Dave had the best birthday ever. He may not be able to top it. (What the hell am I going to do for his 40th? Suggestions most welcome!)
I have to be quick so here goes...
Dave had 5 birthday songs altogether - in English, Indonesian & Dutch!
We didn't bring our mobile phones with us, yet while i was squatting over the squat loo in our jungle lodge, the birthday boy came to the door to say that i had a mobile phone call. I'm thinking what? how? It was Rilly from the other side of the river to tell me in Indonesian that due to all the rain last night, the river was too high & dangerous to cross on the oil drum/bamboo/thatching raft. But maybe someone would come for us at 9:30am. So I translated for the others & we all sat down for second birthday breakfast & Indo birthday coffee.
The river crossing later, was scary. Waded waist deep to reach the raft (no sign of our walking plank any more). Our elephant was named Augustine. Big beautiful gentle girl with pink freckles on her ears. We fed her pineapple & washed her in the river before climbing on her back. My god i was so scared because of all the rain. The ground was just slippery, slimey clay & i felt for sure our girl was gonna slip on the steep downhills. I was in front & it was just like riding a roller coaster without the safety buffer.
Our fave bits:
when Augustine trumpeted while we were on her back. we could feel the vibration through our legs.
when Augustine pushed down 2 trees that i guess were in her way.
when a boulder slid down the loose, clay bank from under her foot & she didnt even stumble (thank god).
i received a kiss from her !!
More stuff from D's bday: we showered in a waterfall, a cobra was on the floor of our restaurant at dinner time, surviving the crossing of the swollen river twice (once by raft once by elephant), ate durian and ENJOYED it!
no more time......byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
