Happy birthday Becky!
Thanks to our travels yesterday it was so nice to be woken up around 6am with dogs next door Barking and going mental. Something must have set them off.
The plan for today was set. Breakfast, find a way to the beach and then back for our firefly tour this afternoon….simple we thought. How wrong as per usual.
For the birthday girl her breakfast l…pancakes with syrup. She smothered the pancakes in syrup only to realise it was CINAMMON flavour (her worst nightmare) I began to laugh! Becky using the “it’s my birthday excuse I agreed to swap my pancakes as I hadn’t put an syrup on them. Cinnamon syrup wasn’t that bad actually.
With breakfast done it was time to find a way to the beach. Any beach by this point would do. We were recommended to go to Dumaluan as it was much quieter and closer than the famous Alona beach. DEAL! Only issue we had to rent another scooter to get there as it would work out cheaper than getting a tricycle.
As we set off on our scooter looking like dumb and dumber all over again the roads weren’t that bad the issues we had were Becky clawing at my side squeezing hard everytime a car came near and the fact they didn’t beep as they were passing so it was an unexpected surprise when massive trucks drove past. (the wing mirrors wouldn’t stay up kept pointing towards the ground….very useful)
As I was designated driver and Becky being navigator we were doing well, no arguments or tantrums. We followed the sat nav but it unfortunately took us down the road too early for the beach we were looking for and we ended up lost, lucky a local guy pointed us in the right direction and we were off again!
Found the beach….YES! FINALLY!
Clear blue water, soft white sand and massive dark cloud coming across…you are having a laugh. Anyway we found a spot dumped the towels and I ended up have to go back to move the scooter as we didn’t think it was safe where we left it. Seeing as I didn’t have a present for Becky (just yet anyway) I decided to try but her a cocktail…..slight language barrier there (typical) I was being sold bottles of rum with a can of coke….she understood 2 beers so I settled for that.
That massive cloud finally hit us and we had a rain shower for 10mins or so but after that blue sky once again! We were cautious as we had to be back for the tour plus grab some lunch and also find a ATM as we were skint again.
Heading back to the scooter we decided to eat lunch where we parked…vegetarian options…cheese and egg toastie or cheese toastie…one of each please! Becky grab a couple of crisps bags which were family sized bags but hey it’s her birthday.
Now the challenge begins of finding an ATM machine (hopefully one that wouldn’t clone our card) we headed towards Alona beach as it was the nearest place. Google maps is tremendous! As we pulled up to the bank Becky got off to lift cash and I avoided being hit with traffic. You’d think being on the side of the road pretty much on the pavement you would be safe but nope! My plan was to find a cake for Becky’s birthday but I completely forgot (wouldn’t be the end of that either).
A somewhat safe trip back to the hostel it was time to pack for the tour. The tour involved kayaking up the river to see the firefly’s on the trees then return for dinner with the group.
We were earlier on the water so took our time to get up towards the firefly’s ….. Totally worth it. It was pitch black by the time we got there not only were the firefly’s unbelievable but the sky was too. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Camera wouldn’t work on the firefly’s or the sky. Not impressed. 2 rules were no flash on the camera and stay quiet next to the trees as it would disturb the fly’s. In our group were 4 french people who decided to ignore the quiet rule…Becky’s faced said it all. (I’ve seen that face many times!😂) We’ve had our fair interactions with other nationalities that’s for sure. Becky whispers “bloody french” 🤣🤣
On the river though there was also boat tours coming up and down….as we had no lights whatsoever things became very interesting. We had to stay towards the side next to the mangroves and the boats would use the middle of the river. Our guides would call them the crocodile of the river. They would shine a flashlight every now and then to check if there was any kayaks around not like they would have any time to stop they were going that fast!
As we got back to the tourist shop our tea was ready….veg curry….get in! Haven’t had enough of that. We also had rice cooked in coconut leaves, some type of soup and an omelette to share.
Before we left I was remembered once again it was Becky’s birthday and she hadn’t got a present. The shop was selling kayak keyrings. No other option available so a pink kayak keyring it had to be.
Back at the hostel we had a few strong cocktails to celebrate the big day of Becky turning 29!
One cocktail too many as usual we headed to bed with Becky stuffing her face with another family sized bag of crisps.
South East Asia 2019 