Bangkok - Pattaya, Thailand Day III
We were barely served breakfast when the van to bring us to Pattaya arrived. Hurriedly requested that our breakfast was packed.
Van was pretty comfortable. Went around Pratunam area to pick up a few other families before setting off. Ride was a bit bumpy. I enjoyed the sights along the way while AD and IL napped.
Reached Pattaya town around 10+. We were told we had 50mins of free time before the boat to take us to Coral Island arrives.
Decided to check out jet-skiing. Was great fun. Can be a bit scary thinking we were out in the open sea, but sure was thrilling.
Was half wet by the time we were done and met the rest of the group, who probably had just been standing around while waiting for the boat.
We were told that we could try parasailing at the middle of the boat-ride, where there was a "launch-pad" in the middle of the sea. Was game to take it, but changed my mind as it was such a short ride.
We continued on the boat-ride to Coral Island. A very bumpy ride as the waters were choppy and we were at the bow of the boat.
One of the mothers laughed when I said "Ouch" out loud. The lady pleasantly chatted about how she was from Pakistan and the family was just from a holiday in Saudi where they took 6 hours to fly over to Thailand.
Was a bit of a shock when we reached Coral Island as it was so touristified. Even worse than Patong Beach, I thought. There were umbrella-shades and beach-chairs all over the beach, rows of shops lining the seashore and buoys all over the sea.
We had another "briefing" before free-time on meeting times. Scrapped snorkelling and decided to go sea-walking. Had to take a boat out to further up the sea.
Were given rubber shoes to change to, then a briefing in simple signs while in the water and other procedures as well as warned that we might have problems with the water pressure on our initial entry. We would be given helmets pumped with oxygen when we go around 5m into the seabed.
Did not have much problem regarding the water pressure. But the helmet was way too heavy for me even in the water. Had a panicky moment when I first went down and I tipped with my whole helmet filling up with water. Doesn't help that the waters was a bit murky and I couldn't see anything.
The guide was however experienced and very reassuring. He quickly righted me and helped me to regain my balance. Found I needed to hold on to my helmet to help me to balance. Felt a bit like moonwalking (Not that I've tried it).
The guides made up kneel on the seabed while they gave us various sea organisms to hold.
Then bread for us to feed the fishes. Was amusing to see all the tiny fishes crowding you and nibbling at the bread.
Wondered if the ticklish niggling I felt at the back of my neck were fishes. I wouldn't want to bring back any!
Spend quite some time underwater, with the guides helping us to take photos with their underwater cameras, and them fooling around taking off their goggles.
When we went back inland, most of the groups had started on lunch. In lieu of halal food, had a vegetarian meal and not so appetising for me.
Roamed about after lunch. The tide has receded, so we had to go way out if we wanted to swim or take the banana boat as originally planned.
I decided to take a shower instead. Changed into drier clothes before meeting IL and AD who were bumming on the beach-chairs.
After a while AD and IL also decided to shower down while I relaxed. Walked around the other side of the island before giving up and just waiting for the boat to pick us up.
We took a glass-bottomed boat for part of the trip back but could not see much as the waters was pretty murky.
Changed over to the normal speedboat. Ride seems to be less bumpy, or maybe it was because we were at the middle of the boat this time round.
The tide was not quite high enough for the boat to go far in, so got wet again trying to wade to the seashore.
The van brought us to the Gems Museum next. Managed to find water to wash ourselves, but felt bad that we were dripping wet. Was pretty impressed with the Lights & Movement technology of the presentation, but we were not allowed to take any pictures.
Bummed at a corner waiting for the van to bring us back to Bangkok. There was some shuffling around, so we didn't get the exact same travel-mates. A Singaporean lady who had made a fuss about being seated with her son ended up beside me and struck up conversation. She seemed quite nice but I was so tired and was developing a headache. so waited for a lull before I just closed my eyes and dropped out of the conversation.
IL & AD were thinking of going either MBK or Pratunam for dinner, but I begged out with my splitting headache. They instead bought me back dinner from Twin Tours. So sweet!
Van was pretty comfortable. Went around Pratunam area to pick up a few other families before setting off. Ride was a bit bumpy. I enjoyed the sights along the way while AD and IL napped.
Reached Pattaya town around 10+. We were told we had 50mins of free time before the boat to take us to Coral Island arrives.
Decided to check out jet-skiing. Was great fun. Can be a bit scary thinking we were out in the open sea, but sure was thrilling.
Was half wet by the time we were done and met the rest of the group, who probably had just been standing around while waiting for the boat.
We were told that we could try parasailing at the middle of the boat-ride, where there was a "launch-pad" in the middle of the sea. Was game to take it, but changed my mind as it was such a short ride.
We continued on the boat-ride to Coral Island. A very bumpy ride as the waters were choppy and we were at the bow of the boat.
One of the mothers laughed when I said "Ouch" out loud. The lady pleasantly chatted about how she was from Pakistan and the family was just from a holiday in Saudi where they took 6 hours to fly over to Thailand.
Was a bit of a shock when we reached Coral Island as it was so touristified. Even worse than Patong Beach, I thought. There were umbrella-shades and beach-chairs all over the beach, rows of shops lining the seashore and buoys all over the sea.
We had another "briefing" before free-time on meeting times. Scrapped snorkelling and decided to go sea-walking. Had to take a boat out to further up the sea.
Were given rubber shoes to change to, then a briefing in simple signs while in the water and other procedures as well as warned that we might have problems with the water pressure on our initial entry. We would be given helmets pumped with oxygen when we go around 5m into the seabed.
Did not have much problem regarding the water pressure. But the helmet was way too heavy for me even in the water. Had a panicky moment when I first went down and I tipped with my whole helmet filling up with water. Doesn't help that the waters was a bit murky and I couldn't see anything.
The guide was however experienced and very reassuring. He quickly righted me and helped me to regain my balance. Found I needed to hold on to my helmet to help me to balance. Felt a bit like moonwalking (Not that I've tried it).
The guides made up kneel on the seabed while they gave us various sea organisms to hold.
Then bread for us to feed the fishes. Was amusing to see all the tiny fishes crowding you and nibbling at the bread.
Wondered if the ticklish niggling I felt at the back of my neck were fishes. I wouldn't want to bring back any!
Spend quite some time underwater, with the guides helping us to take photos with their underwater cameras, and them fooling around taking off their goggles.
When we went back inland, most of the groups had started on lunch. In lieu of halal food, had a vegetarian meal and not so appetising for me.
Roamed about after lunch. The tide has receded, so we had to go way out if we wanted to swim or take the banana boat as originally planned.
I decided to take a shower instead. Changed into drier clothes before meeting IL and AD who were bumming on the beach-chairs.
After a while AD and IL also decided to shower down while I relaxed. Walked around the other side of the island before giving up and just waiting for the boat to pick us up.
We took a glass-bottomed boat for part of the trip back but could not see much as the waters was pretty murky.
Changed over to the normal speedboat. Ride seems to be less bumpy, or maybe it was because we were at the middle of the boat this time round.
The tide was not quite high enough for the boat to go far in, so got wet again trying to wade to the seashore.
The van brought us to the Gems Museum next. Managed to find water to wash ourselves, but felt bad that we were dripping wet. Was pretty impressed with the Lights & Movement technology of the presentation, but we were not allowed to take any pictures.
Bummed at a corner waiting for the van to bring us back to Bangkok. There was some shuffling around, so we didn't get the exact same travel-mates. A Singaporean lady who had made a fuss about being seated with her son ended up beside me and struck up conversation. She seemed quite nice but I was so tired and was developing a headache. so waited for a lull before I just closed my eyes and dropped out of the conversation.
IL & AD were thinking of going either MBK or Pratunam for dinner, but I begged out with my splitting headache. They instead bought me back dinner from Twin Tours. So sweet!
greenHedge shutterbugged @ 11:55 PM
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