| Monday, April 23, 2007 |
| Don't Go Chasing |
Waterfall(s) - My worst hangover ever. I don't drink much except beer - ocassionally wine when there's a party at home, gin mixes and other drinks I don't know the name of when provoked and I'm in the mood to be provoked.
Last April 2, when I was in Singapore helping organize a conference, my co-workers and I had a drink at the hotel bar, to unwind, celebrate in advance the conference the following day, and basically, I don't know what else. I didn't want to go anymore because it was late - we got there at about 11.30 pm - I was really tired and didn't have sleep yet from the night before. At first they agreed to postpone the drinking session to end of the conference. But as they dropped off some stuff at my room, they changed their minds again, and weakling that I am, I said I'll go.
So we had one drink each - mine some blue vodka stuff which already had me drowsy halfway through. When we were about to leave, one of the waiters and the bar manager came up to us to offer the 'free' drink of the day - the waterfall - which they give to one very special customer every night. Since the place was empty except for a few visitors here and there, we were the default prize winner. They motioned for us to go up to the bar where a long funnel-like glass lay face down atop a martini glass filled with some stuff I don't know again. Another martini glass with that unknown substance and a shot of baileys sat beside it. I thought that drink was for one of my co-workers, until they started to egg me about taking the drink. The bartender explained, you were supposed to drink from a straw from the glass with the funnel while they pour the rest of the concoction in and light up the funnel with blue flame.
So I did. I closed my eyes and just sucked until I couldn’t hold my breath anymore. The drink was all sweet and bitter and warm all at the same time. At one point I think I sucked in some of the flames - if that were at all possible - because I started to feel hot air down my throat and had to cough it out. When I opened my eyes, my straw was twisted and crinkled and they gave me another one to continue what I had started. When I had finished it all, I could still feel my throat burning. But my pupils were dilated and my heart pumped a fast, irregular beat. They let me drink water after a while then we all stood up to leave. Everyone's eyes were on me. Fine.
I took about 10 steps toward the door, laughing and shaking my head because I was starting to get cross-eyed. Maybe it wasn't such a strong drink after all. At the door, I instinctively held on to one of my friend's arms, and then my knees failed me one after the other. My other friend grabbed my other arm and we all started walking to the elevator, up to my room, one of the bar staff going out to check where we had gone. I can still walk with my arms on their shoulders and my head hanging low, but they literally had to carry about 70% of my weight. I was never so embarassed. I was still clear headed but I couldn't make use of much of my limbs. We were all thinking the same thing - why the hell did I take the drink and why the hell did they let me??? Tomorrow was the conference for cyring out loud, and we had to be there by 7 AM!
Fortunately, the next day, after three or four wake up calls, I finally woke up and arrived at the venue on time. And aside from the fact that the rest of my morning was totally uncomfortable and I barfed up my dinner and all the drinks I took the previous night, everything was fine.
Now I know what else I'm putting on my Don'ts list. |
posted by Tami @ 8:32 AM
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