Amari Trang Beach Resort

The past three days have been spent at a little piece of Paradise called the Amari Trang Beach Resort. The facility is top quality, and we’ve pretty much had it to ourselves. This being the low season, we’ve only seen a handful of other guests.

The students (and professors) have greatly enjoyed the must deserved rest and relaxation. Everyone is enjoying the georgeous beach, the enormous pool, and luxurious rooms, the great food at the resort or in the nearby beach-front town, and the fantastic service. We’re amazed considering the price is around what one would pay for a run-down motel in the U.S.

On Saturday the students had quite an adventure. All 12 decided to rent boats to head out to some of the islands we can see from the shore. I went along for the fun. The moderate winds produced large waves, resulting in a pretty rough ride out. But the students embraced it like a wet roller coaster. The biggest adventure of all was a visit to the Emerald cave. Only about half the group went in with the guide. Those from the second boat were too late. This was no ordinary cave. To get in, students had to jump into the trashing waters with life jackets on, and then swim through a small opening under the island that was the mouth of the cave. They swam huddled in a group with their guide through pitch black through several meters with no light except a small waterproof one carried by the guide. One they got through the tunnel, they came upon a beach that appeared to be in at the bottom of volcano – surrounded on all side, but open to the sky at the top. The students who went into the cave had a range of emotions from panic and anxiety attacks, to pure exhilaration. Some described it as the most amazing thing they’ve ever done. Some said it’s the most insane thing they’ve ever done and that they’d never do it again.

It was equally scary for those of us who were left behind. A group of us from the other boat wanted to follow the group in, but our boat captain stopped us telling us it was too dangerous. We watched in agony the 15 minutes or so the group disappeared into the cave. I saw water trashing at the mouth of the cave. No knowing the water was calm inside, or that that the students were standing on a beautiful inner-cave beach inside, I had images of them being thrashed about in the dark cave as rising waters threatened to bash their heads on the ceiling. I broke federal law about the separation of Church and State and prayed they would make it out alive as I just stared as the mouth of the cave. This was my critical event! But one of the happiest sights of my life was seeing the group closely huddled together swimming out of the mouth of that cave, and cheering.

We went from there to the nearby Koh Hai island – another tropical paradise with white sand, and crystal clear waters. We enjoyed a great lunch and then enjoyed swimming in much safer and calmer waters on the beach. Some of the students checked out the rooms with dreams of coming back here some day.

At low tide, we piled back on the boats to go snorkeling around one of the smaller islands. In short, it was a breath taking experience to float above a massive colony of coral and fish. There were so many tiny and colorful fish, we could feel them bump into us as we swam through their city.

Unfortunately, we ended with a small tragedy. Just as most of the students were in the boat, a Jelly fish showed up on stung one of the students on the thigh just before she climbed into the boat. She described the pain as immense. She had a huge red rash on her leg. First aid calls for an anecdote that provides immediate relief – urine. I turned my back as different girls tried to deliver the medication, but couldn’t get any out. Finally, Lissettee saved the day, and provided enough magical liquid that brought immediate relief. The student who got stung was instantly grateful, and the treatment gave everyone lots to laugh about as it took us about an hour to sail back to shore. Once on shore we went to a pharmacy with a pharmacist who looked no older than 18 years old. She spoke great English, and we could tell she’s provided helps to hundreds of people of who suffer from Jellyfish stings. Some ointment, pain killers, and other pills were provided that promised to have the student feeling better in no time.

Students spent the rest of the day relaxing in their rooms or out by the pool. Needless to say, it was quite an adventure! The break has been great. I think the students are sufficiently relaxed and ready to go back to their host families and to tackle their final week of teaching.