Travel is all about learning. I've learnt a lot of lessons today. I've also got a lot of sunburn, a lot of cuts and grazes down my legs and hands and a new sense of my own limitations.
Now, before I begin this long story, let me first tell you that I am fine. My little injuries are minor and my sunburn will go, eventually. My friends and family will read this and worry. Don't. I'm fine.
*** Long story alert ***
So, this all started today when I hired some snorkelling gear to go out around the best sites around Lipe as recommended by some of the dive team I'd hired from. I plastered sun lotion all over me and went out for a couple of hours from Sunset beach and skirted around the coast. It took me a while to get used to using the fins/flippers I'd hired, but they were a great help in getting through the currents and waves. It was 1:30 by the time I got back and I'd been gone for just over two hours at a guess. I'd even had the chance to remove all the nasty sand that was in my fins and causing my feet a lot of pain!
So I ate and went back to my bungalow towards the centre of the island. More sun lotion and I set out around 2:30 to snorkel the corner around from Pattaya beach to Sunrise beach. I'd been told to watch out for rocks but stay close to them to avoid boats. I started snorkelling the calm waters of Pattaya beach out to the headland where it got a little more choppy. I was told the current would take me around the corner anyway, so once I broke through the choppiness and out of the bay I thought it'd be plain sailing. It turned out to be anything but.
If anything the winds got stronger and the waves bigger. I fought against the waves to get around the headland but after a while it appeared I was getting nowhere. Concluding that it was probably time for a rest and to try again in a few minutes, I headed to the rocks for a breather, as I was advised I could do. It was easily the worst choice I made all day.
The moment I got into a "sheltered" set of rocks and stood on one that was partially in the water I had a chance to see the waves I'd been swimming through. They weren't small. As if to confirm this, a wave came along and almost knocked me off my perch, which was when I noticed that the rocks were pretty sharp. I got out of the water to higher ground and saw the tiny beach I'd been told about. If I could reach that over the rocks, I could get back into the water without having to swim against the waves. So I did.
Another mistake. Having reached the bay of the tiny beach I was expecting sand (as it had appeared) as I swam in about 30 yards from the shoreline. Instead I was greeted with the sight of hard coral, inches from my face. I probably panicked a bit at this point. I was hoping the coral would drop off if I swam further out. It didn't, and I was swimming in about a foot of water when more waves hit me, pushing me into the coral. Ouch.
So I stood on the coral. Sorry, conservationists, but this was now self preservation. There was nobody around to help. Nobody could even see me besides boats who couldn't come anywhere near me. I was stuck. A completely unknown length of coral stood in front of me - if I could get to the edge I was safe, if not I was in even worse trouble. Head back to the rocks? I had enough trouble getting back into the water. I half swam, crawled and walked backwards (fins) until I reached the tiny sandy beach. No exit. Still stuck. After having a quick look at the rocks further ahead I decided to head back. At least I've swam that bit already.
I got back to the rocks where I'd first got out, and the waves looked even worse now. The tide had also come in a bit. I tried to escape by walking, but I was blocked off. I think this was where the panic hit me hardest. Swim off from the rocks into even choppier waves, or... well, nothing. No boats could help me without running into rocks. Nobody else could see me. The sun was getting low. I started talking to myself to force my way back down to the rocks. I knew it was fairly clear as I had come in that way, but seeing the waves I was properly scared. I can't remember feeling such a sense of dread to force myself through something ever before. So I sat down on a semi submerged rock, braced myself against some waves, checked for a clear path and swam like hell. It worked, but not before picking up more scratches that I could feel on the 30 min swim back that felt like forever. I did see a barracuda on the return journey, so every cloud...
I returned to the beach completely drained of energy. A couple of exclamations from people told me I was badly sunburnt. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed it. As I was still bleeding from my cut legs, I went to the clinic to get patched up. Nothing special, just antiseptic and plasters. Back to my bungalow for aftersun, which stings my hands, so there's a bit of a problem there. Now I'm sat in my bed and there's a frog in my hut. I'll let him stay...
*** Long story ends ***
So to summarise, I got stuck on some rocks and coral while snorkelling, genuinely feared for my life and returned with a bleeding leg and a back full of sunburn.
Oh, and yesterday I caught the ferry here which played "Hitch" dubbed in Thai. I'm not staying at Porn Resort, regrettably, as it's twice the price of this place. I have eaten there though, so I think that counts.
Next day: I spent a lot of the day transitioning between getting up, showering and getting changed, all in immense pain. Liberally soaking myself in aftersun only just helps. That's kind of all I did. I discovered a new love for ice tea and pancakes and we took in a stray puppy who we named Beebee - short for barbecue - as one of the locals wanted to cook it. I think he was joking. He was probably joking...