It takes the taxi three and a half hours to get to Ende. While waiting for it to arrive a waitress at the beach bar tells me to suck the poison out. Ever tried sucking your knee? The support from the rally fleet is wonderful but never before has Wild Fox been in the hands of another. But I have no choice; when the medics look frightened it is time to go. My flight out is delayed 36 hours. There is no helicopter. I wait in a small hotel in Ende.

Arriving (Wednesday) in Bali, Dewi, ( our agent's wife) meets me and takes me to the international hospital. I am under treatment in 20 minutes. The nurse is skillful. The doctor does not care about the cause. "What we have here is a two and a half centimetere infected wound. It does not need an IV drip. We can get it with IV antibiotic injections over three to five days. If no improvement in five days we will change the antibiotic and start again". Now I feel more confident about keeping my leg. Later feedback from sailing friends who are medics tells me that the treatment is severe. I don't care; I want to keep my leg!

Dewi refuses to leave until all is done and then books me into an hotel across the road. "Cannot get one this side, all fully booked". I am soon to learn the significance of her remark.

 

The hotel is fine with a very good buffet breakfast. I start with fresh fruit and natural yougart, small omlette, then fried rice, fried noodles and chicken or beef and finish with two or three croissants and coffee. Well, with no beer I am still losing weight.

The contrast in wealth here, compared to the islands to the east is staggering. On the islands a trainee teacher earns Rupiah 300,000 a month. The price of a Happy Meal at McDonalds in Bali!

At 1800 each evening I cross the road, and, if I survive, make my way to the hospital; new dressing, next injection. On Friday they tell me I may travel on Sunday. But they have not told the airlines that.

 

Still it is nice to wake up and look at a left leg that is now the same size as the right leg. Albeit a different colour...