Having said goodbye to Laurie’s boyfriend Gary last night, it is now time to say goodbye to Laurie. The UK to OZ group having gathered at the ferry port to Indonesia with everyone worried about whether their luggage, including tents and sleeping bags, is under the 20kg limit. Laurie comes with us to say goodbye and becomes quite emotional as the group of us wait to catch the ferry to Batam.
The previous night Laurie had come around to the hostel, having stayed with Gary in a hotel, and reproached me for not writing a song for her. Pressurized, I sang one for her but, although I had anticipated the situation and had thought up a couple of rhymes for the purpose, I make up most of the song on the spot. Laurie seemed convinced enough though, so I think I got away with it….until this confession.
There are hugs and kisses not just for me, but also for the handsome Irishman Shay, though the latter’s liaisons with the immaculately figured American Stacie meant this was not totally welcome.
The motored Catamaran ferry is a quick hour ride. At the other end, we catch taxis to the ’99 Hotel’. When the taxis turn off the main road towards the hotel, the initial site is not promising as we go along a dirt track surrounded by run down homes and piles of rubbish. However, the hotel itself is by no means the worst we have stayed at and I have a comfortable night, although I am sharing a (double!) bed with Brian.
I join a gang of us to go into town for dinner. Although this looks like a poor area, there are signs of the growing wealth of Indonesia including a new shopping mall. Here we find a nearly empty restaurant with a very western menu and we order a round of steaks. They are pretty good too, if excusing the fact that the steaks came randomly as either ‘blue’ or well done regardless of what was ordered.
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| A room with a view |
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