17/11/11
Today we leave Gili T and head back to Seminyak and Bali. We’re sad to be checking out of Ko-Ko-Mo and a little sad to be leaving Gili T, but we both agree that we can’t wait to get back to Bali.
The early part of the boat-ride back is uneventful. We notice some of the same faces from the trip over from Bali are returning and Ms Emma strikes up a conversation with a passenger we’ll call “Matthew”. It turns out Matthew owns both Ko-Ko-Mo, The Beach House and this here boat we’re riding on. Across from us are Saul and Alice. Saul and Alice arrived on Gili T only 24 hours earlier and checked into the Beach House. The only problem was that Tir Na Nog – an Irish Pub next door to The Beach House was hosting that night’s island party. My Irish readers will be pleased to know that on Gili T, their status as the party people is unmatched. Tir Na Nog is THE destination of a Wednesday night. Saul and Alice gave up trying to sleep at around 4am. The party – by all accounts – was only just starting to get into overdrive. They agreed around 5am that Gili T wasn’t for them.
We’re about an hour into the boat ride back to Bali and I find myself unable to sleep. I have Miles Davis on my iPhone and I feel quite relaxed. I’m watching the islands come into view alongside the boat, but I’m vaguely aware that my body temperature is rising. I can feel sweat starting to break out on my forehead. In a really short space of time, my guts start to go whirly and the sweat is more intense. I take my earphones off and lean my head back against the seat. I’m sweating profusely now and thinking of going and sitting on the back of the boat, but I’m too weak to move. I can’t deny it any longer. I’m about to be seasick. I turn to Emma, who’s seated next to me and say “I think I’m going to be sick.” She turns to me and begins to say “whaaa?”, takes one look at me and turns to Matt saying “he’s about to be sick.” Matt has clearly been in this situation before. He jumps out of his seat, stands in front of me and shouts at me over the noise of the engines; “look out at the horizon, DO NOT LOOK AT THE SIDES, DON’T LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINS, LOOK OUT AS FAR AS YOU CAN OVER THE HORIZON.” I do as I’m told but not before one of the crew has shoved a sick bag under my nose. I have a heave and feel my hands tingling with pins and needles. Matt is still standing in front of me reminding me to look out the rear of the boat and concentrate on the horizon. Slowly, the nausea dissipates, but I feel sleepy as buggery and I just cannot move. I’m have no energy whatsoever. Matt, Ms Emma, Matt’s travel companion, Charlie and one of the crew members escort me to the rear of the boat and place me comfortably watching the horizon.
The sickness slowly evaporates and as we reach port at Turtle Island, I’m the first off the boat. Matt and the crew make sure I’m ok, as our transfer arrives and we’re taken to the Pelangi in Seminyak. The heart is almost unbearable and our driver explains that there’s additional police everywhere as President Obama is in town for the ASEAN conference. At the moment, I couldn’t care less. I’m exhausted and just want to sleep.
We put our bags into the room, Ms Emma convinces me to hit the pool with her as a way of cooling down and relaxing. We’re not in the pool for ten minutes and I already feel a Bintang calling me. We take in the first of many Bintangs as Ms Emma renews acquaintances with the Pelangi staff and I am in awe of the healing properties of the aforementioned Pilsener. Ms Emma disappears for a massage in the ‘Rat Run’ and I enjoy some room service watching Indonesian Cable TV.
It’s going to be a good few days at the Pelangi.
Stephen Baker Media 