We were in Bali, and one morning we decided to head north to Lovina – a quiet coastal town known for its early dolphin sightings.

It meant waking up before dawn, around 4am, to catch a ride from our hotel all the way to the north. The plan was to arrive in time for sunrise and hopefully spot dolphins dancing in the water.

That said, the journey wasn’t easy. I always get car sick, especially when I haven’t eaten and it’s still dark outside. I couldn’t see a thing, and the winding roads made it worse. To top it off, my partner kept chatting away with the taxi driver. I know he’s naturally polite and sociable, but every word felt like it added to my nausea. I asked him to stop talking, but he kept going. Eventually, I had to ask the driver to pull over so I could throw up on the side of the road. Not quite the magical start I had imagined.

When we finally reached Lovina and stepped into the little boat, the sun was just beginning to rise. We saw a few dolphins gliding near the surface, and even with everything that had happened, it felt worth it.

Later, my partner told me the real reason he hadn’t stopped talking in the car. Apparently, the driver was nodding off and keeping him awake was essential. I couldn’t help but laugh. It made sense. That morning became very special, not just for the dolphins, but for everything else that came with them.