Landed on a tropical island: Swimming, dammit!

Els van Wijlen lives with her husband 'de Kuuk' on Koh Phangan. Her son Robin has opened a coffee cafe on the island.

The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining and it is warm. Because I have to be careful that I don't get as crooked as my hammock, I decided to move for half an hour every day. Swinging in the hammock doesn't count and because it's too hot to do anything else, I'm going for a swim today.

I don't like it but it seems to be so incredibly good for you.

On to Srithanu beach. It is close by and you can walk far into the sea on soft sand, you can have a drink and it is never really busy.
I strategically place my brightly colored beach bag in the sand, it is my beacon for when I later swim back and forth along the beach.

There is a little wind and when I walk into the water there are small waves. I survey my battle scene and think of the following: I swim parallel to the beach first a long way to the right, at the end I turn and swim all the way to the left. Then return and return to my starting location, so to speak. I don't know how far I swam, but it seems enough to me.

The first part to the right is a piece of cake, I float along with the waves. But then I turn around and have to swim against the waves all the way to the other side. I try to swim in such a way that I am not bothered by the waves, but it doesn't work very well. Pffffff, very tiring, but don't complain, just keep swimming. Keep all overwater holes closed as best as you can,
because if I ingest salt water I have to puke.

The waves are getting bigger, dammit, the dirty seawater enters through my nostrils and lingers in the back of my throat. Retching gasps for air and when I open my mouth to take a big gulp of air, the salt water gushes in in a big wave!!

I vomit and snort and cough, tears welling up in my eyes. Suddenly the coast is dangerously far away… Oh my god, what if I drown?

Never see a lifeguard here of course and could they hear my cry for help so far away?

Then I feel something brushing against my leg. whèèèèhèèèèèè I'm scared.

I panic, try to keep my head above water and my mouth shut. I swim as fast as I can, get overtired and run out of oxygen…..

Just before I go completely under, my knee hits the soft sand while swimming, which turns out to be about 40 cm below me on the bottom. Hallelujah, I'm not dying.

I can just stand here… or actually just sit. Ohhhhhhh what a relief, I admonish myself and slog
nauseated further through the waves.

How I hate swimming.

At the end there I turn around again, just a little bit more and then it's finally over. Dead tired, but alive I reach the coast. With my last strength I get out of the water and struggle through the surf. I am safe.

Grateful, I fill my lungs with air to the smallest bronchi and I collapse exhausted.

I suffered with it…

About this blogger

Els van Wijlen

My name is Els (1963) and since 2015 I live partly in the Netherlands and partly on Koh Phangan. I have a boyfriend in the Netherlands and I am a (reserve) mother for my children. I regularly work a few hours as a VA for the financial administration. On Koh Phangan my day starts with a nice breakfast and good coffee at Bubba's in Baantai, one of my son's coffee and brunch places. I love simple living, lazing in the hammock, colorful people, nature, scooter riding, swimming and dancing.

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Older posts from this blogger

• Living in ThailandNovember 4 2024The suit
• Living in ThailandOctober 12, 2024Landed on a tropical island: Just call again
• Living in ThailandOctober 3, 2024Landed on a tropical island: just call
• Living in Thailand21 September 2024Landed on a tropical island: Time to spare