February 23,

We were up by 0700, getting gear around for a tour we booked. Around 0900, fueled up with our Javas, we went downstairs for breakfast. I had an omelet, ham, ‘hotdog’ sausages, and toast; Jeff had Muesli, yogurt, and toast.

At 0950, we headed to our tour meet-up spot (where we bought the tickets). Another couple joined us and we boarded a motorcycle carted taxi. The couple were from Switzerland – probably 5 or so years older than us. We made small talk as we were driven by our own “professional driver” – that was what she called herself😂 – to and then down the long pier. Five others joined us four and we boarded a long-tail boat.

Now begins our adventure! We embarked on a six and a half hour tour: snorkeling & exploring a new island; then back to our island to swim in a cave. The long-tail boat drove us to Koh Kradan. The ride was fun and about 30 minutes long. We saw mainland Thailand and a few small islands. It was a beautiful day, sunshine and puffy clouds.

About 1030, we arrived to the island and we were distributed masks and snorkels. I just needed a snorkel. The ladder was up at the front of the boat, but we were in the back. As we were waiting our guide said we could go off the back. So a guy from Germany and Jeff got off. My turn… I hadn’t watched them go over, as I had been fiddling with my mask. I sat on the side of the boat, misjudged the depth and jumped in. I landed with a thud on some coral🪸!   I felt a sharp pain in my left foot. But Jeff distracted me by saying his watch broke! It was his band, but the long shirt/rash guard he was wearing kept it in place. Then we started snorkeling, the area was great! All kinds of fish – lion fish, parrot fish, banner fish, and moorish idol fish. There was even a purple colored clam.

But the pain was still in my left foot, I told Jeff about my jump in. I got somewhere I could stand safely and looked at my left foot. There was a barnacle lodged in my foot through my aqua sock/shoe!! 🤯 I mustered up the courage and dislodged it. Then we swam to shore. There were two gashes and it was bleeding. I put pressure on it as Jeff went back to the boat for a bandage. Jeff returned with a Band-aid – that was all they had!! – and Kleenex tissues that we had. Oh my… Okay. It had stopped bleeding. So we cleaned it with water & let it air dry. I just used the tissues. I managed to get back on board with the ladder. I changed the tissues and used Jeff’s bandana, because it opened back up.🙄 😔

Everyone else was on board and we were driven to the touristy part of the island for a laid back time to get lunch and/or explore. We had to exit the boat, down the ladder, and into the water, again. Hummm… Once off the boat I found the closest chair and propped my foot up, which was at the resort reception area. We asked the resort there if they had bandages 🙂‍↔️ was the response. Really!?!

After ten minutes or so Jeff went out to snorkel some. He took his phone. While he was gone, the resort lady came over and finally looked at my foot! Better late than never, right? Anyway she spoke to someone else, and he brought some water, something similar to Mercurochrome and cleaned my foot. Then put on a band-aid. I thanked him.

Jeff returned with the bad news of his phone stopping in the water!!! WOWZA! What a challenging day this it turning out to be!!

We were just ready to go to the restaurant for lunch and it started raining. We knew it was coming, as we had been watching cross the ocean toward us. We had even heard a couple claps of thunder. We stayed sitting until it cleared. Then I hobbled over and we had lunch of Chicken Rolls, and Papaya Salad. I had a Banana shake; Jeff had a Coconut shake. We passed a couple of hours just sitting there because I can’t really walk now without reopening the slices in my foot. At 1430, we all boarded the boat by having to go into the water, again; and up the ladder, yet again.

Now the boat tour went back to Koh Mook. Everyone but me got out and snorkeled some. Then we all went to the Emerald Cave site. It is famous and a well known place. People do excursions here from Koh Samui, which is a 2.5hr ride each way! Anyway, it involved getting in the water and swimming into a cave, and seeing the brilliant, emerald colored water. Then the cave opens up inside to a small oasis without a ceiling and sunshine. Jeff said it was stunning. I couldn’t go, on the account of my foot! Everyone came back, loaded; and tour ended, we went back to the pier. The guide had phoned ahead and the doctor met us on the pier. We boarded a taxi scooter.

Long story short – I have two cuts: one just over 3/4 inch deep, the other 1/2 inch deep; had a deep cleaning; a tetanus shot; and 5 stitches.

The doctor was very nice and good, spoke English well. She had some crutches she loaned me. She had even opened the clinic to serve me. It had just closed at 1630. It was 1645. When all was finished, we went back to our place, with the same taxi that had waited and had even taken Jeff back to our place while I was being worked on. The doctor charged 1500 Baht – $44.66. The taxi guy, Jeff gave him 400 Baht – $11.91. Jeff got us supper – a chicken burrito for me and chicken fajitas for him.

We talked with my mom, and then our church, finally ending on a positive note… BUT, What a day!