I eventually wake and join Katja on the balcony. We plan the day and start reading up on different material. Training, nutrition, Windows 10 and what we need to buy when we get home after we sold a lot of stuff before we left on this trip.

We blog and look at the plans for the rest of 2015 and 2016. No rest for the wicked.

We pack a bag and move over to the pool. It’s been deep cleaned and looks a lot better than when we arrived. The beds are surrounded by ants, but nothing a garden hose and little water can’t fix. The hotel looks great from here by the pool side. A little waterfall splashes water into the pool, and we’re the only ones here. We look over at the restaurant, but the waterfall takes away all the noise of people talking over there.

We eat lunch at the hotel and find that the guy who told us it was expensive and not so good was exaggerating. It was absolutely OK, and not overly pricey, though not cheap. The service on the other hand was way under par. The waiter didn’t speak any English, brought out three dishes when we had ordered two, and came with a bill for all three. Lots of pointing and hand gestures to correct that. We got out in the sun and walked away. Then another lady comes running and say:” Solly solly, no room, must pay cash.” Ok, mental note to self: not eat there if it can be avoided.

We relaxed a little before we went outside to a little deserted terrace and did a little workout. Twelve exercises with 45 seconds work and 15 seconds rest in between, three rounds. We used little equipment, but brought out “Joe’s gym” (rubber bands) that we have from Mandirigma camp. A few exercises he taught us, and a few we came up with on our own.

Beat up and sweaty like a marathon runner we showered, changed and got on the bike.

We drove in to the chicken place to get dinner and take away pork for tomorrow’s hike. We’re officially invited to the exploration hike tomorrow and are once again getting up before the sun and driving in to meet a group of strangers and walk into the jungle with them.

We secured one more night in the hotel we’re moving into on Friday while we were in town. That gives us a chance to do hiking next Sunday and go on a motorcycle tour Monday to Wednesday the week after.

It grew darker when we started on the way back. The evening is short here before it turns into night and utter darkness. We get home safely and turn in after having a little fruit. Oh, it’s a hard life.

― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass