About halfway through our flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, it hit me. I started to get cold sweats; Nicole got me an apple juice to help prevent fainting. I eventually made a quick trip to the bathroom then settled in for landing — except that our pilot said we’d be in a holding pattern for a while. After landing, we taxied for what seemed to be an eternity, eventually coming to a stop. People unbuckled and grabbed their bags while the flight attendants informed us we were waiting for a ground crew to open the door. 10 minutes later, they informed us that we had to be towed to a different gate…which is quite an undertaking once people have started to squish themselves into the aisle to disembark. After another 20 minutes of taxiing (and deteriorating medical condition) we arrived at the real parking spot, walked down the staircase, and set out on a 1km hike to the terminal. Once inside, I made friends with the closest bathroom, hoping to get better before our flight to Perth. Feeling rather bullish at one point, we ventured into the bathroomless pre-screened area to prepare for boarding. Nevermind…bad idea.

Nicole amazingly arranged for our checked luggage to meet us at the baggage claim. Luckily Americans don’t need a separate visa to go through customs, so we hopped from one bathroom to another through the airport to the on-site medical clinic where I checked in for some IV fluids and medicine while Nicole figured out the logistics of a hotel and flight changes. The on-site hotel was not one we would recommend, but it gave me enough rest for us to continue on to Perth the next day (29 hours later than expected).

I’d like to take this time to thank Nicole for sticking with me in sickness and in health on our honeymoon I apologize for this habit of touring the medical facilities of developing countries.

Once in Perth, I enjoyed the bed in the hotel room the entire next day. I spent time trying to figure out the rules of the rugby and cricket games on TV — negatory. Nicole went on a self-guided walking tour of the city…the weather was beautiful, so she says. A long wander along the Swan River, past the Bell Tower containing bells originally housed in St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and through the hilly King’s Park produced these amazing pictures.