Waylaid

OMG.  I thought I was done posting for this trip, but whoa.

It is now officially rainy season in Indonesia and when we were in Kupang, the other divers' flight to Bali got severely delayed, but mine did not.  I was glad for that.

For my domestic flights, I had three: from Alor to Kupang, Kupang to Surabaya, then Surabaya to Jakarta.  That last flight was delayed by THREE HOURS.  Not for weather, for some mechanical/operational delay on Batik Air.  I wasn't stressed out at first.  I guess I thought there was a possibility my International flight might be delayed too.

But as it turns out, it was not.  In fact my Domestic flight landed after my International flight took off.  And I still had to claim my luggage.  So even if I had hustled and tried to find a different flight to make, I still would have to go get my luggage and find the counter, etc.

I paid for an airport escort to meet me at Jakarta, so I assumed that they would just figure this out for me.  Seriously, I was not stressed... I mean in my head the worst case scenario was that my trip is just extended a little.

Admittedly, I am a cheapskate on some things.  Getting an international phone plan is one of those things.  I only use WiFi, never cell service.  So as soon as I landed in Jakarta, I got on the WiFi and WhatsApp'ed the "escort service" (sounds so salacious).  

The escort service said that they were waiting for me at the original time and since I didn't appear, they no longer had anyone there.  But they helped me get to a local airport hotel (FM7) without having to hail a taxi myself or pull out Indonesian Rupiah from the ATM.  So there's that.

The Bellboy from FM7 started messaging me on WhatsApp and told me to meet him outside.  (Seriously, that is what the name on the ID in WhatsApp said "Bellboy").  So I went outside to look for him.  Nowhere to be found.  So I went to message him again... and Womp Womp.  No WiFi service.

I have AT&T and they have an International plan that kicks in for $12/day.  Since I didn't have to use it for the 3+ weeks I have been here, I decided this is the time to use it... so I turned it on and messaged Mr. Bellboy.

He finally found me and then had me wait while he went to find another guest.  No problem.

I started researching my return flight.  (I had decided not to try to trek to the physical ANA counter because there may not be anyone there anyway). I first went on the United App to see what my return change options were and the cheapest change option was over $4K.  I was NOT paying that.  Gah!  That was try #1.

I have almost one million lifetime frequent flier miles on United.  So I was sure that they would give me some consideration given the operational delay of the domestic flight on Batik Air.  

I spoke with an agent over the phone, old school style.  And she was nice and understanding... but she said that the least expensive option was to go tomorrow morning for a $4K difference in airfare.  WTF!?!  I calmly explained that it was not my fault the domestic airline had a delay and given my loyalty to United, was there anything they could do.  She said she could not because the actual flights were operated by ANA.  And the delayed domestic flight was on a completely separate unrelated ticket.  I get that.  However, I told her I could not pay that much, and said I was about to get on the hotel shuttle and hung up.  That was try #2.

Mr. Bellboy said the other guest was dealing with lost luggage, so he was going take me privately.  On the shuttle ride (since I now had cell service) I tried to research any other option on my United App.  But it wasn't letting me login - I guess since the signal wasn't strong enough.  Ugh.

I hadn't eaten a meal since breakfast and by now it was like 11pm.  All I wanted to do was check into the hotel and order 24 hour room service.  Then, I would figure out my return flight options.

Once I was in my room alone, I ordered a Cajun Chicken Sandwich that sounded delicious and a couple of Coke Zeros and I got on hotel WiFi to start researching.

Truly, a change to my original ticket was a $4K difference for economy class but only $2K difference for business class.  Huh.  Isn't that interesting?  This really is still just try #2, but researching it more myself online.

I looked at using my Frequent Flier miles... I mean, isn't this exactly what they are for?  I would rather blow a ton of miles than pay $4K, that is for sure.  I found a one-way ticket that was extremely convoluted (like flying Ethiopian Air thru random airports) that I could have gotten for 100,000 frequent flier miles.  I never booked this, but I really contemplated it because it is a whole lot easier to cancel/change/redeposit frequent flier miles than payment for flights.  Let's call this try #3.

I also found that if I stayed an extra night at the hotel and flew on 12/17, I could have a one way brand new ticket for about $1,500.  Well that's a LOT better than $4K, so I booked it, knowing I could still cancel within 24 hours if I found a better option.  This is try #4.

Now these tries are not necessarily all sequential because I was researching on my App, on the website and waiting for agents on the old school 1 800 number all at the same time.

Try #5: I called United 1 800 number again.  Because if there is one thing that I learned consulting in the airline industry all those years ago is that things change all the time and that if you don't like an answer from an agent, just hang up and call again.

This time I explained to the agent about the domestic delay, my lifetime FF miles and asked if there was anything he could do.  He was understanding and said that since this was an ANA operated flight, there was nothing he could do but he could transfer me to ANA and they might be able to grant me a one time exception and rebook me.  Well, that sounded positive.

Try #6: After being transferred to the nicest ANA agent who heard my story she said that since United "owned" the ticket, ANA couldn't do anything for me.  WTF?  I was just sent from United to ANA.  Talk about being sent into an infinite loop.  But she could help me find other options.  I said I was flexible on the return date and routing, but my ultimate goal was to get back to Chicago.  This woman told me that the cheapest she could do was $4K (and that United would have to handle the rebooking).  Gah!

I paused to eat my room service (that chicken sandwich was pathetic), and took a deep breath knowing that I at least had a $1.5K option on hold.

Try #7: I researched an exchange of my ticket again.  And if I scrolled down, all the way at the bottom I saw a weirdly routed option that would only cost me $232 dollars.  Wait, what!?!??!  That would be awesome actually.  I went ahead to try to book that, and it wouldn't let me.  Neither on the website nor on my iPhone App.  I got some red error message.  Ugh. Well, at least this is fodder of a possible routing to talk to a live agent about.  

Try #8: I called the 1 800 number one more time to talk to a live agent.  I was on hold for forever.  In fact, I was peeing when they finally picked up.  Their background noise was REALLY loud and I started to explain about the delay (and this possible $232 routing I couldn't seem to book online), and then I was so tired and clumsy that I broke a glass sitting on the nightstand.  Crap.

I took a deep breath and focused on the agent (filtering out her loud background noise) who was already several steps ahead me and was looking for return options.  She found one via Garuda to Tokyo departing late on 12/16 on and then Tokyo to Chicago arriving 12/17 @ 3pm.  And SCORE... at no cost to me.  What!?!?!?  OMG.  I was so excited, but I just kept calm with her and said yes, that would work.

She rebooked me at NO COST and I waited with bated breath for that confirmation email.  It came to my inbox and I was so relieved!!!

Once that happened, I used the 24 hour cancellation policy to cancel that $1.5K option... and then I slept like a baby.  It was almost 2am.

Three learnings out of this:

#1 - Maybe it is not a bad thing to build in an overnight layover between Domestic / International flights.

#2 - If I don't like the answer a live agent is telling me, just hang up and call again until I do get an answer I like.

#3 - In case of emergency, BREAK GLASS (like I did to my drinking glass in the hotel room).

OK after several hours sleep and a breakfast buffet, I am going back to sleep before this final trek home.

Sweet dreams.

Wrapping Up 2024

And today I fly.  I have three domestic flights, an escort to the International terminal in Jakarta and then two international flights.  Whoa.  It is going to be a LOT.  I hope all my connections go well.

I am a little excited to just sit still and read.  I made sure I have plenty of books on my Kindle and some Netflix shows downloaded.

Here are the stats for this trip:

218 Unique Species of Nudibranchs.  That is down from 233 in 2023 and 214 in 2022.  Disclaimer: I went fast and made some mistakes.  I posted many things to Facebook groups for ID help, but otherwise I was just working solo this year.

I am now keeping track of a Life List of Nudis so I can tell which ones are new for me in life.  For this trip to Alor, here are the 27 new ones:

Armina papillata

Bulla vernicosa

Carminodoris grandiflora

Coryphellina flamma 

Coryphellina sp.

Dermatobranchus sp. 16

Diaulula sp. 1

Doris pecten

Facelinid sp.

Facelinid sp. B463

Facelinidae sp. 27

Goniobranchus sp. 1

Jorunna sp. 7

Melibe digitata

Mexichromis sp. 2

Paradoris sp. 8

Phyllidia cf. exquisita

Phyllidia sp. 3

Phyllidiella cooraburrama

Phyllodesmium cf. opalescens

Phyllodesmium sp. 5

Samla macassarana

Tenellia minor

Tritonia sp. 9

Vellicolla sp.

Verconia simplex

Verconia sp.

Although, I swear I have seen some of these before (like Doris pecten), but maybe I figured out the ID after I compiled the list in previous years.

I did 76 Dives bringing me to a lifetime total of 2391.  I did 142 dives this year (not including any volunteer dives at Shedd).  That’s the most I’ve done since 2020.

Until next time!

Like a Pro

I am going to do two last dives this morning.  It will be well within the “No Fly” timeframe.  The only problem is that my wetsuit I use this morning may not dry in time.  Oh well.

The French couple left this morning, so now I am the oldest guest here.  That never happens.  In fact, I’m the oldest person here period.  Crazy.  On my slugfests, I am often one of the youngest ones.

We had two very good mucky dives.  I took down both my diopter and my snoot.  Like a real professional.  Whoa.  The diopter didn’t feel as heavy as the last time I was using it.  I am glad for that.

I even took pictures of things that were not nudibranchs!  Harlequin Shrimp, Mototi Octopus, Paddleflap Rhinopia.  Crazy to see all of that on one dive.  I even worked on capturing a Shawn the Sheep.  I am not all that happy with my results, but I tried!

I gave Nikko my sunglasses and my whale shark wetsuits.  I need to buy new ones.  I also left a few other things at the resort for them to use.  It is time to buy new stuff.

I slept a little bit in the afternoon.

Just before dinner, I gave my Nudis 101 presentation for those of us left at the resort.  Alex/Uri, Timo, Tuomas, MaryAm/Tony and Sam.

This was an excellent trip.  I plan on doing it all over again next year.  

Here are the counts for my last day:

215 - Tritonia sp. 10

216 - Verconia sp.

217 - Mexichromis multituberculata

218 - Stilliger ornatus

Leopardus

This is the last full day of diving.

I got the nicest email from Doug and Lorenza (who I met in Palau with Aggressor) this morning asking me to join them on a couple of trips they have coming up.  I may consider it, but their trips are usually in the summer when I like to be in Chicago.

We dove the Jetty again this morning and found a Goniobranchus leopardus. Yay!  It reminds me of the first time I was here in Alor.  We also saw at least three Nembrotha sp. 2’s mating.

Timo found a Pleurobranchus for me on the afternoon dive and I practiced my snooting some more.

The dive sites picked for us today had absolutely no current.  It was awesome to be able to have perfect neutral buoyancy and just search for stuff.

I think I am going to leave a lot of stuff here and donate it to the resort.  Like expired over-the-counter medicine and dive gear.  They could use it here and it is time for me to replace stuff.

Slug Slog:

206 - Phyllodesmium hyalinum

207 - Doto sp. 4

208 - Phyllidia sp. 1

209 - Goniobranchus leopardus

210 - Phyllidiella annulata

211 - Phyllidiella granulata

212 - Phyllidia elegans (variant with orange rhinophores)

213 - Pleurobranchus grandis

214 - Vellicolla sp.

Like Ice Cream

I feel like I really need to learn my aeolids.  I have been frustrated by them lately.  I used to call everything with a purple stripe down its back “Flabellina rubrolineata” but that name doesn’t even exist anymore and it has been exploded into many species.  I feel like I need my own little special lookup section that describes the differences in “Pam terms”.  Or maybe I just need to wait for NSSI 3rd Edition.

It is actually sunny this morning.  Woot!

Max and Lauren are leaving today and flying to Bali before heading to England.  I am just so in awe of them owning and running this place.  So cool.

I dove without my hood on the first two morning dives.  I practiced using my snoot.  It is a lot of work!

Once in a lifetime nudi on the night dive: Sagaminopteron ornatum.  So cool.  I took so many photos of it.  I told Nikko it was like ice cream!  We had to savor it and look at it from every angle.  So cool.

Oh, I looked it up and I have seen it before, but still.  It FEELS like a once in a lifetime nudi.

Snap, Crackle, Pop – here’s the list:

200 - Phyllidia willani

201 - Hypselodoris bullockii

202 - Goniobranchus kuniei

203 - Dermatobranchus tuberculatus

204 - Dermatobranchus sp. 16

205 - Sagaminopteron ornatum

Limits

OK, my dive computer is fully charged now, and so am I.  Let’s do this.  Oh man, it is raining again this morning, but not a downpour.

The first two dives were at Cathedral and then Apuri.  We found some interesting nudis and Nikko even pointed out the anemone I found previously and thought was a nudi.

When we came back, Max told us that the dugout canoe the guys use to get to/from the dive boats drifted away.  It went all the way to the pearl farm next door where the farmer found it and returned it in demand for a pack of cigarettes.  So funny.

I did such a long afternoon dive that I decided to just stay in my wetsuit.  Which means that I wore my custom Channel all day long.

I paid the price on my night dive though.  I came right up against my no decompression limit at a certain depth.  Darn.  I know Nikko was finding nudis deeper but I couldn’t go down there.

Everyone is in shock that I am consistently doing four dives a day.  Tony and Maryam did it today and they are completely exhausted.  Nobody else is doing this.  And seriously, I am not tired (or even thinking about being tired) until someone tells me I should be tired.

Slugging through it:

196 - Nembrotha kubaryana

197 - Trapania vitta

198 - Trapania miltabranchia

199 - Platydoris sanguinea

Rain and Caves

About 4am, the lights shut off in the dining room while I was working on my slugs.  I still worked on them though.  The show must go on!  (They fixed the light just before breakfast.)

I only have like four and a half more days of diving.  I need to find at least 13 more slugs to get to a respectable 200.  We will see.

I feel good.  Not tired.  Not sick.  Able to do all the dives.  It’s awesome.

It rained so hard in the morning that it delayed our dives.  In all the times I have been here, I don’t think that has ever happened.  It appears that rainy season has come early this year.

We found some really interesting nudis at Pool Party and then the caves.  It was really warm and just a couple of easy dives.  We even saw some shark eggs.

On my afternoon dive, I found the little strip that changes the size of the snoot light.  It was just laying there waiting for me.  I am glad to have found it.  I figured out how to shoot video (super awkward) but now I don’t know how to focus.  I saw a Siphonophore in the water column and tried to shoot it like I would in Blackwater.  I failed miserably.  I also used my snoot to take some pictures of a pregnant Pedersen Cleaner Shrimp.

The night dive was good, but I am jealous because the other dive team found a Miamira!

Here is my list:

189 - Phyllidia cf. elegans

190 - Tritoniopsis elegans

191 - Coryphellina flamma

192 - Doriprismatica sibogae

193 - Plocamopherus pecoso

194 - Baeolidia moebii

195 - Doto sp. (red doto)

Behavior

I accidentally took the resort’s nudi book back to my bungalow last night.  Whoops.  Speaking of which, as I was looking through my well used book, I noticed that there are little bugs/mosquitos dead within almost every page.  Ew.

As I read Sy Montgomery’s book Of Time and Turtles and reflect on Mary Roach’s books, I feel like I could write a Nudibranch themed one in that style.  I started organizing the chapters.  We will see if I’ve got it in me.

The two morning dives were great.  Lots of interesting nudis and even Jorunna rubescens mating.  I forgot that these guys have genital aperture that has the same pattern as their body.  

We also found a Myja longicornis.  What an awful name for such a pretty nudi.

In the afternoon dive, I found two different Jorunna funebris.  I also took my snoot down and reconfigured my arms to see if a third one would be better to have more of an overhead lighting.  I didn’t like it at all.  And it took me 20 minutes alone to do this exercise.  I also managed to lose the little strip that changes the size of the snoot light.  Darn it.

Six of the seven guests at the resort went on the night dive at Matap.  It was still really good but I wasn’t tripping over nudis this time.  I came across a Nembrotha milleri eating a lollipop tunicate.  Later I saw that there was actually a flatworm on it too.  OMG!  It was crazy and I even tried to switch to video.  I was able to get to the video mode but I couldn't get anything to record.  Oh man, I still don't know how to do video with this camera.  I have to work on that.  

Also, we saw a stargazer:

Slug-o-rama:

182 - Chromodoris cf. strigata

183 - Phyllidia sp. 3

184 - Phyllidiopsis phiphiensis

185 - Phyllidia cf. exquisita

186 - Myja longicornis

187 - Tritionopsis elegans

Snoot

We are going on an exploration dive today and if they like it, they said they will name it after me.  I've been work shopping some ideas.

Meh.  The first exploration dive was pretty boring.  The second one was definitely better.  I found a Noalda!  That was super cool.

The resort asked if I would mind doing an afternoon boat dive today so we could have dinner earlier.  Since we are doing Matap at night again tomorrow, I was fine with it.

So, I got out my snoot.  I wanted to get comfortable with everything else before I used it.  I also enlisted Nikko to help me.  Our first dive site had too much current, so we called the dive and moved to another.  At first, I didn’t really see an opportunity to snoot, so I just worked on searching for slugs.  Then at some point, I was ready and popped it on.  Then Nikko held the snoot for me, which was awesome.  I am so spoiled.

About a half hour after getting back, I jumped the house reef for a night dive to continue practicing my snooting.  I found a tiny red frogfish.  There was a lot of current, so I called it early.

Here is the slug parade:

175 - Facelinid sp. 5

176 - Atagema sp. 2

177 - Diversidoris crocea

178 - Noalda sp. 1

179 - Hypselodoris emma

180 - Marionia sp. 4

181 - Dermatobranchus sp. 11

Slug on a Slug

It’s not raining this morning.  Oh, nevermind.  Now it is sprinkling a little.

We did two muck dives in the morning.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself now that I have a regulator that is working properly.  First we did Ghost Town where we found a Slug on a Slug.  

Then, we went to the Pertamina jetty and found a tiger shrimp couple.

On the afternoon dive, I went to all three mooring cement blocks on my own!  I navigated all the way successfully.

I am finding nudibranchs that look like they are smiling.  It makes me laugh.

The evening dive was Matap.  I swear that is THE BEST dive site they have going.  Especially at night. OMG.  We got inked by squid, saw a cool frogfish and I was tripping over nudibranchs.  There were Marionias everywhere.  At the end, I saw two Moridilla brockii going at it.  I swear I was watching a boxing match!  It reminded me of how the flatworms do the penis fencing.

One of the other photographers forgot to take off his lens cap.  So he carried his camera for the whole dive but couldn’t take any pictures.  It has happened to all of us.  I told him that the good news is that the camera didn’t flood and he can try again another day.  I think we are going to attempt Matap at night again.  Woot!

At dinner, I shared with everyone the concept of the Weiner Circle in Chicago.  They didn’t really understand, so I had to show them the video of Conan O’Brien sending Jack McBraer there.  So funny.

Here are the slugs for today:

164 - Paradoris sp. 8

165 - Phyllidiopsis shireenae

166 - Thuridilla albopustulosa

167 - Thorunna australis

168 - Facelinid sp. b463

I thought maybe Facelinid sp. 5

From Marli: It's similar, but it appears to have white areas on the dorsum as opposed to being solid white. I think that it is this one: https://www.underwaterkwaj.com/nudi/bali/b463.htm

169 - Unidentia sp. 

170 - Caloria sp.

171 - Eubranchus mandapamensis

172 - Melibe digita

173 - Carminodoris grandiflora

174 - Rostanga sp. 4