B n' Me...

Pic Foler: Snorkelling (not sure if I mentioned this before...it's also relatively recent.

The last of our 4 day adventure together was to be on motorbikes cruising the whole of Lombok Island in true "Easy Rider" fashion, Bri n' I, hopper n' fonda, without bounds. However, as it unfolded, we were both clutching our resort's bedsheets in pain and illness; me with more toilet 'breaks' than B. Contrary to what would be popular belief, it was NOT because of a profligate imbibing on islands of islands--though this might not have helped our cause--rather it was from either grouper, irish coffee "cream", or enormous oscillating public boats with hangovers hanging; maybe it was the brief snorkelling of up and down, up and down in the waves...more likely it was all of the above with an irreversible improperly cooked meal that nailed our coffin. Fortunately, we were both lying in bed without the energy or will to get up and onto a bike to drive the crazy roads of an island in Indonesia.

Bri arrived in Kuta maybe an hour after I and he had booked us two rooms in what I think was the most expensive hotel in Kuta; his treat would equate at least a month of my 'normal' traveling expenses...thanks a million rupiah mate, several times over! We commenced our 4 day stint with JD over rocks due to our "welcome drink" from the hotel being a risky non-alcoholic juice that washed away signs of sin...though not ours. We walked the streets of the tourist infested beach town accounting the past 6 months or so of our diverted paths and random catch-ups with brief nuances of "whatcha wannado"s. Bri treated me to a meal that was equivalent to 3+ days that included a great dish and several whiskeies. From here I stopped equating money with days I "would've had" yada yada cuz it was my mate and we were havin' a gr8 time. We walked about tipping bars, then back to the room to drain the bottle of Crown with which B had christened our encounter. In the end, we didn't find a place that was our style and instead, I found myself part of Brian's entertainment as this lady--yes, some random lady on a moped--kept following us. Her tactic was to drive up to where we were, hop off, push me into an alley or corner, then pinch my pecker to the point of pain as she summoned brian (for what we don't know). Finally, when I managed to push her off enough for me to start walking again, she'd start the process all over again. I recall Brian with his Tim Tams pinched between his bicep and forearm as he nibbled with an almost satisfaction of his friend getting accosted by this sex-freak, who, if male would've been called out for a number of infractions; better me than him I suppose was the source of his content. In the end, we were both able to laugh, but bloody hell, never Kuta again.

We were both relieved to leave Kuta as quick as possible and even more fortunate to have miscalculated brian's time which put us in a rush to get to Lombok. We flew to the airport and tried to book a cancelled flight over to the capital Mataram; we were in luck and managed to grab 2 of the last 3 seats for 40US each. I commented to brian how I thought it was rather awakening to have gone through the whole process--purchase, check-in, luggage booking, boarding, disembarking, baggage pick-up, etc.--without once showing ANY sign of identification.

In any case, Lombok welcomed us with a cheap cab to Singigi Beach where we would meet 2 "brothers" who looked rather scandalous, but really helped us out from arrival to departure without any "scam" or "inflated price" tactics...2 good guys from my perspective. We slept in a comfortable, although much cheaper place than Kuta, that night with the intention of moving on the next day to the well-reputed Gili Trawangan (GT) for a good night or 2 of fun. All the while, I couldn't shake my adapted tendency to constantly bargain down prices and Brian was still stuck in first world price mode; result...the people we dealt with loved brian and hated me as you can imagine...I'm the one hurting business. Ironically, B taught me something about the whole process...though I'm not sure he knows it.

GT was a great lil' getaway that we needed that started with a nice lil' cab ride from Singigi to Bengsal along "Monkey Forest Rd" where we saw loads of long-tailed macaques and another species I still haven't identified. Sure the boat over was hectic and overstuffed with market people and all their smelly goods that forced all the white people to the front (worst section of the very rocky boat), and I even caught Brian mouthing "this is bullshit" before we even set off, which made me laugh even more. We jumped off onto GT into a number of 'offers' to stay here and there; we ended up with a real good guy Bagas, who got us local prices for water and party favors alike. Our bungalow was the cheapest Brian had payed for yet; a nice bed right on the porch with candles to boot, mosquito netting around the bed inside, nice bathroom with western toilets (you still didn't have the 'experience' of using a mandi...damn!)and great location. We might put some money in one guy's hand and he might have put a bag in ours, but everything was very legal, I assure you...no really!

We burned a cigarette like object and began to live the island life; we cruised around looking at random things and talking to random locals who wanted to sell us random services. We soaked up some beach, we dipped into the strong current and floated in the rays that penetrated the beautiful blue and tranquil turqoise of picturesque waters. I think we ate something, but not sure, before we rented some bikes and cruised around to the other side of the island to watch the sun set in south east asian style; that's to say extremely quickly, but remarkable all the same. We cruised back and made it just before our "time" was up. Finally, I headed back for a shower while B went about randomly wandering and soaking up eye-pleasers. I have to say that this was the first time since I entered Indo that my fingernails weren't over several layers of dirt; it was symbolic of my brief departure from "local-syle" traveling and it was nice.

We had a well-needed nap, then I woke B up with some coke(cola) and Red Bull to patronize the Crown we had salvaged from 2 night prior then we made for the bars around 11pm. We started the night in our typical fashion with a couple of Whiskey Rocks and discussed the plan for the night. We went to the bar where the party was supposed to be and Bri ordered 2 shots of Tequila and 2 whiskeies, I was talked into a Mushroom Milkshake that was tasty and trippy all the same. B got absolutely hammered and I sat and talked 2 2 french chicks about...uhh, I dunno, something that I thought was very interesting and the night grew late. Everyone around the bar was tripping on the boomers and the mood of the island was very much its motto: No woman no cry, no mushroom no fly...the shake was practically on the menu.

B n' me fell back to our place and he made good use of the bed on his porch while I managed to slip into my actual room at 5:30am. I woke him up with the intention of going snorkelling at 10am; we weren't feeling good. I ordered some breaky and after scarfing it down, we ran to the beach with full knowledge that snorkel boats pushed off between 10 and 10:30--it was now 10:35. I don't think we even locked our rooms, and ran towards the beach with Bagas who motioned the final boat for 2 more; no prob! The boat made a quick turn and b n' me could feel the foreigners sighing incredulously for the 2 idiots who got hammered the night before...there had to be 2, and we made the cast. For me the snorkelling was fantastic with sightings of loads of enormous turtles, eels, huge fish whose name I don't know, and most impressively one of the guides who dived to scuba depth. It was amazing to see this kid of no more than 17 years go down to 20+ meters in one breath; I honestly thought someone was diving when I looked down and as I descended, I saw that he was just chilling...actually standing on the ocean floor 20 meters deep looking at myriad turtles. Eventually he bruised/hurt one of his ear drums for going too deep too quickly. For brian on the other hand, the motion of the ocean was too much to hold in; and as the give/take policy goes, he deposited his last night's intake while a few unlucky snorkellers were forced to watch...I felt quite bad for him...as ya do. We finished the lil' trip with a lunch (source of b's illness we think) and made way for the coast. We met a nice dutch couple on the scuba trip along with the 2 french girls I had chatted up the night before. The dutch couple and we would share a taxi to Singigi to get us back to our nice hotel in front of the beach and crashing waves. Just as we made for the boat, Brain and I recalled the day before that we had purchased a very considerable amount of pearls from a lady; she had entrusted us with the pearls and said she would follow us to the ATM to get the money. We had almost forgot her, and I found her just as B had rung her...she was almost in tears for all the money she had lost. We were able to pay her and made for a nice dinner in Singigi where I was indulged with a peanut curry and topped it off with an Irish Coffee which I think was my poison. Brian had gone back early for feeling ill and the dutchies and I went on for drinks which ended up with me leaving them early--they must think americans can't handle it by now--and running 4 the toilet. The next day was nothing more than groans, moans, and a few runs for Brian to grab some things he had wanted (sorongs, blankets, souveneirs, etc.)...my runs were of a different sort; though the genuine guy he is bought some carbon pills to help with me affliction.

He was forced to go all the way south to the jetty where he was to board a ferry (4 hours with a big ouch!) to get back to bali where I hope he caught a bus to Denpasar just in time for his flight back to 'reality'. I was lucky enough to find a hotel and literally fall into bed from 4pm to 5am without blinking an eye. I woke to a small squible that left me feeling ill about the hotel and moved to another friendlier place that I will stay for the night.

Tomorrow's plan is to catch a bus to the island of Sumbawa and start the travel process all over; ie. get use to crappy lodging, crammed mini-vans, discomfort in every way except experientially...but I'm lovin' it.

Can't describe the gr8 time I had with my m8 though...after so long of leaving him in ATL and him finding work and a home in S. Korea...it was more than wonderful to see his mug in the indo isles and break from chaos. Just 4 days had me rejecting his departure, but we know that there will be another chapter to come. To him, thanks again brother and all the best for the rest of your south korean sojourn. To all of you...onto the next.