Pain

As the blog takes a kind of seasonal sabaticle, I have wandered to myself (whilst lying on the beach) what I might write in each new post. I guess this could have been just asking for fate to intervene with some interesting stuff for you to have a read of!

I travelled the 20 metre journey down to the beach with my feet still raw from the football the day before. I hadn't done enough however. The group of us decided to take kayaks around to the next beach along. It was a pretty warm day, the water was especially clear which made for some cool viewing.

After arriving back on our beach (pictured above), I dried off for a while before venturing out with my snorkel and mask. I'm just starting to get to grips with the whole thing, and even spotted a stingray, some crabs and a fish - yes, one fish. Rubbish! The little fella was darting in and out behind some coral as I tried my best to catch a half decent picture. After that adventure, it was time to get in some Frisbee. Anyone that thinks I may be wasting time with this whole travel thing, will eat their words when they find out how good my forehand frisbee throwing has progressed in the last week!

New Years eve was creeping up and we'd still not really seen any of Koh Pha-Ngan. So on the eve itself, a few of us decided to rent motorbikes to help us go check out the islands waterfalls, and also Haad Rin (The location of the islands Full Moon & New Years Parties). After fueling the hogs, we set off on some of the most dubious roads I've ever ridden on - let alone driven. It was not far that we met our first steep incline. The road had lots of washed sand across it as well as large cracks in what once may have been tarmac. I had to slip the bike down through the gears as two of us were on it. As I hit first, the gearbox must've caught hard as I felt the back wheel travel under me and the horizon disappeared and was quickly replaced with a set of motorcycle handlebars. My mate fell off the back and in doing so let the front fall toward the ground again - though the bike had spun 180 degrees. I held on like an Ewok (hmm, those who know me well will know this isn't the first time!) and battled the bike away from the road and toward some shrubbery. I slipped and gave some unneeded gas which sent me off the back being dragged by the kneecaps.

Whoops.

With claret running down my shins I pulled the bike back up and zipped back to the bungalow for my medical supplies.

Strapped up, we headed toward the waterfalls. By the time of arrival, my joints were pretty well seizing up so I didn't have much of an appetite to clamber over the falls. We carried on in to the afternoon and made it to Haad Rin. I had the Schitzel and recommend it! (As far as the beach goes, there were a couple of thousand bodies on it - we were happy to turn back and spend new years in our chilled little village and on a beach where we wouldn't be fighting youngens for space!

New Years Eve was happening. A group of 10(ish) got together and after dinner, we headed on our secluded beachside village bar crawl. As midnight struck, fireworks were let off all around the bay throwing awesome reflections across the calm low tide.
Maybe after the days earlier trauma I was in mood for some food - somehow I managed to eat a Bombay bagguette, several cookies and 3 banana and chocolate pancakes. Well fed, I boogied the new year in, in style (legs not moving on the dance floor style). HAPPY NEW YEAR! (200 litres???)

New Years day I awoke in slightly more pain than I fell asleep with. So I thought it wise to go to the hospital to get me left knee checked out properly. I took great delight getting carted around in a wheel chair for a while. I got an X-Ray and awaited the doctors inspection...

It isn't broken!!!

24hours on, the pain and swelling has reduced considerably, so hopefully I should be back on my feet and ready to contest some more beach soccer by the weekend.