We had breakfast with two Americans (yes, we finally found some) who suggested that we take the snorkelling tour provided by the family at Ao Poh. We were warned not to expect too much from the snorkelling, but that the sites were well worth it. For the next 4 hours, we toured Phi Phi Ley (small) and Phi Phi Don (large), saw the beach where the movie "The Beach" was filmed, and swam and snorkelled in many remote bays. Unfortunately, a mixture of tsunami damage and excessive tourism has destroyed much of the surface coral - there were more coke bottles than live coral in some areas. Luckily, we here they are making an effort towards more friendly environmental practices. We fear their efforts may be too little, too late.
Midway way through the tour, we stopped at a cliff diving spot, and we watched the driver's 10 year old sun scramble up the rocks and jump right off. We both followed, but despite Danny's hairy chest, he wasn't man enough to take the plunge (Mammoth, anyone?). Ashwin jumped right in.
Upon our return to the bungalow, Ashwin moved his backpack, and shreaked when he discovered the largest spider either of us have ever seen. It was literally over 5 inches across and was so big we could see the hairs (is it really hair?) on its back. After Ashwin jumped to the other side of the room and yelled at Danny to kill it, Danny took Ashwin's shoe and after a count of 3 hit the spider far harder than necessary to ensure its death (there was goo on the bottom of Ashwin's shoe after this). Not wanting to touch the carcass, we left it sitting on the floor near the wall. The next morning, the spider was gone! We hope that it was somehow carried away by ants.
When the generator turned on, the family put on a bootleg copy of the new Terminator movie, and we watched it with the other guests, mostly Australian, one of which chain smoked behind us throughout the entire movie. After the movie, we came back to our bungalow to find a huge 3 inch long cockroach on the wall, which Danny killed, this time with Ashwin's sandle.
Midway way through the tour, we stopped at a cliff diving spot, and we watched the driver's 10 year old sun scramble up the rocks and jump right off. We both followed, but despite Danny's hairy chest, he wasn't man enough to take the plunge (Mammoth, anyone?). Ashwin jumped right in.
Upon our return to the bungalow, Ashwin moved his backpack, and shreaked when he discovered the largest spider either of us have ever seen. It was literally over 5 inches across and was so big we could see the hairs (is it really hair?) on its back. After Ashwin jumped to the other side of the room and yelled at Danny to kill it, Danny took Ashwin's shoe and after a count of 3 hit the spider far harder than necessary to ensure its death (there was goo on the bottom of Ashwin's shoe after this). Not wanting to touch the carcass, we left it sitting on the floor near the wall. The next morning, the spider was gone! We hope that it was somehow carried away by ants.
When the generator turned on, the family put on a bootleg copy of the new Terminator movie, and we watched it with the other guests, mostly Australian, one of which chain smoked behind us throughout the entire movie. After the movie, we came back to our bungalow to find a huge 3 inch long cockroach on the wall, which Danny killed, this time with Ashwin's sandle.
I got two huge laughs out to the spider and cockroach stories. By the way... From the Scholastic site "Answers to Kids' Questions":
ReplyDeleteQ: Is it really hair on spider legs?
A: Spiders have hair all over their body. Most of the spiders' hair have nerve endings inside them, making them very, very sensitive. That helps spiders to know what's going on around them.
The giant spider reminded me of the wall spider in Africa that fell on Anu after which you drowned it in insect spray! Footwear as murder weapons recalled to me a time in Madras when we found a cockroach at least 4" long and 2" wide. Papa hit it with my sandal and then jumped away. The cockroach then walked away with my sandal more or less balanced on its back!!!
Ashwin, I miss that blood-curtling-bug-phobic shreak of yours... Of course I, too, immediately thought of the infamous wall crab spider incident.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Danny, way to chicken out on the once in a lifetime opportunity to jump off the seemingly amazing jumping rock!!
Ahh I miss you guys!
yay i love bugs!!! i hope you took pics!!
ReplyDeleteDanny, I agree with Anu, you are a chicken
ReplyDelete