More pictures!

(Please)

Ian

More pics? U got it!

We grabbed a couple of scoots again and headed for roads less traveled on the island. The tourist areas are pretty hectic, traffic filled, vendors shouting, etc. But the quieter areas of the island are truly gorgeous. We decided to take ever "less travelled" fork in the roads that day and it was definately worth it.

This is the far south of the island, Laem Sor., At the end of a dirt road, is THIS - absolutely empty of people as if you were a million miles from civilization. This is the Samui I was hoping to find.

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Then some diving was on the agenda. I've done exactly one dive (resort dive with an instructor) and Steve has done 3 or 4 of them. We booked with Diversity. Our guide was Ania, an absolutely charming woman from Poland who had discovered these islands while on a sabattical from her work (psychologist). After two weeks on the islands, she called her boss and quit! We did two dives, both at Koh Tao. I got a little freaked out on the 2nd one because we were to use the anchored ship's line to descend. When I looked down, the line just disappeared and it weirded me out. I bobbed around on the surface for a few minutes, got a grip and headed down. ONce I got a few feet down, I was fine. What an odd thing to bother me. I did NOT want to be anywhere near the boat.

I was absolutely entranced by the little Christmas Tree worms that pop in and out when you wave at them. Guess I"m just a kid at heart. Saw a lovely ray as well. Not the brown ones that we have around home, but truly spectacular colors! Being under the water around here is like being on some other planet - and a very exotic one at that!

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Nice pictures... how about at least one or two with both of you in the shot!?

Anazing pictures, and glad to see that it's working out. My wife and I have been apart in a similar way for the last three years, but my assignments have always been in the US. We both count down the days until we can see each other again, and take time daily to write each other (it's essential!).

Any ideas on where to go next?

Of both of use?
 

OK some of you don't think I'm real and others can't believe Angela is, so here you are.
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Well it's the end of the road here, back to Afghanistan tomorrow. My best to all and hope you have enjoyed the photos.

Steve :D

Hooray!

Angela, Steve,

Thanks for sharing.
Hope your travels are safe.

Angela, you are going to have to work on the 'ping-pong' thing, I suspect! ;)

All the best, you two.
Les

For them would strongly recommend the Maledive Islands. Its right in the same area and easy for Steve to get to. Not the easiest for Angela but possible. Absolute heaven on earth...

Nice pics BTW!

Steve has a mandatory leave every 90 days. The second one is almost over (he leaves on Wednesday - booh!). For this trip, he came home for two weeks. You would think he would have used the time to just goof off but he decided to strip and repaint our son, Ryan's car. It's a little Subie we picked up real cheap. It runs like a clock and the tires still had the stickers on them (18' tires - kaching) but some hoser had painted it WRX blue with a roller - LOL! So it looked pretty wretched.

He and the boy used the Hotsy to blow the paint off, sanded the rest, and repainted it. it's a real weird color. They were going for a satin black but didn't have enough flattening agent in the clear so it came up with more shine than intended. The color underneath is actually epoxy DP. Kind of a neat look. All new headlamps/tail lamps, found a used spoiler and added it etc.

Neat kid's car. Ryan just got his permit so he's really diggin it. Next step is interior and painting the wheels.

So much for Steve's "vacation". But he's happy, and the boy is ecstatic so it's all good.

angela

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Steve got home yesterday (as in home permanently).

I had hoped this last year would pass quickly, but that was definately not the case. Whereas I am capable of "handling" things at home, from cars, to kids, to pets to every appliance we own failing while Steve was gone, not a day passed where I did not worry about him and miss his wonderful company. It is simply delightful to have him back home.

Of course, he did have a few pointed questions about all the miles that his cabriolet collected in his absence... ;)

angela

Welcome back to Steve...:) Angela, hope your itch is being scratched! ;)

welcome back steve.

Welcome Back!!!

My best to both of you. Deployments have a way of making great couples even better.

Welcome home are the best two words I know.

Yes. I have heard it said that deployment speeds up the marriage process. Good marriages become great sooner. Bad marriages fall apart sooner. Win/win in other words.

You heard right. Advanced annealing.

Excellent

Hope he returned undamaged; now go damage him, or at the least wear him out a bit

Happy to hear the news Angela.

Good to hear that Steve is back at home to tackle the project list!

Hope the job situation around your location has improved so he can stay home.

Welcome back!