Dengue in Paradise

I’m still in Asu. Haley left yesterday and should be in Singapore now on her way away from me for an 18 day interlude before we meet up again in Tokyo. After Haley wrote the last post, things went very badly. It turned out that she didn’t just have a little flu or food poisoning, she was as sick as a dog and stayed sick for the entire 8 days that she was here. It started with a bad fever and paralyzing headache and body aches for about 3 days. Then 1 day of feeling almost OK, and then 4 more days of no energy, light headed-ness and nausea with some itchy swollen hands and feet mixed in. Our guess was another strain of Dengue, but we may never know. Either way, she says it was most likely the worst sickness of her life to date. So that sucked bad.

poor haley

Haley did make it out of bed for a few sunsets, puppy patting, lying under the palapa (beach shelter) which I built with Earl while Haley was in bed, and she even dipped in the Indian Ocean for a minute or two on her very last day here. It was sad because we had come a long way and were so excited to snorkel, explore the island, go swimming, etc., and we couldn’t do any of that. The main reason that most of that was impossible is that Haley could barely walk 50 ft before she had to sit down to avoid passing out.  One night after a beautiful sunset, it took us about 20 minutes to walk the 200 meters back to our cabin.

sunset homerun

haley doing her best

indian ocean- check

Of course, Haley wouldn’t let her dying slow me down. She kept ordering me to “go surfing, go have fun, stop worrying about me.” So I did that or at least tried to. While Haley would sleep or lie in bed I would go out and surf, build palapas, build kites, hang out with Earl and Sam and try not to worry too much about my sick angel. Yesterday when she left, she was feeling the best she had in a while, which was hopefully enough to get her through two long days of travel.

Now, let me tell you that Asu is paradise and Asu Surf Camp is the perfect place to stay in paradise. Our good friends Earl and Samantha have this place fine tuned and ready to enjoy. All of those little details that the rest of hotels in Asia often ignore aren’t ignored here. Every meal is delicious, the rooms are simple but clean and have balconies with hammocks staring out at the surf, Earl and Samantha are sweet and take care of things before you even think of them, and there’s no trash. Well, some trash does wash up on the beach, but compared to the rest of Asia, this place is as clean as a whistle. The water is clear and warm and Caribbean blue. You can watch the fish swim over the reef while you wait for a wave. Sunsets are ridiculous and sunrises aren’t bad either, both visible from the beach.

never too sick for puppies

haley in the intensive care unit

I’ll most likely be here for another two weeks and as long as the rain that is coming down now doesn’t continue for those two weeks, I think it will be a good two weeks. We’ve already got plans for a second palapa, more kites, more surf, snorkeling and more good food.

balcony view with a little wave

asu sunset over reef

Other notes:

Haley started feeding a cat that came around to our balcony and now I have a cat. Last night the cat pulled the plug to the water basin in the bathroom and let out all the water (probably about 50 gallons).

There are lots of hermit crabs around here.

I’ve been surfing 4 times. The first time I caught 0 waves, next time 1, then 3, then 5.  It’s a left and it’s really fun…and scary sometimes too.

The first palapa fell down after 1 day. The second palapa has lasted 5 days and made it through a stormy night last night. The goal for the second palapa is 10 days.

I’ve had a little cold for 10 days or so, but it hasn’t gotten in the way of things.

I miss Haley already. As far as I can remember, we hadn’t spent a night apart in 2012 until last night.

It’s pouring rain right now and doesn’t look like it will stop any time soon.