End of Palau story
Luggage dropped in the hotel room, and i was ready to leave the hotel for short walk to Sam’s to see Dermot and Andy and agree on the future steps before I will come back. On the way stopped at the usual King’s store for hot lunch and the girl at till, welcomed with ‘you back’. One portion of pork and rice later, walking to Sam’s I realized that the neat on the land is like in the oven. Scorching dry heat surprised me after week of sea breeze on the boat. Well not only surprise on that day.
After the arriving at Sam’s, Andy was nowhere to be seen, smoking area was not occupied by him. Went to shop talk to Marcus as I wish to exchange the mask I purchased before trip as the red glass is not for me. Marcus said yes this can be done and I took a new one with clear glass. As we were doing this Marcus mentioned that someone was looking for me at the shop while I was on the boat. I was like surprised, since I did not expect anyone to be there. He mentioned by the phone and now I new what he was talking as my best friend Frank rang around the Island dive shops, because I have not answered his messages. Well hard to answer them if there is no mobile reception. It is nice to know that at least someone cares about me and try to check up on me in case I will not answer.
Sitting in the bar sipping tea I was waiting for Andy to appear from his office, so we can have chat. When he eventually went for his “fresh air” break he was different. Cold and distant, not the same jovial, friendly person I knew week before. More like nervous, stressed upon seeing me, his face looked like he saw troubles ahead and did not know how to deal with it. Friendliness was replaced by nervousness and unease, what is the sign of difficulty.
Long story short, I suppose to meet Dermot as he wants to meet me in person apparently to make final call on my possible employment. However the Andy’s body language send clear message, no deal pal. So I hang around for a while and eventually after some mumbling Andy mentioned that Dermot feels like ‘they could not fulfill my expectations’ in direct words. Strange change in behavior and hardly understandable from my side, so emotions of anger and disappointment surfaced and played with me.
One morning after meditation I suddenly realized that everything is as it supposed to be and this not the place I should settle. Peace entered my heart, mind and I was calm as the sea on the sunny beautiful day, can be. Smiled I went to get my last food at the King’s store say good bye to the girl at till and walked to downtown for one more massage before flight out. As Meno promised he called me while I was eating my lunch and picked me up for the drive to property office. After we exchanged the emails with property office, we drove to his restaurant for one beer and chat. Then I said that I will go to Sam’s one last time to see if Dermot is there to meet me. Nope as I thought. Well seen Andy and said my good bye I went to the hotel to wait for pick up bus.
Checked in on my way to the only restaurant as I thought that might be handy to get some food as it is night flight and better with full belly. Sat down at bar next to Japanese lady, who also dived at Palau we talked as much as we could sine my Japanese is shit and her English was just a bit better. Had food, coconut water, chit chat, showed some photos and kept amazed that she has four kids and husband but travels and dives alone. Well since the restaurant was hot and I mean hot that the sweat run down my ass crack like Niagara I decided to leave and go to gate. Airport security leisurely chewing the bat ‘I think that how is written’ all teeth red when smile showed me that there is not need to pull out laptop or liquids. Entered the gate and as I decided to go change to my travel attire of long trousers, long sleeves I bumped into M&M. So we sat down and get beer as we waited for our flight. As the time of boarding approached, the voice in loudspeakers announce delay that plane experience technical difficulties. Woo Haa that is the last you want to hear while waiting at gate but another beer smoothed the nerves and we cracked jokes. Jokes become a bit more sarcastic as we saw the plane move from one gate to another and then forklift with pilot on it disappearing into the ass of the plane like obstetrician behind the green apron.
Few more beers and the three of us were in the best mood from all the passengers, cracking jokes about duct tape is needed to fix the issue. Since Matt was working in Boeing factory the jokes become more technically advanced and more sarcastic.
I can tell that the last thing you want to see while waiting on boarding plane is forklift with pilot in his white short sleeve shirt disappearing into plane through service hatch, repeatedly for four hours. However after the sixth time the ground staff announced twenty minute delay we were told that we can board the plane. Well that is the time relativity in nutshell as six time twenty is not one hour and twenty minutes but it equals to five hours. Maybe we were in some sort of time black hole where the time was stretched or maybe twenty minutes in Palau time are measured differently.
Anyhow all aboard and the duct tape jokes aside we were ready to take off and I realized that instead of landing in Taipei around midnight it was 5am in the morning. For me does not really matter as I have few days to chill in Taipei but M&M need to catch connection flight.
Got into Homey Hostel around 5:30 and crashed to bed immediately for four hours sleep as I could not sleep longer. Woke up and went to walk around Taipei to see something else I have not seen yet. River side park was nice walk as it was street where the locals went shopping for Chinese New Year celebrations. Food, food, sweets and toys, were most things sold on this street. Thank God for my height as I could see all without need to come close to stalls.
Overall the Taipei did not disappointed as I finally met with pal of mine Leslie who lives in Taipei and we spend some time together, chatting and eating some Michelin start noodles in the side street near the Taipei Main train station. Thank to him I have new fantastic diving mask, sleeveless vest and torch as my money had not arrived to my account. However as soon as he paid and we got to the city center the money arrived to my account 😊. Great to catch up with fiends and if I texted Ian earlier I could meet him and Regina in Bangkok on their honeymoon for a drink. Well Leslie need to get to his physio so we parted and time came for me to get into hotel glass cube with one can of Pilsner and then bed time.
Last day in Taipei, laundry and hand, homemade cinnamon roll with coffee at twin’s brother café is perfect finish of the Taipei visit. Lets hit the road towards the airport and move to surprise visit of friends at Koh Tao.
