Secluded, Not Deluded
22 December 2016 | Pulau Aiduma, Triton Bay
Triton Bay Divers
Wednesday 21 December 2016
Despite trepidations for the contrary, this ragtag operation arrived safely off wee Triton Bay Divers at 1030 yesterday morning. Its location, backed into step hills, at the head of a small protected bay with 4 separate sandy beach coves guarded by 2 mushroom shaped islands on NE Aiduma Island is idyllic. Only way in to stay at one of the 6 small bungalows is by puddle jumper to Kaimana (good luck finding it in far west Irian Jaya), then a 30 mile boat ride. Their motto is "Remote.. and Worth it". Marginal phone and internet are provided by satellite. Jimmie, Canadian and an owner, is delightful and we kept him from his duties for about 3 hours in the afternoon drinking coffee, talking and craftily avoiding boat projects. He invited us as his guests for dinner last night, a dive today and Christmas Eve festivities. After days of inclemency, weather has remained beautiful. Our circumstances, always enjoyed if only as great stories in retrospect, is staging a recovery.
Dinner and the company were excellent. Jimmy was scandalized that anybody (that would be me) is somewhat skeptical of the doomsday scenarios and drastic actions necessary that global warming experts are demanding we believe. You're no doubt appalled as well. I'm such a reprobate that I don't even help that famous bar and restaurant save the planet. Well, they're expensive and the food sucks. As a consequence, I will probably be forced to spend eternity in the Hard Rock Cafe, Hell.
Thursday
Until the aforementioned eventuality we are luxuriating in the peace and quiet of a slower pace and yet, boat work is getting done, after a fashion. Jimmie came for dinner aboard tonight and Jan outdid herself with beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, grilled zuchini and, for dessert, banana fritters with real Canadian maple syrup (almost as good as Vermont.. Jan loves it when I say that). He doesn't drink so there was more for us. Ha, ha, haaa. Life is good.
Jack