We made three pretty cool stops on the way up to Pahia. We stopped at an old community jail for some classic picks in the stocks and also with the hugest tree ever!
The next stop was by goat island for some snorkeling. Although bloody freezing this was pretty cool as I got to dive down in the crevasse between coral beds and see some pretty huge fish. Hendrick our tour leader had brought a rugby ball so it was great to get that back in my hands as well!
Our final stop was by a spectacular waterfall. The surroundings were so lush and green with the drop was simply perfect.
And then we arrived in the small town of Pahia, and to 'The Rock'. The rock was to be our home for the next 24 hours. A perfect old fashioned tug boat. The inside completely wooden with fishing rods and sea memorabilia adorning the walls and charming rafters. Complete with a pool table, which was an interesting choice for out at sea exploring and bar.
After we Haad made ourselves at home and played a game of very wobbly pool the paintball gun came out!
A rubber duck was tied to the back of the boat and we all had a good go at shooting at it. Amazing fun and a good team builder.
With the excitement of the shooting my mischievous side came out. No sooner had we stopped motoring had I corrupted Norman a German chap in my group and we jumped from the top deck into the sea! A great idea, until we climbed back aboard to a furious captain!
We got our wrists well and truly slapped but were still allowed to do a bit of fishing.
The best thing about fishing was Rhiannon, a welsh girl who caught one of the first fish. She made it clear she liked the idea of having a photo with her fish. Until she actually saw it and became terrified of the slimy active little bugger. Her face was a picture when Louis, a crew member, tried to get her to kiss it!
I got two hooks, but only one of which was a fish! The other was very exciting! It was clearly a big one as it was moving around an aweful lot. It looked like Norman had got an equally sized bite. We wrestled and pulled, only to find out we had hooked one another!
After a spot of fishing we had a beautiful BBQ dinner as the sun set over these little volcanic patches of paradise.
After the sun went down was when the magic really started though. We took kiacks out into the tranquil bay. At first I didn't understand what was happening. With every sweep of the person in front of me's blade the water seemed to change colour, a vibrant greeny blue glow. I thought it must just be a trick of the star light reflecting off the water so I spent my time looking up at the stars with Rhianonn and the other girls on the trip.
As the surroundings got darker the paddle strokes got harder to explain. The water was glowing, but surely it can't be, but then the guide explaned. Living in the water are billions of single celled organisms that absorb the light in the day time to give it off at night when movement occurs.
Tonight was the single most magical night of my life.
I plunged my hand in the water, the bright green/turquoise light shone vividly around my hand. As I moved my fingers the glow came lighting up my palm like magical cool flames. A sweep of the arm and the rich glow would linger just long enough to light the gentle ripples of the oceans surface. As I was enjoying this natural light show my attention was taken by the rich dark purple sky. A shooting star streaking overhead burning out amongst the diamond like lights shining down out of heaven onto me.
I'm not by any means an emotional person but I could not fail to understand the majesty all around me.
I paddled back to the boat slowly, enjoying and memorising this staggering experiance and praying never to forget theses solitary moments I had just spent with the world.
I grabbed my snorkel and took the plunge again. This time to have the cool flames dance off my entire body. Giving a blazing glow to light my path as I swam through the cool water out to a dark area not too far from the front of the boat.
I could never tire of the beauty around me or the feeling of childlike happiness being so close to nature this evening had given me. Eventually I swam slowly back to the boat.
I arrived to a crowd, each with expectancy and marked joy spread over their features. As I climbed aboard, unfortunately, these looks changed to a variety of mirth, disappointment and confusion.
I Had not been missed on the boat. When someone had spotted my subtle glow in the distance, and the smooth repetition of my stroke, combined with the regular puffing of my snorkel exploding as I exhaled they had worked themselves into a frenzy! So disappointed they were to see me, most slumped back of to the fire place.
They had mistaken me for a dolphin!
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