Pabuk – tropical storm at best

January 4, 2019

1

The last of the ferries left Koh Tao on Jan 3 in the afternoon. The strained faces of worried tourists loaded up like human mules headed for the pier. As the hours wore on, residents and those left behind, waited for the impending cyclone/typhoon to hit……it never came. Thailand is still very much a developing […]

Cyclone Pabuk

January 3, 2019

3

The last few days on Koh Tao have been chaotic. Locals are laying sandbags, nailing tarpaulin in place and concrete shutters are coming down fast. Tourists are stockpiling water and essentials and all ferries have been cancelled. Cyclone Pabuk is due to hit Koh Tao tonight. Meteorologists say it’s the first time in more than […]

Eco Koh Tao

December 28, 2018

1

“In a utopian world I’d limit the number of dive schools, dive boats and divers allowed in these waters,” came the reply. I’m sat cross-legged on a paddle board on the floor of the rooftop of Crystal Dive Koh Tao across from its manager Jennifer Dowling. She’s got a small window to chat before heading […]

Crystal Clear

December 16, 2018

0

Crystal Dive Koh Tao is the third biggest dive school in the world. When I bought my plane ticket to Thailand, I wasn’t actually prepared for how big a beast this operation is. Despite its size, it runs like a well-oiled machine. At least from the outside. My year working as a fledgling instructor has […]

Koh Tao

December 9, 2018

7

The reputation of Koh Tao is not rose tinted. It’s been plagued with negative headlines following a number of high profile crimes including the murder of two 20-something British backpackers in 2014. They were bludgeoned to death. There was a messy public trial under the eyes of the international media, where two Burmese migrants were […]

Vikasa

December 7, 2018

0

I came back to London for just five days. It’s the quickest layover I’ve had in two years since I started travelling. There was no time to see anyone without tying myself into knots. I was glued to my computer screen editing my submarine film from Honduras for half the day and sweating out my […]

Full circle

November 20, 2018

0

As I checked in for the fourth time back into my hostel in the old town of Panama City the staff greeted me like an old friend. “Hola Asha, how was your trip? We’ve saved you a bottom bunk bed!”. God love the staff at Lunas Castle. I always request a lower bed, I don’t […]

Coiba Marine Park

November 20, 2018

0

Where to begin? The surface interval itself was off the charts, let alone the diving. Two bottlenose dolphins leapt high into the air from beneath the surface. Squeals from the divers appeared to encourage them to leap even higher. Their black, slender bodies arching in the air following us, as we circled slowly around them. […]

Santa Catalina

November 18, 2018

1

When I was planning my second Panamá leg, I consulted Mr Flipflop while I was in Roatán. He’d had some travel adventures and told me the best diving was in Coiba marine park. “Santa Catalina Natasha (his pet name for me) is the place to go. It’s beautiful and a cool place. The diving in […]

The Panama Railway Canal

November 17, 2018

0

Eight weeks ago I’d read about a journey you could take along the canal passing the isthmus from the Pacific side to the Caribbean side of Panama. It was by train journey through the rainforest. So far I’ve done most modes of transport this trip – plane, car, bus, taxi, submarine and now train. So […]