Day 153! The past three days have been challenging and exhausting, but also fun and rewarding. Having to face a new challenge and work through it was incredible. But today, I needed a rest.

I woke up for my morning volunteering shift and my head felt a bit heavy. My ears were a bit sore and irritated… and everything was a bit muffled.

I went and chatted with the dive masters and instructors and they said it was Swimmers Ear and it’s pretty normal to have happen.

One of the Dive Masters in training (DMT), Ami, had some over the counter ear drops. I tried those out but they didn’t really help. Another one of the DMTs told me it’s just one of those things you have to wait out. So I’ll just wait it out before I start my advanced course!

I then ordered a muesli bowl and went around chatting with all the new faces in the hostel today! It was another day of lots of people coming in and out. There were also a lot of familiar faces on their second or third day of diving, so it was fun to chat with them about their experience so far.

Now that I’ve done my open water, I can really relate to all the divers going through it. The past couple weeks has been a lot of “you’ve been here for 3 weeks and you haven’t done your open water yet?!” So I’m glad that that’s done… but now the dive instructors are asking when I’m going to start my dive masters…

Every now and then my order gets lost, but eventually my muesli bowl arrived and I chowed down on the delicious fruit, yogurt, and granola. It’s really the perfect way to start an island day!

All the divers and instructors filed out and the morning boat came in. There were a lot of big smiles coming from this crew and I knew exactly why! They had just finished their shipwreck dive and were buzzing for more, just like me.

I played some pool for the rest of the morning, winning some and losing some (always have to make the guests feel happy of course). And then I set down for lunch!

I had a chicken chili and basil, one of my favorite dishes in Thailand. It’s been a while since I’ve had it, but the hostel makes a great one.

I sat and chatted with some friends while I ate… but then it was time for them to head out on their next adventure.

Holly from Australia, my dive partner Marte from Belgium, and Lela from England have all been around the hostel for a decent amount of time. It was sad to see them go, but I’m sure I’ll be seeing them all soon enough!

The staff then needed a little assistance. So I helped some people carry their bags to their rooms and chatted with the newcomers a bit more.

It was now time for me time and to head to the gym!

My friend Immy was upstairs at the gym, so we chatted a bit before I went to do my workout. We are planning on doing our advanced diving together and once she figures out her days off we’ll get around to doing it!

I had a nice and long push day and pretty much had the gym to myself by the end of it. Having the time to go to the gym has been such a treat. I’m glad I could make a semi routine while living on the island.

I was pretty hungry after my workout, so I headed back to the hostel for a classic SE Asia post workout meal, chicken fried rice!

I then holed up in my bed for the rest of the afternoon, binge watching more of The Last of Us. The show is so intense and emotional, but I’m thoroughly enjoying having a show to watch. I only have 2 episodes left of it now!

There were also some newcomers into my dorm room, so we all got to chatting! One of them is also named Ellie and she just so happens to have the bunk above me.

7pm rolled around and it was time to be social again! I rolled out of my bed and headed over to the lobby where I immediately ordered a chicken pad see ew.

Tonight was karaoke night at the hostel, one of my favorite nights! Butttt also one of my least favorite at the same time.

I personally love karaoke and I don’t need any drinks to do it and make a fool out of myself. But that’s not the same for most travelers… so I have to bring out my powerful persuasion skills.

The beginning is a lot of rejection therapy. Asking people if they want to write a song down to sing and them politely declining or saying they need more drinks before they get on the microphone. Fair enough…

But I can tell when a person wants to, but is just needing that little push. I also want a fun and dancing filled karaoke night so I’m willing to be that thorn in their side to get them up on the mic!

Slowly more and more of the “I don’t want to sing” travelers started to get on the mic… and one by one they all started to have more and more fun and get more involved. Some of them I couldn’t keep off the mic after a while!

By the end of karaoke, just about everyone that had told me no at the beginning had at least sang one song and then joined the dancing and sing along near the bar.

One group of note, there was a group of 4 people from the UK. Two of them signed up one of their friends to sing… but when it came around to the song, karma said otherwise and they ended up singing. But they had a blast and sang more songs throughout the night!

With another successful karaoke night in the books, it was time to go out and celebrate my manager Aur’s birthday!

It was a fantastic night filled with more dancing, singing, and celebration at the very popular bar on Koh Tao, the Fish Bowl.

It may have been a more chilled out day today, but there was still plenty to do! It was a perfect blend of personal time and quality time with my fellow travelers and it ended up being another great day!

– Elie