Scuba Day 3

I've just finished my first real scuba dive, salt is on my skin and my hair is flying around in some stiff mess. What a rush! Scuba diving here is like visiting the massive aqariums in US zoos (Columbus is the last one I saw), seeing all of the colorful, unusual fish and coral. Then, you are not looking at it from outside of any glass enclosure, you are actually, truly right next to all of it. Its amazingly beautiful and despite the whooshing of air near your face when you breathe out, its also incredibly peaceful. You cannot touch anything, and Mark learned the hard way to really keep your hands tucked in when he cut his finger on some coral 2 days ago. This is day 3 of 4, tomorrow is our final dive, possibly 2 dives. We'll get to go to 18 meters, then be certified to do this again. Mark and I have been the only two in our class, so its one-on-two instruction and quite personal. Mark has bested me on paper (47 of 50 on the final exam as opposed to my 43 of 50) and in the water, as I have had some small balance-while-breathing issues. I need to learn to stay stable and control myself only with breath instead of flippers. Oh, well, I'm learning and its still very exciting.
Mark and I have had several days in our little bungalow on Ko Tao, tomorrow is the last day for me. I plan to catch a boat to Ko Samui Friday morning and then head to the west coast of Thailand via train or bus. I want to see what I can there in the week I have left. I'm trying to arrange to skip the Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur portion of my flight and just get straight to KL on my own after crossing the southern border of Thailand. It makes much more sense logistically, but I have to make sure my flight is not cancelled if I miss the first leg. It is, of course, a POST 9-11 WORLD so we must be super cautious! Plus, being isolated on this island has been lovely but I have not done any souvenir shopping and I owe quitea few people some fun things from thailand- especially Kendyl and Mary minding my zoo (and this is a wonderful gift to me!) and Mindy and Steve for helping me move, getting me to the airport and then of course Tess and Trent, the babies in my life who must have something from travel that I hope they will someday be able to do themselves!
I'm so lucky to have been able to do this! How often does one get to learn to scuba dive in some of the most beautiful waters on earth?
I'm not even reading about New Orleans today, or SC justices or the Cardinals (though I hear Ray lost another one for them in late innings vs the Cubs). Just the open water and my last two evenings having a beer on my porch with my brother and salt water on my skin. Very nice!