Day 14 - What the buggering tits?

16:00
I sleep terribly. Feel like I am awake much of the night, and at 05:00, I give up on the idea of more sleep, and get up, in the hope that I won’t disturb Vicki. There’s neither rhyme nor reason for it. I’m as relaxed as imaginably possible. I’ve thought in the past that I have some kind of genetic marker for insomnia, and that my body just sometimes behaves like a dickhead, and keeps me awake for no earthly reason.

Vicki sleeps till 09:00, because she’s a legend. She, Si and Shend head out for breakfast a little later, and I head back to bed. Despite the two strong cups of coffee I’ve had, I manage to get to sleep for 90 minutes, and wake feeling much better…

Simon’s off out on a moped today. I’d planned to join him, but am taking it easy instead. Shenda tracks him on ‘Find my Friends’ and we’re a little alarmed when it appears he’s hurtling down the highway a few miles from here.

Shenda and Vicki report back on another wonderful breakfast at Chandi Gaya, and that Mrs Chandi was asking after me, concerned by my absence.

Around 13:00, I ease into a couple of glasses of wine and some fried rice, and it’s enough to send me back to bed for a further 90 minutes of delicious sleep.

22:30
My day has been as nothing - and yet, it has been remarkable. We’ve had spots of rain all afternoon, and before heading out for dinner, I sit out on the deck with a glass of wine, being gently rained on. It’s a wonderful sensation.

We’ve been keen to try Mrs Chandi’s non-breakfast food, so pad back down to our regular haunt. I’ve a feeling her rice and curry is going to be a thing of great, great beauty. Simon, Shenda and I all order the rice and curry - mine with the addition of a fish curry for the princely sum of 50p. Vicki is after a wodge of protein, so orders the grilled fish.

The food is sensational. Enough to feed a small army, but sensational. There are 4 veg curries - a dhal, a potato based concoction, a squash curry, and something that we initially think is green beans, but which I *think* might be some kind of gourd or eggplant. They’re all tremendous. I tell Mrs Chandi that I’d dearly love to write down her dhal recipe, and she asks if I will pay for it. I’m not 100% sure whether she’s joking. We somewhat unnecessarily order a kottu as a side dish. It’s delicious. Vicki’s fish is banging. Seer fish I think, as it’s very meaty, but too pale for tuna. Susie (our new cat) benefits from some fish based action. We don’t quite manage to master the mountain of food, but we get pretty damn close. Our bill for this feast? Less than £5 per head. Just incredible value. Mrs Chandi is a hero - she cooks amazing food, fresh to order, and in a tiny kitchen. LEGEND.

Back at Shehani Beach, the bar has been restocked with tonic, so S, S and I have a last G+T to pass the time.Läs mer