Railey Beach: Cave climbs, street fights and sea plankton.

There’s something incredible peaceful about being out at sea. Tunes in, book out, sat on top deck veiwing the world at an angle that many can’t. Its cool.

Arriving at Railey Beach, I head to the hostel, unbeknown to me, its the sister hostel of the party hostel I was previously at. So hungover Emma got back on the horse, this time, to perform poorly in the pub quiz. The night ended in a failed attempt to see sea plankton in the dark, but it was a cool walk either way.

With my social battery wearing the thin, and a multiple day hangover kicking in big style I took the next day to do my washing, rest my brain and go and have dinner at a local Indian (successfully finding a lady finger curry as fine as the one I had in Bali!). Something I have decided on this trip, is that sober nights out are incredibly important, not just so the next day isn’t completely ruined but too also form real relationships with people, rather than drunken words. So heading to the party, it’s time for another sober night. Which leads to me being one of the last 20 standing, a cool guy met and a buddy to go climb caves tomorrow!

Up somewhat bright and early, we head to the first stop. The lagoon and viewpoint, it’s the most dangerous hike on the island and involves mostly rock climbing, bouldering and praying to god (especially at the vertical points). We make it to the viewpoint and then down 3 out of the 4 abseils to the lagoon, however collectively, along with some French guys, we decide the last is too dangerous and probably not worth risking our lives even more. Then to bat Cave, with a tip off from a local to look deep into the Cave once inside to find a ladder and then scale up into the Cave where you reach another viewpoint, which is usually missed. A climb much easier but much darker than the previous. Overall, it was an incredible morning and definitely makes me think I’ve got more of an ability to free climb than originally expected…

Back to the Indian for dinner as I am simply in love with the vegetarian curries in Asia and wish to force these upon my room mate. However our meal was sadly interrupted by the locals having a fight with some drunken foreigners, with wooden planks and chairs being thrown over their heads. The inner nurse in me was not happy. The situation eventually desculated and thankfully I saw the boys getting medical attention at the local hospital… Never a dull moment! With an early boat ride in the morning I dodge the pub crawl and head to the beach to sea if the sea plankton are around, and they are! Very very cool to see, kinda what I’d imagine electric to look like if you could see it move.