LAOS Snaps

 Here we go..........

 WaTer FaLLs

Strike a PoSe

So serious at Buddha Park

Whose idea was it to bike to and from Buddha Park??? 26KM there and back....better yet whose idea was it to get in the back of this pick up truck.  Some call it hitch hiking we call it desperation that sun was HoT HoT HoT that day

Cooling off with the locals

Rachybabe and Dumbo

A boat, a bus and a cab ride later....

I am back at ABAC. 2 showers later I still have pink body paint all over me and the biggest pile of laundry. Pictures and stories will be overloading this page in the hours and days to come. First I need a snack and some quality time with my bed, star movie channel and my AC. 

can't stop smiling

My name is Rachel Dietsch and I am a certified open water diver!!!!!!  5 dives logged and already scheming how I can get a wet suit back on.  I am thinking some dives in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef  are next on the list!  How are you going to do that you might ask??  Well, as soon as I get back to BKK is applying for work visa and buying a one way ticket there for October!

I am enjoying a few more days on the beach before going to this small gathering, the full moon party....only one of the biggest parties in the world! This has been a great 3 months and this last 2 weeks we are not pumping the breaks. Scuba certified and dance parties till the end...then back to the classroom! 

Scuba Junction

Well...looks like I found a new hobbie.  This whole scuba thing is just turning out to be one of the coolest things I have ever done. I have to be quick because I am on shared Internet and I start what I like to call "chalk talk" scuba style in 30 min...so here are some things I did yesterday.  My group is a total of six people. 4 new scuba divers getting certified...me, James 1, James 2 and Zach.  Then we have G our scuba instructor and Jason the assistant who is getting his dive masters.  Rachy and the boys!  We have done learning in and out of the water but I will tell you guys the exciting stuff we did yesterday.  We did skills in shallow sea water followed by a 47 min dive...and here is what Rachel Ann has accomplish so far in the scuba world....

I can....
Clear my mask underwater
Take my entire mask off underwater, put it back on, and clear it and be able to see just great!
Control my breathing to make me go up or down while underwater
Take off my BC vest that is attached to my tank swing it around the front of my body and put it back on...ok i will stop saying "underwater"...you get it, its all done underwater!!
Take my weight belt on and off
Take out my regulator ( the hose that gives me air) and put it back in my mouth and then clear the hose of water by breathing hard or pressing the purge button
Give my buddy alternate air from my tank with my alternate air supply if he were to run low...as well as use my buddy's alternate air supply if my tank were to do some malfunctioning
Set up my tank with my BC vest ( There was this girl in our group. Who put the BC vest on the tank upside down...what a fool! I heard the assistant looked at her..said I have NEVER seen this before...quick lets fix it, I wont say anything, oh and you owe me a beer.)
Do safe buddy checks before entering the water

oh man there is so much more but I will have to write about it later.  Today is going to be great! another full day of this stuff....just falling in love with the underwater world!!

Who has the best parents in the world......

I DO! I DO!!

I arrived on the island of Koh Tao this morning settled into the bunglow with Ms Erin and went to have a morning skype session with the one and only Mark and Lisa Dietsch.  They were really enjoying the story of "rachel's night from hell"...I will fill you in real quick.

We were not on a ferry it was like a cargo boat last night. Lined up dirty mattresses, tons of locals and backpackers along with crates of eggs, motor bikes, and crates of who knows what...all packed into this boat for a 6 hour night time ride. No air flow so I was actually dripping sweat in my sleep..sick nasty.  I woke up and sat up gasping for fresh air when just at eye level was the biggest cockroach I have EVER seen. Well that was it for me I crawled off the dirty mattress and sat on the stairs of the boat hoping to catch a breeze and keep from falling asleep so cockroaches would not crawl in my mouth or lay eggs in my ears!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am puking in my mouth as I type this, by the way.  I ended up curled on flipflops, dirity sandles and tennies and next to dirty old people feet with my legs thrown up on yet another flight of stairs. Best sleep of my life....

So after entertaining mother and father with this story I dropped the bomb...I just happen to be on the "dive" island....can I have an early birthday present?? a bridge loan???  So after some convincing that I will use it again and promising Lisa I will be careful they have agreed to throw some extra USD my way so on Sunday I will be a certified scuba diver!!!!!!  I mean what a way to end 3 months of traveling.....holy cow!  So thank you mom and dad...this is probably going to be one of the most fun and coolest things I ever do in my life.  Top ten for sure. Top ten for sure!!!!!!!!!!

I will keep you posted on fish, shark sightings, how breathing underwater goes and how my dive group is. Erin is already done this course so I am goin solo with a group of 3 others!! Can't wait to share this experience, I am so excited I even got my toes painted pink. WHOO HOOO just call me the little mermaid!

xo Ariel 

Back in the land of 7/11's

I'm baaaaackkkk. It feels so good to know that if I need a 7/11 I can walk 5 steps in any direction and stumble upon one.  Well, I guess I am not all the way back to BKK.  They did let me back into Thailand and I will be spending the rest of my "summer break" laying on the beaches on Southern Thailand. The plan is to sleep, tan, read, sleep, beach power walks, maybe a beach run, sleep, tan, read.......I can't WAIT. Then it's back to the dorm to blog, post pictures, do laundry and get ready for my last 4 months in Thailand.  So much is still going to happen in these next few months! Rachel is coming to visit and I am now on the hunt for a J.O.B. down under with the kangaroos.

Just when I thought I have done all kinds of transportation....trains, planes, buses, mini van, rickshaws, tuk, tucks, river boats....well a new one came up to do later tonight. A night boat????  I am going to think of it as a cruise....even though I am sure it is far from that.

Then let island life begin.....

I miss BALI