Another note from Ahnna...

Arrggg. Computers. :op. I have been attempting for the past hour and a half to upload about 30ish photos...and it is taking forever. I guess that just means that I need to do this more regularly with less photos right?...right. Anyways soon hopefully they will all be uploaded for your viewing pleasure.
So, I promised a note telling all about my expiriences down here on the island of Utila, Honduras, Central America:
It's hot! And I love it. People continuously ask me 'you're not diving???...then what are you doing HERE?!!!' To which I reply 'well I could be sitting at home...working...in the cold...honestly what would you choose???' Crazy. So no I'm not diving, what could I possibly be spending my time doing on a diver's island?...good question. A whole lot of nothing! And it's wonderful. I do have some things to keep me busy. The cafe upstairs is always wanting a hand and the people I hang out with up there are lots of fun. I have painted a mural for the cafe and will be posting a picture of the almost complete painting (if this stupid internet ever decides to walk or run instead of crawl, grumble, grumble). I've already had about five other buisnesses/people come up to me and ask if I would paint them a sign as well. One lady offered me Kite-boarding lessons in return which I think I just might take her up on, sounds like fun.
I've been able to get on dive boats and go snorkling, though I've found that there are really only a few good places around here to do so. Most of the places that the boats go to are too deep to actually see anything interesting, and I haven't perfected my free diving yet. Also there are tons of jellyfish that like to hang out on top of the water this time of year, so I think I might be investing in some rash guards or some kind of long sleeve shirt to keep of their stings. They are just little guys and it really doesn't feel any worse than stepping through a patch of stinging nettles and doesn't even last as long, but still makes the expirience a bit unpleasant. I haven't really seen anything except tons of fish, which is cool, but I would love to see a turtle or ray or something, though it seems the wildlife here is fairly sparce. The one amazing thing that Chris and I both got to see were WHALE SHARKS!!! I wont write too much about it, because I'm sure he will want to tell you all about it, but since I was there too I'll just have to say that it was pretty amazing! I went out on one of the morning boats with the divers and we went in search for them because our captain had a friend who had spotted a couple Tuna Boils. This is where the tuna herd all of the little fishes and cril into an area and feed on them. The Whale Sharks also show up for this to snack on the little fishes...yum. So we found the Tuna Boils and then we saw the whale sharks. Our boat went right next to one of them and I could see all of it's 15ish feet down below in the water. Only 8 people are allowed in the water per whale shark and you are only allowed to snorkel, not dive, so when it was my turn to snorkel I slipped into the water and one of the whale sharks was swimming right underneath me. It was about 20 or more feet down or so but the water was clear and I could see all of it. I was able to swim above it for about 30ft before it went down into the blue and I couldn't see it anymore. Chris got to swim even closer to one on his turn in the water. It was pretty amazing!
We've met a really wonderful lady that lives here on the water who has offered to teach me to dive through one of the other dive centers that she is affiliated with. She told me that it would be a one on one class and I could take as long as I wanted to get comfortable with every step. That's been one of the main deters that has made me not want to dive. I've heard the stories of how most places just want to get people in and out and collect their money. I'm definately not comfortable with the water and do not need to be rushed into breathing under it....it's just not natural...;op. so there is a good possibility that I will be taking her up on her offer before my time is done on this island.
I have also been painting my own art...though definately not as actively as I should be. It's easy to get into the island life: well today I bought water, read a little bit, drew a flower, and ate some dinner....all in a good days work! haha. It's easy to be lazy here...I'll have to work on that.
We've met some really cool people here, however one of the sad things about staying in one place while everyone is traveling is that the cool people you meet always travel on to newer places and people. There are a few people that are Utila 'lifers' and a few people that are sticking around for at least as long as we'll be here, so there are some stabilities which is good.
I enjoy the nightlife here, however I've never been a huge partier. I can do it for one night and then the next night I have to stay in. Most people here just keep going, and going, and going...it's exhausting! As much as I love to have fun and dance, I like my sleep as well! Everything in moderation right?
Anyways...that's pretty much it. I love the location of the apartment (right on the water) though not crazy about all the kids that like to poke their heads in and observe our everyday living or run around screaming their heads off. Also it's kinda annoying having to keep quiet as a mouse or leave the house every time Chris gives a massage. It would be nice if there was something other than a flimsy sheet dividing his work space and our living space...ah well. Anyways, Chris is diving at the moment and I have the apartment to myself so I think I am going to head home and attempt to start on a new painting project of my own design. Starting is always the worst part, after that it's no problem and quite enjoyable. Oy only 5 more photos to upload...maybe I will be here for another half hour! haha. I love you all and miss you! Wish you were here!

Living the Dream

Sorry its been so long since i posted, life is crazy here! house parties, pig fries, near weekly barbeques, not to mention the diving. The real challenge is making yourself go home and rehydrate when you have a dive the next day. alot of people have been working on their divemasters for several months because they just end up partying all the time and not getting anything done.

This is not the case for yours truely. I'm making slow but steady progress towards my Divemaster. I have assisted on one open water class and i will start on my second today. Assisting on the classes is the most time consuming part of the training. Each course lasts 4 days or so and you have to assist on 2 open waters an advanced and a rescue course. once i get that done finishing up will just be a mater of studying and taking a few tests and exhibiting a few skills. i'm really enjoying my diving. i've seen spotted manta rays, moray eels, sea turtles, tons of awsome fish, and cool coral. i had a meter long baracuda swim a foot from my face the other day, he looked me strait in the eyes and opened his mouth, their teeth are wicked! i've done cave swimthroughs at 41.3 meters, thats like 133 feet. The other day i swam up to one of the northside dropoffs i swam right off the edge of the cliff, expelled all of my air and extended my hands over my head and dove down 60 feet into the blue as fast as i could go. it was awsome!!!

Speaking of awsome, not only are there alot of private parties through UDC, but the bar scene here is incredible. everyone starts at Tranquila where they play a no limit texas hold'em cash game on tuesdays, thursdays, and sundays. its a cool bar on a dock on the water there are usually people dancing under the stars when it gets late enough. from there everyone usually goes to TreeTanic which just got notice that it will be in the lonely planet's list of the top 100 bars in the world. I was there the night they were taking pictures for their spot in the book, so hopefully you be seeing my mug front and center in a lonely planet sometime soon. i wish i could describe treetanic better than to just say its a bar in a tree because its sooo much more than that. its this incredibly huge work of art. you have to see it to beleive it. On Wednesdays and Fridays its bar in the bush night. this place isn't that special of a location, but they have cheep drinks, dancing music and they open up when all the other bars close at about 12-2. everyone is wasted and its basically a shit show till 4 or 5 am. i've been there twice and it was fun to dance with ahnna, but not really my scene. they serve nitros baloons on wednesdays. thats right boys and girls, whipits. a dollar per balloon. kind of a low value way to do brain damage if you ask me, but the kids seem to enjoy it.

So anyway, what else is there to tell??? i'm planning to stay until june. thats something. things have worked out down here rather nicely so we don't see any reason to rush home. I'm still loving my apartment and missing my friends. I hope all is well with everyone stateside and elsewhere around the world. please drop me a line by whatever means available to you, i miss all my friends and family so keep me updated.

Quick note from Ahnna

Ok, so my plan was to actually write a little blog here so that everyone could get some of my perspective. However I just spent time setting up a photobucket so that everyone could finally see some photos of our trip and now I'm starving and need to go find some food. So...here is the link to my photobucket: www.photobucket.com/ahnna_chris2009. I will be back later today or tomorrow to post an actual 'this is what I've been doing' blog. Love you all!

Dive Master Training

So i finished my rescue diver and advanced diver training and have started my Dive Master Training which will last as long as a month or more. Ahnna is enjoying her job at the Cafe Mariposa. we met an awsome couple from northern california and have been hanging out with them when we have time. they leave tomorrow though so we'll have to find some new friends. I'm enjoying all the people at the utila dive center, frank is my "mentor" and he's from guatemala but looks like a poster boy for abercrombie and fitch, i don't know what i think of him yet. Rob was my instructor for the advanced and rescue cources, he is a big happy british guy with a voice like a fog horn and a laugh like a braying ass. He's awsome. my fellow DMTs are Natalie from New Zealand, Marie from Quebec Canada, LaBosh from the Czeck Republic and Teresa from Wisconsin. they are all pretty cool. I'll be sad to see Fichael (pronounced Michael with an F) go. He is a Comercial pilot from germany who was in the rescue diver course with me. He'll be hangin around for a bit, but he won't be diving with us. Anyway, i have shopping to do, hope you all are doing as well as i am! drop me a line, im having a great time here, but being away from everyone makes me miss you all.