Let there be a show

I awoke 2 minutes before the alarm clock - 6 o'clock. Tiny shards of light broke through the wooden shutters and across my mattress - the alarm clock sounded - I stabbed it out immediately and lay in the humid beach hut despite the efforts of a fan on 3-speed.
A 3 minute shower got me ready for departure...A dive to "Champhon", with the promise of a whale shark. Excitedly I threw on some shorts and a faded T-shirt and off I set...it was a 15 minute walk from the hut, through the palm trees. A new dawn fades - the memories of the night before... Down across the lush grass still walking through the mountain mist - the early light cascading across welcome palms. Dogs still coiled up for warmth throughout the night didn't stir, save for the odd nightmare still deeply sleeping. I walked past the restaurants and bars, the sounds still echoing from the last nights revellry.
It didnt take long for me to arrive at the dive shop which lay right on the beach. I could see the boat bobbing up and down that was going to take us to the dive site. I got my bouyancy device, wetsuit, flippers and a mask - my weight belt and regulator were already on the boat. We had a 5 minute briefing and off we set across the sand towards the "longtail" boat that was to take us to the bigger vessel. Most of us got a soaking as 20 of us crammed into the large rowing boat that had a 4 cylinder engine and a 3 meter propeller shaft attatched to it. The exhaust bellowed out black smoke and within 5 more minutes we boarded the bigger vessel, a wooden ex fishing boat, the rusty nail marks dripped down the sides of the hull over old and flacky paint.
The sun rose higher and higher as we headed out to the "Champhon Pinnacle" and we organised our rigs for our 2 dives. The air was checked and our BCD loaded over the air cylinder, air attached to the regulator and our safety checks done. We finned up and stepped into the sea. Down we all descended by the bouy line and into the big blue and the unknown. We levelled off and took in the beauty of all the shimmering coral, deep greens and purples, sea anenomes sheilding orange spotted and beige clown fish. Enormous bat fish came into view and sea slugs moved slowly across the sand bars on the ocean floor. Rabbit fish glided by and seargent fish with their large eyes and red and black markings hid behind large volcano sponges. 3 eels half hidden under a ledge vied for position while awaiting their next prey. And 2 Titan trigger fish came into view darting in and out, their 40kg mass a constant threat to other fish and the dive team. Taking care to keep one eye on the trigger fish we followed the reef taking in the sights of this watery playground. A group of Angel fish well over one and half feet in size swam past in the opposite direction as did a shoal of juvenile Barracuda, smattered with with tiny damsel fish.
Before I knew it the time had come to do a 5 minute safety stop and re surface. Air was low and we had been down for over an hour.
The days diving couldn't have been better and I returned to the dive shop with the team to fill out the log book then got some lunch from my favourite Thai restaurant. I strolled up the beach and found "The Sairee Cottage" and ordered a mouthwatering Red Thai curry. The tasty sauce and aromatic infusions soaked into the rice and I cooled my mouth on an ice cold glass of mango and coconut lassie.....
I felt a little sleepy after my diving and lunch so decided to take a nap under a palm tree overlooking the pier. The afternoon turned into early evening and I returned to my beach hut whilst the spectacular sun set over the golden sand of Ko Tao beach.
This evening a show was to be put on by a dance chorus of ladyboys, and I was eager to see it after several recommendations by the locals and the crew of the dive shop.
I arrived at the venue with half hour before the show and ordered a "Cosmopolitan" with enough alcohol to sedate an army and before long the spectacular show began. The lights dimmed and the music started, an operatic piece from "Carmen" and then slowly the "girls" came on stage one by one, their faces made up and wearing the most outrageous costumes. The crowd was loving it, and so was I. I ordered another "Cosmopolitan" and sat back and listened to 15 song and dance routines. At the end of the show the leading ladyboy introduced everyone of the chorus by name and hat' came around...Everyone was pleased to contribute to a first rate show.
It had been a busy day and was late now and I still had another 2 dives set up for the morning, so set off once again for my beach hut under the light of the moon.....the lizard would be waiting stuck to the ceiling...but I would tackle him when I got back...