gone. You were wicked!” She props her head up on her bent arm and grins at me “I’ve missed the real you Rosie, I haven’t seen you let loose in years. It was great.”
I’m embarrassed, not because of last night, but I feel so guilty for allowing Michael to rule me the way that he did. I’m lucky that Pippa is so oblivious to everyone around her. She never noticed that he didn’t want her around. Either that or she just didn’t care...I suspect it may actually be the latter.
“Come on Pip. I need food.”
We’re going out today so we’re up earlier than I’d like after the night we had last night, but I’m excited for the trip. We’ve booked to go on a four islands tour. First stop is Pranang beach then on to Tup Island, Chicken Island for some snorkelling and then Poda Island, with lunch provided somewhere in between. Of course, until a few days ago, I’d never heard of any of these places, but as we’re welcomed onto the speedboat by our guide I can’t keep the smile from my face.
In the days since the club sandwich I have tried to be more open to Thai food. I have had spring rolls and chicken fried rice in the hotel, green curry and even tried barbecued squid last night from a street food cart and surprisingly I really liked it. I’ve liked it all.
The lunch provided on Poda Island is fried rice in a polystyrene box, with chicken and prawns mixed in and a small bag of what looks like chilli and garlic in some sort of oil. It’s delicious and I find that the more I let go and give in to the experiences of Thailand, the more senses awaken within me. I feel happy and alive and to be honest, I never want to leave.
Pippa and I climb up on the front of the speed boat on the way back to Ao Nang. It’s exhilarating having the warm air rush past us while we zoom across the calm sea, passing the painted on rocks close up while flying fish shoot across the water on both sides of the boat. Pippa of course has been talking to a guy on the boat, a Canadian. He told her about a ‘great’ karaoke bar in town. Karaoke and great are not two words that I would normally put together, add Pippa to that mix and it’s a recipe for disaster, but once she has made her mind up about something, it’s very hard to change it.
“Ooh Rosie, I love karaoke, can’t beat a good sing song!”
“Carvalho, you know you’re tone deaf right?”
“Yes, we can’t all be perfect, but after a few cocktails who cares?” She shrugs her shoulders and smiles.
I wish I could be that carefree. My mind flashes back to the previous evening and I giggle, I can be that free, I used to be like that.
“You know what you’re right, karaoke it is!”
Back at the hotel Pippa gets into the shower and singing starts, what have I let myself in for? I put my iPod on to drown out the cats dying in the bathroom.
What to wear tonight? I decide on a short fitted dress with a black and white Aztec print all over it. I wouldn’t normally have chosen something so bold but Pippa convinced me to buy it and I actually think it looks pretty good. It’s far too hot for hair dryers and straighteners so I brush my wet hair to smooth it down and then twist it into a bun on the top of my head.
“Wow! Rosie you’re rocking that look honey!” Pippa is standing in a towel, visibly impressed that I put ‘ a look’ together “What shall I wear? I need to match your hotness.”
“Not possible Pip, I wouldn’t bother!” I say with a straight face as he smacks my behind and pushes me out of the way of the wardrobe.
A bit of mascara, blusher and Vaseline and I’m ready to go. Pippa is wearing a black strapless fitted dress and heels, her signature poker straight black hair, eyeliner and red lips...she always looks sensational.
“Wait... photo!” She holds the camera at arm’s length and snaps a quick shot of us. Some of the photos she’s taken of the scenery are amazing, and she always manages to catch my good side in the ones of us. It