Once I'd got off the ferry and on to Koh Tao island I hired a motorbike taxi to get to SpicyTao hostel; I'd researched it before arriving and found it to be the cheapest one on the island and very close to where I plan to work out. I'll be staying here for three weeks, which will be the longest time I've been anywhere by far, as I plan to learn Crossfit - a high intensity, constantly varied fitness training because after three and a half months of travelling I'm starting to miss a regular exercise routine (however I've always been active on my trip with treks, swimming and lugging a backpack the size of a small elephant around with me in 40 degree heat). As soon as I arrived I got talking to several people as there are many outside communal areas in the centre of the hostel complex including an outside (but covered) TV area with hundreds of movies downloaded on to it and cushions to lounge on, a large table for meals and a massive, empty stone hot tub. I'm staying 5 mins walk from one of the beaches and on my first night a group of us went down to the bars there to meet a Dutch girl I'd got talking to on the ferry. That was the beginning of many, many SpicyTao 'excursions' that I've taken it upon myself to arrange with whoever is around at the hostel - because of this they call me the SpicyMum and although I've only been here for two weeks I feel like I live here now!
One of the adventure days I planned was to go rock jumping and snorkelling on the other side of the island, there's a bay there that I'd heard was perfect for this however there'd been a storm and the sea was far too violent. Once we'd realised this after the arduous hour and a half slog uphill through boiling jungle we decided to scale some giant rocks instead; this was so dangerous that I had adrenaline pumping through my veins and blood on my clothes however I couldn't work out where it had come from until I later realised I was bleeding in seven different places! A Cambodian who works at the hostel showed us an abandoned resort he used to work at and we were looking through the ruins of all the old rooms and kitchens - it was like the set of a horror film!
That evening I organised a group night out on the south of Koh Tao and somehow we ended up getting seventeen people on the back of a small pick up truck! There was a fire show at one of the beach bars and in the distance we spotted a lump near the water in a dark part of the beach, when we went to investigate it turned out to be a passed out drunk person and the water was starting to lap around him so we woke him up and very possibly saved his life. Later on we saw him chatting someone up in the bar and he was so paralytic that he didn't realise that it was a very obvious lady boy! We then made it our mission to swim in as many hotel swimming pools as possible before night security came and chucked us out!
There are eight strangers packed into each dorm, no hot water and a diet of toast and packet noodles so life here is pretty basic however I don't think I've ever stayed in such a fun place before because there's always people around and stuff to do plus I'm on a tropical island - what more could I wish for?! I go to Crossfit training six mornings a week and after four learning sessions I now participate in the intense workouts of the day (WODs). The heat makes running outside and all gym activities much more of a challenge however I'm really enjoying it and whilst I'm already seeing improvements in my fitness levels I can't remember what it feels like to not wake up and feel like I've been hit by a bus!
The stone hot tub is perfect for sitting in to play drinking games!
Here we have people from England, France, Argentina, Holland and USA.
Paradise.
One of the adventure days I planned was to go rock jumping and snorkelling on the other side of the island, there's a bay there that I'd heard was perfect for this however there'd been a storm and the sea was far too violent. Once we'd realised this after the arduous hour and a half slog uphill through boiling jungle we decided to scale some giant rocks instead; this was so dangerous that I had adrenaline pumping through my veins and blood on my clothes however I couldn't work out where it had come from until I later realised I was bleeding in seven different places! A Cambodian who works at the hostel showed us an abandoned resort he used to work at and we were looking through the ruins of all the old rooms and kitchens - it was like the set of a horror film!
Freestyle rock climbing.
We also took a swim in the sea and then it started violently raining and thundering - personally I find this more fun than when it's sunny!
Spooky abandoned hotel in the middle of nowhere.
That evening I organised a group night out on the south of Koh Tao and somehow we ended up getting seventeen people on the back of a small pick up truck! There was a fire show at one of the beach bars and in the distance we spotted a lump near the water in a dark part of the beach, when we went to investigate it turned out to be a passed out drunk person and the water was starting to lap around him so we woke him up and very possibly saved his life. Later on we saw him chatting someone up in the bar and he was so paralytic that he didn't realise that it was a very obvious lady boy! We then made it our mission to swim in as many hotel swimming pools as possible before night security came and chucked us out!
Jammed into the back of a truck.
Beach excursion.
Insane sunsets!!
There are eight strangers packed into each dorm, no hot water and a diet of toast and packet noodles so life here is pretty basic however I don't think I've ever stayed in such a fun place before because there's always people around and stuff to do plus I'm on a tropical island - what more could I wish for?! I go to Crossfit training six mornings a week and after four learning sessions I now participate in the intense workouts of the day (WODs). The heat makes running outside and all gym activities much more of a challenge however I'm really enjoying it and whilst I'm already seeing improvements in my fitness levels I can't remember what it feels like to not wake up and feel like I've been hit by a bus!
Must be so nice to stay in one place for a while...enjoy x
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