bangka island --> part II

chapter two: the arrival 

we arrived in bangka at muntok harbor around 10:30.  the gorgeous view distracted me from my sleepiness and hunger.  we still had another two hour car ride ahead of us so we made our way down the long pier while everyone stared at the bule (i get to watch in amusement as i am in a very convincing indonesian disguise).  we found our car and off we went.  i napped.  my headphones broke.  we stopped once to get some crackers and a bathroom break and finally arrived in sungai liat to meet our other driver Pak.  

generational differences

we found a small, cheap, deserted hotel right next to the very beautiful, booked, fancy resort that we couldn't get a room at.  it was a little strange but it had a charming, if not endearing quality about it once you got over the discovery that it was the perfect setting for a horror film.  after that, we actually didn't want to leave.  it was amazing.  it was literally right on the beach and since we were the only ones there, the untouched beach was ours and ours alone.  the water was warm, the air was hot but breezy.  i couldn't ask for anything more.  because we were sort of in the middle of nowhere close, we had Pak take us into town to get some food and water at the supermarket.  once we got back, it was straight into the ocean.  oh my gosh it was amazing.

remember the time i went to lombok and never wanted to leave?  well i still want to go back to lombok and never leave but now in addition i want to have a weekend bungalow on tanjung pesona (the name of the beach we stayed at) where i can go visit on the weekend for a quieter, less touristy experience.  

captain roger, the one eyed cat

our hotel.  jati pesona.  hotel and restaurant.  after an afternoon of sun and swim, we went to the hotel "restaurant" for dinner.  the place was literally completely not booked so we were the only ones there.  they gave us a menu and we started ordering.  they let us order and after each attempt they said they were out of that dish.  so we would try another one and they would say they were also out of that.  after a bit of this, we asked what was available and they said nothing was available except for fried rice.  hilarious.  we walked over to the nice resort instead for dinner.