At the dock, a staff member greeted me with, “Congratulations and be prosperous.” Curious, I asked, “Do you know what ‘congratulations and be prosperous’ means?” He cheerfully replied, “Happy New Year.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and patiently explained the difference.
I had imagined a speedboat to be a sleek, modern, and mid-sized yacht. Instead, I found myself facing an old, diminutive vessel. To enter the cabin, I had to leap from the gangway to the top of the boat and then slide into a hole at the bow (as shown in Figure 3). Haha, it was a challenge for those with shorter legs to maintain any semblance of grace.
The boat was crammed with people, making me feel like I was not embarking on a vacation, but rather escaping a disaster.
As the small boat sliced through the waves, it seemed as fierce and wild as a rock star smashing a guitar. It was quite a sight; I kept a straight face, pretending not to notice the absence of life jackets in the cabin.
My eyes were drawn to the driver’s seat, where a sticker read: “Eat, sleep, dive, repeat.”
Damn, that’s the life I want. Damn, if anything goes wrong, I’ll swim out through the cockpit hole.
And so, my sweet (and salty) island life began.
Regrettably, I wandered around Ampana street last night for a long time, unable to find a single liquor store. This morning, I mustered up the courage to ask the hotel front desk where I could buy alcohol. Seeing the girl in her black robe and headscarf, I hesitated. If I can get there smoothly, I plan to have a well-deserved drink.
Two hours flew by, and the sea, like a soul thoroughly cleansed, transformed from bruised to blue, and then to a stunning emerald green. I transferred from the first island to a wooden boat that would take me to my resort. The boat owner and his daughter were warm and friendly, and the wooden boat itself seemed to greet every wave with a welcoming embrace. Soon, I was almost drenched.
My cottage was simple, clean, and straightforward, with just the right amount of rustic charm. There was no electricity (only limited supply) or hot water, and, of course, no WiFi or phone signal. The beach was serene and desolate, with not a single person in sight. Later, I discovered that I was the only tourist in the entire resort.
