Caught Between Vomit And Friendship: One Woman’s Nightmare Overseas Fishing Trip

It’s supposed to be a dream trip, sun, sea, and that “we’re finally doing it” feeling. But for one 21-year-old woman in Thailand, a fun overseas fishing day turned into a stomach-churning nightmare, and the real problem was not the fish, it was her friend.

After breakfast on the boat, she suddenly started feeling sick, nauseous, faint, and shaky. She told her 23-year-old friend she wasn’t okay, asked to go back to the hotel, and even ended up violently throwing up in the bathroom. Her friend responded with gravol, then changed her tone, then told the guide she was fine so they kept fishing, even after she’d said she needed to leave multiple times.

By the time the argument spilled out while she was still in the stall, the friendship was already taking on water.

The situation left her weak and distressed.

AI-generated image

Here's the original Reddit post by 'dontknow000011'.

I (21F) and my friend (23F) went on a month long trip together to Thailand. We booked a fishing trip on one of the islands which we were both very excited about. We ordered breakfast while we were fishing and about an hour or more later I started to feel really sick (upset stomach, nausea, faint, and shaky). I mentioned to my friend that I wasn’t feeling well, and she told me to take a gravol. I took the gravol, but not long after I was in the bathroom violently throwing up to the point where it was just bile. My friend came in the bathroom while I was puking and asked if I was okay. I told her again that I really didn’t feel well and that I would like to go back to the hotel (at this point there was about 2 hours left of fishing). That’s when I noticed her attitude change as she didn’t say anything, and walked out of the washroom. I cleaned myself up and sat down. My stomach was still pretty upset, and felt very faint and shaky. My friend brought me an apple juice to sip on and told me “our guide asked me if you were okay and I told him ‘ya she’s fine, we’ll keep fishing.’” This made me pretty upset as I just expressed that I really need to go home. She then told me “take another gravol you’ll be fine.” I mentioned a third time that I really would like to go back to our hotel. She ignored me and went on her phone. I really wasn’t feeling well at this point again so I ran to the washroom to throw up. She came into the bathroom while I was puking and asked “so you wanna go?” I told her “yes I would really like to go, I mentioned it 3 times to you, and then you told the guide I was able to keep fishing when I clearly can’t. I’m just confused on why you wouldn’t help me when I ask for it.” She got pretty upset with me and said “woah man! Don’t be blaming me for this! I’m just trying to help and now you’re blaming this all on me!” While I was still in the stall throwing up I got frustrated and said “I am sick and puking! I really don’t need this right now all I want is to go back!” She left the bathroom crying. We finally got back to our resort and she left the room in a hurry. She never told me where she was going and didn’t take a room key. I didn’t hear from her for over 7 hours. She came back to the room and said “I just want to say I’m not sure what I did to make you so upset with me but I really don’t appreciate how you treated me when all I was trying to do to help today when you were sick.” I told her how it made me feel and that I couldn’t imagine doing that to her if she was the one sick. She told me “you’re an adult! Book your own taxi, this shouldn’t be my problem, and I can’t stay here with you tonight I’m going somewhere else.”I understand I could’ve booked my own taxi, but in the moment I was puking and felt faint that I was relying on her to help me.

Developing coping strategies for stressful situations is essential for maintaining friendships. Techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or even taking a break can help individuals manage their emotions during challenging times.

For future trips, both friends could practice these strategies before heading out, ensuring they approach the experience with a calm and open mindset. This preparation can lead to a more enjoyable adventure, regardless of unexpected challenges.

Here's how the Reddit community reacted.

Reddit u/wayward_painter

"Cut her out of your life."

Reddit u/kittensmittenstitten

She’s begging to go back to the hotel while her friend is handing her apple juice and insisting the guide was told she’d “keep fishing.”

It is essential to express feelings without placing blame.

"That is not a friend."

Reddit u/dalealace

She doesn't have your back.

Reddit u/urgasmic

You should have been their priority.

Reddit u/heffalumpcheesecake

The moment her friend’s attitude flips after the first bile-level vomit, the whole trip stops feeling like a shared adventure.

Mutual respect and understanding are key to navigating difficult experiences with friends. It's common for trips, especially in new environments, to introduce stressors that can test friendships.

By proactively addressing such stressors, friends can create a supportive atmosphere that allows them to deal with challenges collaboratively. This way, they can focus on strengthening their bond rather than letting conflicts escalate.

"More self-absorbed than a stack of napkins in a puddle."

Reddit u/deleted

"You need better friends."

Reddit u/LIa_Delphine

"Please rethink this friendship."

Reddit u/starsarefixed

The article highlights how what was meant to be an exhilarating adventure devolved into a friendship-testing ordeal. Setting expectations prior to such excursions can significantly impact the experience, as seen in this situation.

The conflict arose when one friend expected a laid-back fishing experience while the other craved excitement. Had they discussed their preferences before embarking on their journey, they could have established a harmonious balance that would have aligned their goals and prevented the ensuing chaos. This oversight serves as a crucial lesson for travelers everywhere: aligning intentions can mean the difference between a memorable adventure and a nightmare.

This chaos echoes the husband refusing to put his wife’s $80K business debt on his credit cards.

What a "friend."

Reddit u/thecatsothermother

She's a drama queen.

Reddit u/Motor_Dark6406

NTA.

Reddit u/Serenityxxxxxx

When the friend ignores her phone-free pleas, OP runs back to the washroom again, and the tension turns into a full-on blame fight.

Acknowledging and accepting emotions during stressful experiences is crucial.

Where's her empathy?

Reddit u/MistressLyda

"Unacceptable."

Reddit u/meoweepy

Traveling can make or break relationships.

Reddit u/atealein

Even as OP is still throwing up, her friend snaps with “woah man,” arguing she’s “just trying to help” while OP feels completely abandoned.

Throughout the chaotic fishing trip in Thailand, the tension between the two friends was palpable.

"She's no friend."

Reddit u/Deep-Okra1461

At the end of the day, travel is supposed to be fun—but sometimes, even the best-planned trips test friendships in unexpected ways. Whether it’s illness, miscommunication, or just clashing personalities, this story is a reminder to pick your travel buddies wisely… and maybe pack an extra Gravol just in case.

This incident underscores the way stress and illness can exacerbate pre-existing tensions within friendships. The friend's dismissive actions during the fishing trip may reflect her own struggle with vulnerability or an empathetic disconnect, particularly in the face of the stressful environment they found themselves in. The Redditor's ordeal serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of understanding and supporting one another in trying circumstances.

The fishing trip recounted by the young Redditor serves as a stark reminder of the critical role communication and emotional management play in sustaining friendships. The distressing turn of events, where excitement quickly morphed into frustration, highlights how unaddressed feelings can lead to significant rifts. Rather than confronting the issues at hand, the friends found themselves spiraling into a nightmare of misunderstandings. These elements can transform stressful moments into bonding experiences. If the pair had navigated their challenges with open dialogue and a lighter spirit, what began as a troubling ordeal could have evolved into a cherished memory, reinforcing their friendship rather than jeopardizing it.

She didn’t just lose her appetite on that boat, she lost trust in the person who was supposed to have her back.

For more boundary drama, read why she refused her fiancé’s friend from staying over.