The Journeys ... The Current Trip

I know what you are thinking: "Here we go again....now he will be bragging about how they toughened it out over long distances, though the topical heat and dozens of mountains."

That would be 'good pain', 'satisfying pain'. No, this time it's actually about a real problem - I came down with a rather nasty bout of self-diagnosed Malaria.

Many of you know, that I don't get sick that often. During the past four weeks, I had come down with what seemed like the flu several times. As it seldom involved fever, I didn't pay too much attention. Until we reached Kolaka, in the South Eastern province of Sulawesi. First I thought: "What, the flu again?" Then the fever started rising. And rising. And rising. The fever and the cycling reoccurance of flu symptoms pointed to Malaria. So did the headache, fatigue and diarrhea. At 39.5 degrees Celsius we knew it was time to make a decision: either head to the hospital here in Kolaka or make the call myself and start taking the Malarone that we have brought from Perth. I just didn't fancy facing needles in a provincial hospital in remote Indonesia. So I started taking the emergency anti malaria treatment.
The fever dropped by a degree after an hour and after the second pill, the fever disappeared. I reckon, the self-diagnosis was fairly accurate.

By now I have completed the treatment and all symptoms have subsided. I do feel pretty weakened though, I have to admit. I might have to regain some strength before continuing on. We also need the heads up for our visa extension before going even further away from Makassar.

I guess, I will have to watch out better for mosquitoes from now on. I have tried up till now as well. We always sleep under our own mosquito net as well. But, mosquitoes just love me and when the sun goes down I am being attack almost immediately and before anybody else, so, it is sort of difficult to avoid all bites. Let's hope for some better luck from now on in...

I hope your past few days have been more enjoyable.

a.