locate her in the main port area. After some walking and reassuring that all is well by Jessica we hoped on Blue Thunder and went in direction of hostel but unfortunately the Blue Thunder was not happy to carry three people up the hill and midway up the hill stopped and we had to get off and push her to the flat road where all three of us boarded the Blue Thunder again and this time safely arrived in hostel where the bed and hot / humid air of not air-conditioned room awaited us for sleep. I fall into bed thinking that in hour and half I need to wake up for my medication and then in another hour and half wake up again for my theory class, what reminded me that I cannot dive and therefore I got frustrated and angry and with those feelings my blood pressure elevated and I could not fall asleep. Doh as Homer would say…..