Birthday Flip

Sok San Beach, Koh Rong, Cambodia -- January 3-4 -- Day 5-6

One of the most important days of the month occurred yesterday, Louis’ eleventh birthday. We had hoped to visit a small floating obstacle course or “water park” we saw next to the main tourist beach a week or so ago. Unfortunately, due to high waves, the park was closed. It was a disappointment for us all and the kids in particular.

As a result, we had to make due with yet another day relaxing at the nearby restaurant conveniently sitting just off the beach on a long wooden pier -- relax, drink, jump, swim, eat, repeat. Life is tough!

Happy Birthday, Louis!

Because Louis was king for the day, he declared a special school session yesterday morning where we would teach each other English and French. The French class was necessarily remedial while the English class advanced. The Hoornaert's can now say that we are well, tell someone our names, where we are from, and what our ages are. The next time someone asks my name in French, I expect to confidently reply, “I am 51 years old!”

Which brings me to the actual most important day of the month, today, my birthday!! To make up for yesterday's disappointment, I decided that we should once again pursue the water park. Rough waves on the other side of the island again threatened to foil the plan, but at 10:45, the man renting us the boat, told us the park was indeed open. Yippee. After the usual aimless milling about waiting to be told what to do, we boarded our “private” boat, the same one we’d used the other day, and were off.

Restaurant owner and boat rental agent

Surprise, surprise, after the hour ride chugging around to the south side of the island, we found the water park… completely and utterly deserted. That was a bummer, but all was not lost. We had also read about another attraction, a big inflated air cushion floating next to a tall wooden platform at the other end of town. It was essentially a catapult and our last hope to add some birthday fun to the day.

Boy, howdy!  The first time we saw someone slammed into the air like a cork, we couldn't believe. It was totally awesome (or terrifying) depending on your point of view. A few of us were mostly in the first camp (Etienne, Louis, Arno, Kylie and me), and the rest in a the latter (Anne, Mathilde, Meg and Dex). The foolhardy, quickly signed on the bottom line and waited for our turns.  

Two French men seemed to run the operation  There wasn't much to it really. Someone waiting around was handed an oversized black life vest, then the older man, smelling strongly of beer, decided how many people should jump from what height to lunch the victim… er, participant. Etienne bravely volunteered to go first while I was recruited to jump with Thibault, the younger Frenchman, from the 7m (23ft) high platform.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), Thibault gave us little time to reconsider. Etienne scrambled along the giant, partially inflated airbag, while the guide explained where he and I were to land, together and on our backs. One, two, three, jump. Etienne did a spectacular double backflip before splash down. It was really pretty cool though he later counseled me to keep my head firmly back on the rubberized surface before takeoff.  Arno, who was next, did a sprawling single flip landing nicely feet first. Then, it was my turn.

Etienne with good form

Arno demonstrating his technique.

In hindsight, it's clear that the take off, though lightning fast, is relatively hard to mess up; the flight is painless if not terrifying; but the landing is crucial and sadly unpredictable. I suspect a dozen attempts would have taught us all a thing or two, but the first attempt was pure experimentation and luck.

At twenty-five feet or so, I was elated to feel my legs rotate over my head and start aiming down towards the surface. Perfect, I thought… almost. My landing would have been less painful had I kept my arms at my side and not over rotated. Nothing a couple Advil won't take care of.

Perfect...almost

Unfortunately, poor Kylie Rose’s landing was even worse as she struck the surface mostly front first. After a blank stare for a second or two she cried out “I can't breathe, I can't breathe!”  Poor thing was scared half to death, but thankfully was unharmed. Etienne, Meg and I all helped her back to the dock where she was showered with hugs and kisses.

Kylie, mid flight...

...heading down, face first

Having defied death and convinced the others not to give it a go, we settled our nerves with ice cream before heading back home on the boat. It was not exactly what we had planned but certainly got the Adrenalin flowing.

In honor of our final night together, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the nicest spot on the beach, the Sok San Resort -- real silverware, tablecloths and napkins. We all agreed the last two weeks of slow carefree days have gone by in a flash, filled with too many fond memories to count. The Hoornaert's for sure, will have some adjusting to do as tomorrow we throw ourselves back into travel mode… on our own again.