Well…

Its been a minute (thats slang for a while), since Cassie or I have written. Not to fret however, we are alive and well and the island is treating us right. Like watching the ocean meet the island sky, our days had begun to blur together. Cassie becoming hypnotized at the front lines of a desk job and myself having pulled the longer stick and diving, we had set into a good old fashioned routine. However, with the chord between Cassie and her desk at work growing forever thicker, her patience was wearing thin… How much longer can she hold on?
(Climactic and foreshadowing, I know)

Thats right, some things have changed.

For one Cassie is no longer working, she has once again cut the chord of a nine to five. And in all legitimacy, I can understand why.

Something seems wrong about diving and being on a boat, while Cassie stares blankly at a computer screen. So, I told her to quit.

Its 8 am, and I have just returned from the dive shop. I went to take my final written exam, which conists of mostly the phisiology and biology of the ocean, but my boss is out sick. I will tell you this… if you ever want to take a biology course, minus the college credit, the dive master program will suffice. I passed my first one with flying colors (59 of 60 questions correct), so I am eager to see how I do on this next one. After all I am a genius, or at least I tell myself that.

Lets push on and talk about the highlight of the month. After a long and patient wait, our friends have arrived. Dan and Kelsey arrived about two weeks ago, on the afternoon boat from Chumphon, a neighboring island. Cassie and I waited like good friends at the pier, ready to welcome our travelers with sunburned smiles and sunburned arms. It took us about an hour to find them, but we did, and it was a glorious reunion. We hightailed it to a cab and loaded the plethora of bags they arrived with on to the bed. Their bags mainly contained items for Cassie and I such as movies, miscellaneous tools, and new BeachHaus gear.

We escorted them to their new homes, which I had taken care of prior to their arrival. A bungalow right next to ours, with a better view, softer bed, and wifi… we will indeed be taking over once they depart. Anyway, after settling in and regurgitating random facts about the island, we got some food at a beautiful view point. They got to see the island at a vantage point, and munched down on some grub. We played trivia and bingo at the bar, and didn’t win a damn thing.

After a long needed rest for them, and an always exemplary sleep from us, we regrouped in the morning and cultivated a plan. Cassie was still working at this point and my boss was sick, so I showed them around the island and blew their minds. Its amazing to see what I probably looked like from an outside perspective. The island is rich with scenery and scattered with hidden treasures. I will never get used to it. Dan comments on the quality of air and I cannot help but agree with him.

The next few days were filled with discovery. Jumping in the water where we saw fit, and consuming mostly anything that looked good.  It was not until a couple days into their vacation that things took a turn.

Dans birthday conveniently fell on a great day to celebrate. We dined at a happening placed called Hippo, a sort of American style cuisine with some killer rum and cokes. So, we did as most men and women do in their twenties… we got drunk. Although drunk is an understatement, and Im not quite sure how we became so inebriated, the night was over before it began (for Dan and I anyway). After chowing down on some incredible duck, and bellowing in the strength of the coke and rums, we made our way over to main beach, where we drank more. We marveled at the site of fire dancers and drank rum buckets. For anybody who is unfamiliar with a rum bucket, its a liter of a rum with as much coke as you can squeeze into a fish bowl sized bucket. We watched, and drank, laughed, and drank, reminisced about old times, and drank.

The women were slowly taking on role of babysitter and Dan and I scurried away to the bar, in which we never left.

Amongst the madness, we were conned into shots, and lots of them. A handful of thai locals insested on getting us “black out” drunk. Good job sirs’

 

7:00 am the next morning…

I awake to find something, sort of miraculous. I am hung over. All liquids in my body seem to feel absent, and the dry sack of sand I call my tongue is shouting out for water. I’m surprised to see that Im in my bed, and all limbs are still in tact, although it doesnt feel that way. Needless to say, besides the ringing in my head, I emerged virtually unscathed.

I consume whatever water is left in the fridge and make my way back to sleep, were I lay until Cassie decides shes ready to wake up.

2 hours later…

Things have not improved in the slightest, however if I dont do something with my day, I’ll feel worthless. So, I make my way to Dan and Kelsey’s Bungalow, one foot in front of the other. Cassie awakes and rendezvous with us as well. We gather on the steps and begin to discuss the night. I seem to not remember anything, and Dan is in the same boat.

As the day unfolds, so do the mysteries of the night. Cassie and Kelsey claim they saw us dancing with some girls…however, to be honest I think it was the same thai gentlemen determined to get us drunk. I dont remeber a thing…but somehow know I had a good time.

Nursing the hangover was easier said than done. Somehow, we all managed to do some snorkeling. The amount of life was incredible, I have yet to see it so alive (shame I could not evemn appreciate it). My head was in the clouds, and my body was getting its revenge for a night of such… mutilation. Luckily I was able to keeo myself above water and even manged to get a photoshoot with some blacktipsharks.

The mentality of never drinking again became a philosophy, and I was suprised to see how long it stuck.

Days passed, five to be correct. Not a touch of alcohol to my lips, except for one beer a thai bartender made Dan buy me because he sucks at billiard (Im not gloating, but Im a big deal). Anyway, we explored and visitied popular spots. They seem to really love the island, and of course, whats not to love?

As if muling our luggage internationally wasnt enough, we convinced them a photoshoot for the new BeachHaus gear was in order. It feels good to be apart of something, and the photos portray just that.

 

 

 

 

Dan and Kelsey will leave soon, and we will return to our island lives. Sad to see them leave, and forever grateful that they made us worth the trip. Nothing can make you miss home as much as your friends. But, when your friends from home come to you, which just happens to be an island…litered with white sandy beaches and infinte rum buckets…well thats just damn good.

If you love the shirts, the hoodies, and the hats, there is plenty to go around. You would not only be sporting an awesome and comfortable look, but also helping Cassie and I out on this ride we call life.

Check out the gear, buy something, wear something… go do something different and new. Find your Haus, wherever that may take you.