Fighting the currents and some sickness

Monday March 16th was the day of leaving Labuan Bajo to go for more diving. A 6 days liveaboard with Current Junkies on the boat Busy Girl. All good fun! But, there is but here, the night before I am sick. Freezing and poring with sweat parts of the night, but I still feel ok in the morning, so I never think about not going. But I am a bit worry about how it will be to dive later in the day, and for the days to come.

I am meeting up with Nick and the rest of the group, wich is Nathalia and Ben, a newlywed couple on their honymoon. That is the group, the 3 of us and Nick as our guide, and there are off course the great crew on the boat Busy Girl that make sure we get where shall, feed us, and make sure that we have a pleasant fun tour. Ben reconice me from somewhere, and I find out that he had been diving with me 2 years ago in El Nido at the Submariner 2 years ago. Small world!

Busy Girl is a small boat, but beautyful and well kept. It was supposed to be a 4th diver on the trip, but he had gotten sick, and I get my own cabin on the boat. We leave port around 13.45, going for the national park where we will do one dive on this first day. Nick gives us the breifing about the boat and how the dives will be going on. The dives will goes as usual expect how we enter the water, that will be done "negativly", which is not anything that we are used to do. Short explonation for the non divers, normally you jump into the water positiv, that is with air in you bcd (west), and you have time to float on the surface and adjust your mask etc before you dive down slowly empying your bcd. Entering negativ, you do not have air in you bcd, and you jump into water pressing one of the exhoust walves to press out any remaining air and dive straight down without stopping on the surface. The reason for this is to get as fast as possible down without being dragged out of position of any current on the surface. Not difficult, or maybe a little if you hold on to a camera when you jump in, not enough hands :-) All in all it works out fine during all the dives, better after some practice.

I freeze during the hole dive this first day, even if the temperature is the same as it have been all the other dives I have done the last days. So I am for sure not 100%, and after some hot soup, I go to bed and have a pretty bad night again. Not freezing, but sweating an ocean. But feels ok, and I belive it is the matress that have waterproof covering and that it is hot in the cabin. The same happen on night 2.

On day 2 and 3 am I diving 3 dives, the dives goes pretty fine, cold the last 20-30 minuttes of the dives, and I am VERY tired in the night. On day 3 are the others doing a night dive as well, I pass on that one. Relaxing on the boat, falling almost to sleep in the cabin. By the time it is dinner, I can not get myself out of bed to go and have dinner. I need to get my waterbottle, and I am close to pass out and the sweat just start instantly poring, get myself back to bed and that feel a lot better. Stays in bed for the next 12-14 hours, have it bad in the morning on day 4, diving is not even an option. Had also decided to take a break before the morning hit me, and I end up not diving at all this day, but manage to eat a little to every meal, a bit more each time and drink some coke. I am a lot lot better in the afternoon, but are still deciding to not do the first dive on day 5, and I also do the same with the second dive. Then finally, I am good for the water again on the last one this day, which becomes a crazy fun one pushed through the fastest current I have ever been in on purpose, the shootgun at Cauldron. Day 6 is the last day, and we only have the morning dive, which I also do. Feeling good now. I am not sure what have been wrong with me, fever and maybe some stommach bug, even if the stommach haven't been all bad, but have whatever the reason not been good. That was the sickness fighting, lost 5 dives because of it, nothing to do with it. And as bad as it was, it was a good place to be sick on since I wasn't alone.

The dives and the dive sites was mostly things I have done before, but that doesn't matter, since the dive here is so good, and now we was doing just the best divesites, also some that are a bit complicated. Only two of them had strong current, the Arch and the Cauldron. Fishlife is splendid, and we saw tiny hard to see scrimps, pygme seahorses, big tunas, groupers, sharks, nudibrances, turtles, seasnakes and lots and lots of more, corrals, hard ones and soft ones in lots of colors, it can not bee descibed or even put onto a picture, it must be seen. From the surface did we see dolphines playing in front of the boat, and we teased the Komodo dragons from the speed boat and letting them chase us, we sat back watched the sunset when 1000's of flying foxes took off for the night. All this set in a beautiful landscape of green islands spread around in the park together with some very nice people on the boat, fellow guest and the crew on the boat.

So I had a good week, even with some sick days on the boat.

Last stop in Indonesia is Kuta in Bali. Eden Hotel,, as I also stayed in 2 years ago, pretty ok with a ok pool. I chill out, buy new shorts since the laundry in Labuan Bajo have ruined my old favorittes. Found out to late to complaine.

 

 

 

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Ups, I went there again - Labuan Bajo

On my way from Nusa Lembongan to Labuan Bajo, Flores I had to do a stopover in Kuta in Bali (and yes, I still dosn't like Kuta). But I loved my hotel there this time, Rama Beach resort and villas. I had a normall check in time there at 14:00, but I arrived at the hotel around 10:00 with a small hope that they would let me check in a bit early, or just go and stay by the pool and wait till they got my room ready. The people at the reseption was the loveliest hotel people I have ever met, and the manager on duty gave me the offer for an early check in and a upgrade to a villa (bigger than my appartment home) for less than 20 US$/250 000 rupea, so I took it. Now I must say, on Lembongan I payed 200 000 rupea the night, and that sort of say that I upgraded a lot from Lembongan on Bali. The room, or the villa was great. Big flatscreen tv, free movies, bathtube, big comfy bed +++ And I had my best sleep so far on my vacation. Loved it, but could never afford to pay this much per night for accomodation. For one night, totally worth it!

The flight to Labuan Bajo went without any problems, I got picked up at the airport of the driver from Golo Hilltop, and taken to the door where I was welcomed back as a dear guest I must say. Should be, it is my 4th visit in 4 years. Got my villa, different quality than last night, but very good indeed. Hot water AC, the best view in Labuan Bajo, swimming pool that have better veiw than the infinity pool in Singapoor, it is a great hotel, even if it has only 1 star.
After my check in at Golo Hilltop, I got my self a scooter, rental, and went straight downtown to DiveKomodo to book my diving for my time on land in Labuan Bajo. I am saying on land, since I have my first stay on land, or at least will I be sleeping on land. But since Labuan Bajo, or really Komodo National Park is my favorite diving ground, and the reason that I am here once againn is the amazing diving out here. I got a surpriced look when I walked true the door at the dive shop as well, with a "are you here again?". They had space on the boat, and I got to do the paperwork and try on my eqvipment for this day. I sign on for 3 days for sure, and a 4th day as maybe, and the 4th day became for sure the day after, when it turned out that they will go north on that day. Longer travel and more challenging dives, or it can be. As it turned out the next day, they had to much space on the boat, one other diver the first dive, only me on the 2nd and 3rd day, which ment that I got tranfered over to the boat of Bajo dive, and I had 2 good days out with them too. Great that they organise the diveday for me, as they just as well could have said sorry, you can not go diving today. Good service I call that, and I stil get my discount and are paying for all my dives at Dive Komodo as I was suppose too.

All together I get 8 dives with Dive Komodo and Bajo Diving. I get what I am coming back for, good reefs with amazing corals, lots of fish, close encounter with the manta rays, some nice driftdives and just good days out on the ocean with nice people.
Diving day dives in Komodo out from Labuan Bajo is a full day work. Even with only 2 dives a day, it is an 8 hour day. Getting up at 6:15, breakfast and some internett, meet up at 7:20 and on the way out on the boat around 7:45 to be back in town between 15:00 and 16:00. Totally worth it.

What isn't good this year, is that the Indonesian goverment have increased the national park fee a lot. It used to cost 95 000 idr for 3 days of diving, and now it is 175 000 idr for 1 day, ther one that is good in % can figure out the increase. To much, and not any discount if you do more days, it is a shame. An increase is ok, but this is to much.
Saturday, was my last day of day diving here in Komodo, but is was not the end of my diving here.This was just a warm up I would say. Today, Sunday, I have a day of resting, and it have been totall resting. I have not done anything but reading by the pool, just had short trip downtown for some food. I have felt tired, and I guess it is ok with day of doing nothing, I got a vacation after all.

Catching up with old friends. :-)

Monday March 16th will I be going out for a Liveaboard dive safari untill March 22nd with Current Junkies. Small boat, 4 divers, all of us instructors. Guess that I am the one with "lessest" experience, will find out. Looking forward to it, think it will be fun.

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Lembongan days

As said in my last post, I did not sleep well in Singapor, and my last night was not any different. Got at the most 3 hours sleep before my journey back to Nusa Lembongan. Maybe for the best that I had to get up to catch a plane, if not I think I would have slept very long this morning, or day.

The travel to Lembongan went as planned. Got a taxi to the airport, the plane for Bali went on time, emigration was done in just 5-10 minuttes, got a new taxi that took me to Sanur at the Scoot fast boat ticket office in time to get on the first boat for Lembongan, at 13.30. Sweet! Since there isn't any ATM's on Lembongan, one have to bring a shitload of cash, and I got that as well in the ATM at the airport.

I went to Nusa Lembongan last year as well, and I liked it here. Nice and quite, not much to do in a way, so one have to relax and get into some good vacation mode. I dove with Big Fish last year, and was off course doing the same this year. But in different from last, I also stay with Big Fish, or Secret Garden, as the accomodation part of the company is called. Great place, cheap cabins with an open air bathroom, fan and no AC in the room, but a nice pool outside. All this for only 200 000 rupee/110 NOK a night. I like it, I noticed it last year, and I knew that if I would come back I would like to stay here, so I did.

A problem with an open bathroom, it get wet in rain "inside". Almost so one need to strip to avoid getting all the clotes wet just brushing the teets, but as long as it dosn't rain, it is nice and airy.

My maine reason for coming back to Lembongan is the diveing, since it is very good, and the island is very relaxed. It is a part of Bali, but it is very layedback, not many cars, but a bit more than a few scooters, not anyone traying to sell you anything. There is also not any port/pier on the island, so everything is taken on land by hand on the beach, from small boats, and it is mainly women that is carrieing it on land.

Since diving was my maine reason to come back, I have been diveing every day. The dives have been good, we have not seen anything new to me, but nice relaxed dives in a small group. It has been very enjoyable, and it was great to be back in the water, IN IT, and not just on top of it, even if that also is cool. Kayaking I meen. The typical day have been to get up at get my banana panecake breakfast with a cup of Bali coffee and get out diving and do the 1st dive around 9 and the 2nd around 11. Between the dive, 1 hour, we get some nice food. It is a paper wrapped meal, rice, veggies and some meat that we eat using our fingers as tool, tastes great. 2 dives is enough.

The rest of the days is reading, a dip or two in the pool, a couple of hours at Bali Eco Delhi for some sallad, fresh juice and coffee reading some more, using the internet. Evening, dinner and a beer or two, sleep. Socially, I have meet some nice people on the dive boat, shared a few meels or beers a few of days.

Unfortunatly, it have been raining a lot 3 of the days, and it have not been blue sky and sunny to much during this week. Wet season should be over, but the weather does not seam to know it, still it is nice and warm. But an umbrella would have been nice. All the rain, heavy rain, in the evening during dinner time have forced me to take run to the same warung every night, good food, but still it is always nice to check out some different places.

My ebook went out of power on the plane over, and I could not make it charge for some days. Bad, since all my book is on it. Luckily the Secret garden had a used book shell, and I found me a book there. Needed desperatly something to read, since I sort of need to do something semi useful when I do not have a tv, and I like to read on vacation. But then I found out the trick to charge the ebook as well, and now I should be well taken care of. An other e-problem, I forgot the adapter I need to empty my Gopro, and are at the moment hoping to find what I need on Bali before I fly for Labuan Bajo. Fingers crossed ;

Last day of my Lembonangan days is almost over. It has been good and chilled to be here. Good diving, nice people on the boat, good food. Heading over to Bali tomorrow morning, one night at 4 star resort, will be nice. Then I catch a plane to Labuan Bajo, Flores (Komodo) on March 10th for more diving, and this is also a going back to place.

 

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Sleepless in Singapore

This year as last year, I am finding my self in Singapore, and I have problems sleeping during night. I fell to sleep easily, but wake up again around 2-3 and stay awake till around 5. Then I sleep till around 11, way to late in the day to wake up. Guess it is that I am jetlagged, or it must be. I had 3 nights in my hostel in Singapore, my usual one, River City Inn on Hong Kong Street 33, where I slept in a 6 bed dorm. Maybe, but only maybe, that sleeping in a dorm also disturbe me a little bit.

The flight down was fine, went with Lufthansa and changed plane in Frankfurt, and they kept the time for the flights, not any delays. Wathced some movies on my personal entertainment system on the way, 3 in fact, and got some time for some light sleeping, or at least I closed my eyes behind my sleeping mask, but I do think I managed to sleep a bit on the 11 hours flight from Frankfurt to Singapore. Pretty good. To sit in one chair, almost entirely (some walks to the toilet) for 11 hours is crazy, and I just have to go into the flight zone, and not think about it. It is just nothing one can do as long as you want to go down here, so you just do it. Listen to music, see movies, eat and get some alcohol when you can, try to sleep, read. It works. :-)

Since I have been so many times in Singapore now, I do not have any big plans about what to see any more, and it is "just" a big city, but I like it. It is also nice that I have started to know it a little bit. I spend a lot of the days in Singapore on the MRT, and pop up on different shopping malls for food, coffee, wifi, some shopping, even it would be better to do the shopping home, since it is cheaper in Norway than in Singapore for a lot of stuff. It does not seam that interesting for a vacation, but I enjoyed this days in Singapore this year as well, and I will be back again on my way home in April.

When in Singapore, I usually meet Heidi, this year I forgot to tell her that I was coming down, but it was not any big surprise that I was in Singapore again. Lucky for me, she had time to meet up the 2 nights I had. Sunday, March 1st, I met with Heidi and some friends of her, some beer and good Korean food. All of them sort of local Singaporeans, but not really since they came from Malaysia, India, Canada, Russia, Irland and Japan (?), none from Singapore, but all, or most of them, live in Singapore. Not all of us where togehter all the time, but anyway.... I have never eaten Korean before I think, and I have for sure not eaten it like this, that we all share all the food on the table, and take what we want from the same plate with our shop sticks, have Korean beer with rice wine mixed into it. Tasted great, good fun people to share the meal with, good and fun talks about different subjects, one of mye best nights in Singapore ever. And I am very greatful that Heidi invited me along. Cheers! The next day, Monday, I met up with Heidi again for dinner up in her nighbourhood, half an hour away on the MRT from the city centre, nice and quite nighbourhood, that I never would have seen, ok food at a food court, but a nice evening it was.

Next stop, Nusa Lembongan....See u:)

ps. if you do not know who Heidi is, look through the blog, for a hint, you can go back to Kuching in 2011.

 

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