I was sitting in front of the monitor and my fingers on the keyboard just staring at the word Quiet. It is so rare these days that people are enjoying the quiet, can people really afford the quite when living their everyday chaotic, fast paced lives?

My take on life is to have that moment of quite that you are in a completely new place, in a place where you have no idea about other people they have no idea who you are. It’s beautiful to start cultivating this habit. This is not a easy thing to do unless you actually want to do this.

My first experience. Even though I started travelling internationally way back in 2009, I have never believed in travelling solo and was used to travelling in groups or taking along someone local to take me around etc. But in the year 2016 I was on my business travel to Singapore and before coming back to India I wanted to take a short vacation, but I didn’t want do book something on a commercial website and a tourist attraction stuff but wanted to have a peaceful one and experience something on my own with zero knowledge about the place I’m going to. So, I called one of my friends in Malaysia to ask for a suggestion to such a place and he suggested this Island “Karimun” which is just a 3 Hr boat ride from Singapore but also not a highly commercialized tourist place yet!

So, I just pack a backpack with 2 pairs of clothes one phone (Which was useless other than for taking photos) and passport with my cards & cash thanks to having friends in Singapore I dropped all my luggage at my friend’s place and spent a night with his family. So next morning was the start of my first solo travel without any bookings, even my friend and his family were saying looks like you have a crazy idea without a plan but just a target of 3 days and 2 nights to spend in a completely off the crazy world. I had to go through some data about where to get onto a boat which is safe and where I have to buy the tickets etc. It started with a long walk to the MRT sat in one all the way to the harbour bought a two way ticket and just checked out of Singapore into this boat (not a big one though, can probably accommodate 80 people with luggage) which was hardly populated, I sat on the deck and just kept watching the amazing Indian ocean and the amazing views which came along with it. After 2 hours of amazing views, breeze of fresh wind I reach the port of entry to the Island of “Karimun”.

With a super excited spirit and face I just enter the Port But was not very sure as the actual place was absolutely deserted it had hardly 15 people including the port staff. I walked to the immigration officer and gave my passport after a couple of questions he asked me where I will be staying and I said I will find it after I get out and he said “It’s the holy month of Ramzan and most of the Island is empty and there is only one hotel which is a 3 star hotel and is open”.

My heart and my stomach sunk when I heard “there is no kitchen running in the whole Island or hotel till the evening as the whole Island follows Islam so being the month of Ramzan no one is actually eating food while everyone is fasting” Actually this whole conversation took almost 1 hour as the Immigration guy doesn’t understand English that much and only knows English words not the language though. First shock of solo travel lol! So, I go around looking for a taxi and meet “Boy” yes that was his name. All the English he knew was “Hotel”, “Money Change”, “Restaurant” to the Hotel, before going to the hotel I wanted to exchange the Singapore dollars to Indonesian Rupiah and I was in a shock, my 300 Singapore Dollars converted to I guess around some 30 million Rupiah…. I’m a king ha ha ha!

Imagine the whole way from the Port to the Hotel was around 3 miles and I didn’t see another human. It gave me a chill down the spine thinking where I landed. I reached the hotel and check into the hotel it has 2 guests only, I was like WoW! An agreement with Boy was reached that he will come and pick me up and, in the evening, and take me to a restaurant where I can eat some really good Seafood and it was a deal that he will join me for a early dinner. Can you imagine, this guy said he will be my ride for the whole trip and just went away without asking for any money he said when I’m going I can pay him nothing until then. I was coloured Impressed.

I check into my room and open the balcony door and I could see the OCEAN! it was amazing, it happens that this hotel had 4 floors and it’s the only building that is that high. The amount of Quite I felt at that very moment took me by surprise, just the OCEAN wind, a amazing view and absolutely no other human contact. I had a quick nap and my room phone rang at exactly 6pm and it was Boy he was here to take me to Dinner. So, I just jumped out of the Bed freshened up and was down in the lobby he takes me to this amazing restaurant which has big aquariums filled with fresh fish from the ocean and crabs. I had some amazing dinner experience it was so worth it after travelling for more than 2 hrs staying hungry for 4 more hours it ought to be this good. I paid 1 million Rupiah just as tip because I was so happy. As the island is closed throughout the day and the night lit up with so many people all around so what next? I have 2 more days and 1 more night to go on this Island. So, my good friend Boy! I asked him I wanted to do something fun and adventurous, but it must be very calm and soothing too. He says, “You come I take you” and I said, “We go”.

The night ride was a surprise by Boy! in a fishing boat. I don’t know why, but I did trust this guy with my Life! it was like he understood whatever I’m looking for. The night ride was amazing!!!! we were on this boat where the fishermen ride into the night to collect their fish etc.  We are taken to this island which was not very big but was just around a mile long just a small sand dune in the middle of nowhere, we ate some freshly caught fish from the ocean just barbecued without any flavouring just fish and fire, it was like nothing I have ever had ever, and it was absolutely refreshing. I was sitting there listening to them talk in their language and laughing and looking at me asking if I’m ok. I was more than ok I experienced something so quite which I could have never imagined. Ocean, Boats, Big huge ships, and nothing else no electronics, no FB, No photos, No modern amenities just me, myself and my soul. This helped me realize how much of Chaos we are living in and how much we need to relax and take some time out.

The rest of the travel went on smooth without much hassle, thank god. I guess it was one experience which I could never replicate, occasionally, I would love to do this. The next such trip I did was in SFO in Dec’17 and it’s a story for another day!

Until the next best experience,

K.C.