INDONESIA - DAY TWENTY FIVE
JUNE 9, 2024
That’s odd……no word on a pick-up time today for this trek……….
The Itinerary sent to me before leaving the US. NOTE: no detailed packing list for this trek, but going nonetheless and felt confident that I had good hiking shoes, trekking poles, hat and gloves and was sure it would not get “cold” in Indonesia so I was prepared with enough “cold weather” gear - long sleeve shirt, winter running tights, light jacket, rain/wind breaker and rain/wind pants to go over tights, if needed. BUT I WASN’T GOING to need that in Indonesia. The teenage acne on my face was enough to prove that heat and humidity are a constant here.
The itinerary or as they call it here, program information I received upon arrival in Lombok. NOTE: nothing is happening on 9 June. Hmmmmm……
My guide asked the hotel upon arrival on 8 June if they had received word on a pick-up for me for Mt. Rinjani on the 9th. Nothing. They mentioned that there had been guests a few days prior that did that track and they were picked up at 6:00am. OK, so I’ll be ready by 6:00am.
6:10am - I was a little late getting out to the lobby but even so I figured if someone was here to pick me up they would have called my room. I arrived to hotel lobby and waited.
Nothing by 7:00am.
I texted, via WhatsApp the local guide, but it was early so she was not quite awake. The hotel called the agency as well and they had no booking for me for this trek. I could not yet call the UK office as it was the middle of the night, so I pivoted. This is not to say that I wasn’t disappointed and somewhat irritated because I had hauled heavy hiking boots, trekking poles and cold weather gear halfway across the globe. I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be challenged and I need this kind of challenge for me right now in my life. There’s A LOT of BS that I haven’t needed these last few months since Walker died that has been thrown my way. THIS ONE I needed. I needed to prove to myself that I could do this hard thing by myself.
OH, well if I am not camping for two nights I hope I have a place to stay. I secured my room at the Oberoi for the next two nights and fortunately after some switching around and what appeared like magic on my end, because anything anymore in my life when it’s good is magic, I was allowed to stay in the same room (originally I was going to have to switch twice). YAY, I unpacked, which is a luxury in my world at the moment.
And I do what an only child does very well; I occupied my time with walking around, reading, journaling (miraculously, I got my journaling back in Bali, shit and I suddenly have so much to say), touring the boutique, working out, having afternoon tea, watching and learning about wood carving, taking a batik class. I learned that I should not be a wood carver nor do batik.
I’ll keep my day job…….Oh shit I don’t have one. Maybe take up a new hobby.
London replied to my email with a sincere apology and well no hard feelings on my end. When the worst thing imaginable has happened in your life, nothing really bothers me and quite frankly only one thing matters at this point.
At 4:20 (Walker’s favorite time or at least the one he always called out - HA!) I received a WhatsApp from London about the possibility of a 1-night/2-day trek on Mt. Rinjani. By 5:30pm I was booked.
Back to the room to pack….yes, AGAIN!