I am sitting in one half of a round, wooden structure. All the walls are actually double doors, open to the inlet comprised of transparent, sea green water, colored with the occasional schools of fish or baby sharks. On the other side of this u-shaped bay stands my water villa, set atop wooden posts with a thatched roof, built-in hammock (!) and outdoor private shower. All structures are built from either reclaimed wood, or wood they milled themselves. The owners, Merrit and Andy, are a young couple with a 9-month old baby boy, and opened this environmentally sensitive resort after negotiating with the local village; construction began in 2006 and doors formally opened in 2008. Everyone here has a smile, is willing to help and it’s wonderful.
My first morning here and I feel as if I’ve been drugged – so hard to wake-up, so I must still be fighting the respiratory bug that started working its magic on me last Friday. I will take today off (perhaps a checkout dive or snorkel to get some salt water up my sinuses) and plunge in (yes) tomorrow. Schedule is as follows: Light breakfast at 7, first dive at 8:15; second breakfast (yes, we’re hobbits!) at 10, second dive at 11:15. Lunch at 1:30 and afternooon dive at 3:15. Dusk dive at 5:30 or night dive at 7:30 conducted every other day. I plan on two per day, perhaps with the 11:15 tomorrow. Nice life!
Dive shop built over the water, as are all of the villas. A tour, you say? My pleasure:
View from top of the hill of one side of the horse-shoe shaped inlet, showing the dive shop, common room (where we all sit to try and access the internet) and several villas (this is on the opposite side of the curve from where my villa is (see below):
You can see 5 A-shaped villas going from left to right, and then next in line is the dive shop. A closer view:
Internet connection is tenuous, so not planning to post every day. May not post at all, who knows. Please, if you are in the worry camp, no need. You know that I am here safe and sound (mostly), and there are plenty of people to look out for me. Only maintaining internet access for legal issues: for those of you who don’t know, I sold my house the night before leaving on this trip, and occasional virtual paper signings are necessary.
Backing up a bit to tell the whole day’s adventure, we arrived in Sarong at 6:45 am. After collecting bags, we went to a local hotel to have coffee and tea and await the ready sign from the boat. As soon as I entered the lobby, I searched, and there he was! Mr. Drew! Big hug and chattering away to share experiences and for him to give me recommendation on best dives. You see, he had just left the resort to which I was headed, along with the Boulder dive shop we frequent. After almost an hour, we got the call, and headed off to our boat transfer.
My group of 15 was split into two, and we headed out for a 4+ hour boat ride to the resort, during which I took 3 naps – sometimes draped across two seats and once on the floor (but gas fumes were strong down there). Arrived around 1:30 and shown to my Villa #6 (first one you see here).
Lovely bedroom and outdoor bathroom:
After checking it all out, I unpacked, napped, and briefing at dinner, during which I also had ankles and feet served up as appetizers and main course to a myriad of little chits. Itched like crazy there, but no aftereffects to speak of the next morning. Problem solved in villa when I returned because a mosquito coil was lit and I went to bed under beautifully spread out mosquito nets.
Time for lunch! Back to fulltime vegetarianism, which is no problem here. XOXO to you.