Christmas Day in Belitung (Part 2)

Bright and early the next morning Winda and Ezekiel arrived at our beach shack, a good half hour drive out of their way, to lead us back through their home town and to Batu Mentas. We hopped on our motor bikes and headed out in the sweltering morning heat. An hour and a half later we were at the Batu Mentas eco-lodge which was a stretch by definition. They had a few animals in sad cages and an obstacle course that looks like a group a boy scouts might have built it, without their scout masters help. We however were not discouraged since we were there to inter tube some wild rapids! We then found out it was dry season and the river was low. I guess our wild day of rapids was just turned into a day on the lazy river, which actually turned out to be quite nice. Cool, fresh water in Indonesian heat and humidity is always a welcome treat. A couple hours of floating and we were spent. Ezekiel and Winda invited us to head back to town with them but we graciously declined. Dinner and bed were sounding like the end to a great day. We said our goodbyes, showered, napped, had dinner and called it an early night.

Jungle sounds our lullaby we drifted off to sleep…and then we heard voices in the forest.

Winda, her aunt and uncle and Ezekiel had returned bearing more gifts. They brought sweet potatoes and corn to be cooked over a bonfire, a handful of other snacks and speakers so we could play some music and party in the woods. As tired as we were there was no way to turn our surrogate hosts down and it ended up being another amazing night thanks to the selfless generosity of the girl who chased us down the beach.

In the morning we woke and made our way back to the boat. Thankful for having met Winda but ready to set sail to our next destination, Bangka.

Little did we know Indonesian hospitality was about to be elevated to a whole new level.

Setting up cairns so other tubers won't get lost

Ezekiel, Winda and I drifting. It was actually really cool even without rapids.

Alison and Rhiannon pausing for a pic in our safari tent.

Omar and Winda chatting over late night snacks.