Affordable Paradise...........

Looking for a cheap flight back to Europe this summer, I discovered just how affordable flights have become............London Gatwick via Hong Kong to Manila for a total price of GBP 156 / EUR 230 / DKK 1700 one way incl. taxes and fees. With the kind of cost involved in transportation and accommodation here in Paradise, it means that a holiday here can be done for very little money..........Just thought I'd let you all know ;)

http://www.oasishongkong.com/gb/en/home.aspx - flights between London Gatwick and Hong Kong

http://www.cebupacificair.com/ - flights between Hong Kong and Manila. And Bangkok-Manila around 4.000 Baht incl taxes ;)

I would of course be happy to assist with transfers and accommodation :D

Oh, but please no visits between now and end April, cause we are insanely busy and completely booked. After all, I'd like to be able to spend some time with you

Lotsa xxx
Karin

Listen to older siblings........

Sometimes, one simply has to surrender to the fact that other people have better ideas........SO, following the wish of my sister, Marianne, here is the link for our monthly newsletter. As you can tell it's not all party time - I actually work here too :D

http://www.atlantishotel.com/downloads/newsletter/2007/newsletter-march-2007.pdf

Later.................

Karin xxx

Change of plans......

It's taken a long time and lots of thinking........and now we have finally made a decision about the coming months: Simon is going home as planned on 12th April, but I will not be using my ticket. I'll stay through the end of high season, sometime around end May / beginning June. My two months unpaid summer holiday will be spent in UK and Denmark, and then it's back to work August / September.

Simon does not have any confirmation yet, but it certainly looks like he'll be working for the same company next season - i.e. as of September.

Obviously, it's going to be really tough having to be apart for 6-8 weeks now and probably a couple of weeks in August again. I am really dreading that time, but this was the only solution that takes both our wishes into consideration. Simon has to go home to work on the cottage - and I would hate to lose this great opportunity getting experience at such a great and professional resort; oh and earning ok money at the same time.

I am currently teaching my first German open water course, so I'm off into the pool now................I'll keep you posted ;)

Lotsa greetings from the beach
Karin xxx

Summertime..............

Oh YES, after months of suffering under winter temperatures (!!), summer seems to be here to stay this time :) Already, people are starting to moan, because it's really hot - tsk tsk.

Along with the deep-blue sky and endless hours of sunshine comes a drastic improvement in underwater temperatures and visibility. Yeah, now diving is even more fun.

We are fully booked, so very busy........unfortunately, the last big American group also brought along a "fresh" cold virus :( Cost both Simon and me 2 days in bed....... At least they left a substantial amount of USD's as well ;))

Simon is busy at work, too. DSD's, advanced course and lots of dives - all of that in just 11 days. AND the biggest tip ever :)

Thursday, we are having a Danish evening with Simons employers, Alice and Bjoern, and some other Danes here. Alice and Bjoern are really nice - and are very happy with Simon's work. He has very good chances at getting work next season as well.

The last couple of days I have done SASSY with a 6-year old girl from Hong Kong: in principle snorkelling, but she was wearing a bcd-like lifevest with a small tank on the back - and had a regulator mouthpiece instead of snorkel. She absolutely loved it! And her mother was happy to spend 40 USD per session. Cool :D

Back to work here in Paradise.........

Lotsa xxx
Karin

Happy Birthday Simon!!

Oh yes, Simon is no longer is his early 40's.............he is now 45, bless him ;) This is where all the great party pictures were supposed to be posted, but fate - or the current stomach virus - wanted it differently.......................Simon suddenly and quite miraculously recovered from his virus in the afternoon of his birthday, whereas I was just getting started with my bug :(

I had taken a day off and planned a day trip followed by a special dinner.........Instead I spent the day with my arms around the toilet - and Simon; well he went to speak to the owners of a dive resort who had offered him a job. And YES, Simon now has a permanent position with that company, yippie :D

In the evening, Simon went for a beer - and came back 8 hours later thoroughly intoxicated. Lovely ;) Meanwhile I had made it from the toilet to the bed, but was still to weak to go into the kitchen to get water or food. Ih, was I angry with him - and guess what will happen next time he is ill and needs me????? Revenge is sweeeeeeet ;)

Sunday I was still ill, but could at least walk to the kitchen and back. Which is good, cause Simon was so hungover that I had to take care of not only myself but also him. Not very macho that day, "poor" Simon *lol*

Anyway, as of today I am back to work, feeling quite rough and very weak but well enough to do 2 dives - it's been a slow month, need to make some money. Simon is starting his job Thursday, but is already diving with them (Mabuhay Dive Resort) as of today - and will be celebrating his 500th dive tomorrow..............yep, I feel a snorkel test coming there ;) If so, I can always post a pic of that one.................

Take care, xxx's from the beach
Karin

Welcome to my office :D

Just thought I'd show some evidence that I actually DO work ;)





Here is Sara, my advanced open water student, before her navigation dive. Need I say that she did very well? Must have had a good teacher *lol*




xxx
Karin

Instructor's NIGHTMARE ;)

I've already told you: I may be in Paradise, but that does NOT mean that I relax and enjoy myself all the time ;)

Anyway, I had a day off last week, which was great..........We walked to Puerto Galera and it's actually quite a nice little 6 km walk. This is the view from the road:

Not too shabby really :D

Thus refreshed after a lovely (and needed) day off, I have done 1 DSD, 1 Open Water course and finished 2 Open Water referral courses in 7 days. Busy! It's great, I'm loving it and am happy that I get to do all the courses.

HOWEVER, during one of those courses a group of 16 Chinese travel agency owner came to review our resort. And 7 of them accepted our kind offer to try scuba diving: a so-called Discover Scuba Diving experience, which in principle means a bit of theory, an hour in the pool and then a dive in the open water under direct supervision of an instructor. Lucky me!!! I had 7 Chinese people, who hardly spoke English and didn't really want to dive - just a fun afternoon.......

The pictures were taken in the beginning, before chaos entered and they started giving up - one after the other....................Fortunately, I had three of our great divemasters with me, but still.......One hour later, 4 hardcore adventurers finished the pool session (obviously not without panicking several times) - and to my horror announced that they wanted to do the open water dive!!!! Oooohhhhhhhh nooooooooooo........... In my head, I saw the first casualties on my otherwise clean record sheet (I'd have two divemasters with me, but still: these Chinese were BAD news in the water)...... After a night of nightmares, I considered my options. Hmmm, didn't have any ;) Went to work and........... YES, they had changed their minds; they did not want the open water dive :) What a relief, pfffffffff


Now at least you know that life is not perfect constantly here. Just 99% of the time ;)


Take care, lotsa xxx
Karin