November 5, 2014 - The weather clears!

We awoke to bettering weather.  Cheri and John jumped for the only 2 dives of the day.  This was the day for the long sail back to immigration.  We enjoyed the time with our new Dutch friends, Marianne and Hans.  Marianne reminds us so much of Sharon that we were immediately fast friends and I'm sure we will see her again either in Chaing Mai or diving.  

When we got the Burma immigration, Steve allowed us to get off the boat and walk around Kawthaung for an hour.  Marianne, Hans, Cheri & John did the town together.  The people were so friendly - amazing!!  Everyone wanted to say hello and when Cheri would smile huge at them, they would light up and smile huge back!  How fun!!  

As we got into town, a parade came by.  The next night was full moon and there was to be a Buddhist celebration.   Then we wandered around the town, through local markets with fresh food and dried fish. We saw a petrol station (see picture), blocks of ice being cut up for use, families on mopeds and life in general.  

Mari-anne & Hans

ice

petrol station

We returned to the ship and the sunset this night was spectacular!  Angels wings shone with pink highlights, hearts showed up in the clouds and the colors shimmered for us from yellow to orange to pink to red and finally into night!  Joy!

The cook was finally feeling better and she cooked up several meals for that night.  We chowed down!

 We were hopeful that the weather would continue to hold, but alas we sailed back into it yet again.

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

November 4, 2013 - South Burma

Well, the weather has definitely turned for the worse and looking like it could be that way for the rest of the trip, but let’s hope for sun!  Cheri sat the first dive out and John elected to go.  Cheri's ears are a little iffy and the reality is that she feels whole without needing to jump into a rough sea with potentially difficult exit back onto the boat.  I come diving to enjoy the undersea world and to see all the creatures in their habitat, not to test myself against my limits.  That sometimes happens and is fine, but it's not the primary reason for being.  So happily I sit and enjoy the down time with extra sleep and meditation time :-)

We found a sheltered cove for breakfast and a shower!  That was nice.  I’m sure the onward trip will be rough, but quite pleased that neither of us is suffering from sea sickness.  

John went in for the next dive and Cheri sat it out.  Both of the dives he did without her, he had the dive mistress to himself and he got to float along at his own speed.  Very nice!  

The third dive we both sat out.  By this time, John had been sick twice.  At first it seemed like it must have been sea sickness, but on further reflection, it may have been sickness due to low pressure.  The pressure sure was low!!  

The seas calmed a tiny bit and Cheri got foolish and decided to do the fourth dive of the day.  By the time the crew got its act together, it was a night dive and Cheri was wondering if she needed her head examined.  Originally it was Cheri going alone with Anne, the dive mistress.  By the time we jumped, it was with three other divers.  Usually, all plans are made on the surface and then executed under water.  When we got below, Anne signaled Cheri to take Unan as a dive buddy.  Sigh.  The seas were so rough Cheri had to jump with her camera and it ended up flooding near the end of the dive.  Yikes!  Her ears took a beating and by the time she got back on board, she was exhausted and decided to skip dinner.

Scorpion fish

Fimbreated eel

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

November 3, 2014 - Black Rock

Myanmar is a developing nation.  And is the case with many developing nations, the leadership has a severe case of shortermism.  They are using all of their natural resources as fast as possible including trees and fish.  They are allowing their fish to be poisoned and blown up with dynamite leaving 80% of the fish to die and go to the bottom. It's very, very sad to see.  Black Rock had experienced poisoning recently and there were many carcasses on the bottom and nearly all the anemone fish had been killed in the process.  We dove two dives and then the tour leader, Steve, decided to head south in hopes we would be away from dead fish.

Spiny lobster

Fimbreated Eel

The weather came on that evening and it looks like a big storm. We sat the last dive out.

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

November 2, 2014 - Enter Burma

We are sitting at the entry point to Burma at Kawthaung awaiting stamps for our passports so we can dive Burmese waters.  The sun has risen and it's spectacular looking at the town.  Off the port side of the boat is a little shrine where monks can pray and John saw one there.  On the starboard side is the town itself and there is lots of activity with longboats coming and going, the fishing fleet, hotels, scooters, and stilt based houses. There is a monastery on the hill with eagles soaring nearby.   Definitely feels like we are somewhere else!!

The sun is warm, but the heat of the day is yet to come.  A pleasant breeze blowing through as returning squid boats roar by with their lights all wrapped around the top of the boat.  They use the lights to attract the squid to their nets. 

Breakfast was yummy and included a Thai soup.  Cheri lapped that up!

Now we've finally been cleared to enter Burma and we have a Burmese person on board.  We are sailing on placid waters heading 6 hours west to reportedly good diving.  The sea is nearly flat and huge thunder heads are formed in the distance, reflecting off the sea a very blue, grey scene...everything hazy....islands and shoreline all around.  Tanning my angel’s wings.   

High rock and 3 Islets were our dive sites. 

Common Lion Fish

Christmas Tree Worms

Anemone Crab

soft coral

Enjoy!

Cheri & John