This weekend was a lot. And I'm used to a lot. You know that. My nights are long, I like a good pounding, whether it comes from the beats or the men, and I do enjoy spending some time in between. With a drink, for instance. Or a woman. So I'm not someone who gets exhausted easily. Quite the opposite, actually. I've developed a capacity to keep going long after smart people have gone home, gone to bed or been taken away by someone in a uniform.
But after Friday's celebration, everything else has felt a little like coming down from a high while still levitating.
It's a strange sensation. You're exhausted, but somehow still floating. Your body wants to rest, your mind refuses to stop, and every time you close your eyes, you hear LIO playing another track. I was beginning to think I needed a vacation. Just a short one, don’t worry. I wouldn't want to deprive you of me for too long.
So Sunday morning, when my new third assistant, Natasja, brought me an espresso, I was sitting in bed reading the papers.
Yes, friends, I do read the news. I try to stay informed about current affairs in the world. It's important to know what's going on beyond the clubs, parties and bedrooms I usually report from. Although, some of the things happening in those bedrooms would make excellent headlines.
Anyway, I came across an article by Inara about Pulau Lintea.
I'd heard from Vally that she was remodeling her place, but I hadn't really understood the scale of what she was doing until I read about it. It sounded extraordinary. Beautiful, peaceful, thoughtfully created, and exactly what I needed. A retreat. Somewhere to get away from everything, recharge my batteries and perhaps without anyone asking me to dance, pose for a photograph or take my clothes off. I wouldn't want to make any promises about that last one, but still.
I asked Tamsyn to check my invitations. I vaguely remembered Vally sending me something about an opening, and sure enough, there it was. Tonight. Perfect timing.
So the team scrambled the jet, and I sent Natasja shopping for something suitable to wear. An Indonesian dress, I told her. Something beautiful, elegant and appropriate for the occasion. Now, I can already hear some of you. "But Doreen, isn't that cultural appropriation?"
Darlings, please. There is no such thing as cultural appropriation when you're the one defining what culture is. Stop worrying.
As we flew towards the island, I found myself thinking about Vally's previous place, Sojourn. I liked Sojourn. It had something wild about it, all that jungle, the lush vegetation, the feeling that nature might reclaim everything the moment you turned your back. It appealed to my more animalistic side and, as some of you know, doesn't need much encouragement.
I always suspected there must have been parrots somewhere in that jungle. At one point, I even considered taking one home. I'm rather glad I didn't.
You see, parrots repeat everything they hear, and the last thing I need is another creature in my house constantly announcing how gorgeous it is. One of me is quite sufficient. Besides, I can only imagine what the poor bird might have picked up from the conversations in my bedroom.
The airstrip at Pulau Lintea turned out to be exceptionally small. Fortunately, I knew my pilot to be very experienced at manoeuvring in tight spaces, so I wasn't particularly concerned. I finished my drink, checked that my dress was sitting exactly where it should, and moments later stepped out into the most extraordinary surroundings.
And I mean that.
Pulau Lintea is beautiful.
Not just pretty, not just another tropical island with a few palm trees and some attractive places to take photographs. The landscape, the atmosphere, the attention to detail. Everything invites you to take a moment and breathe, look around and simply enjoy being there. I felt myself relaxing in ways I hadn't realised I was capable of. Quite an achievement.
The opening celebration was taking place down at the beach, where Vally had gathered a lovely group of people to welcome everyone to her new creation. I assume there's still some work to be done, because we all seemed to have to stand in the water. So much for my beautiful new dress.
As you're reading this, I'm sitting up in my cabin, enjoying a matcha and looking out over the ocean. No pounding beats. No frantic schedule. No one asking where I'm going next. Just the sea, beautiful surroundings and the strange pleasure of doing absolutely nothing.
There's an elephant here, by the way.
He seems friendly and unlike a parrot, he won't spend the rest of his life repeating everything I say.
I'm considering taking him home.
I'll ask Tamsyn to look into the luggage allowance.
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This post is not sponsored or paid for in any way. I was also not blackmailed or tortured to write it.
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