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

A 21-year-old Redditor recently shared a harrowing experience from a month-long trip to Thailand with her 23-year-old friend that’s leaving the internet divided. What started as an exciting fishing adventure quickly turned into a stressful test of friendship.

The pair had booked a fishing trip on one of Thailand’s islands and were thrilled to spend the day out on the water. They even ordered breakfast while fishing, expecting a fun and relaxing day together.

But about an hour or so into the trip, the Redditor began feeling extremely unwell. She experienced nausea, an upset stomach, faintness, and shakiness, signaling that her day was about to take a turn.

She told her friend she wasn’t feeling well and mentioned she might need to go back to the hotel. Her friend’s initial response was practical but dismissive: take a Gravol.

The medication didn’t help, and soon after the OP found herself violently vomiting in the bathroom. She described the experience as throwing up nothing but bile, a situation that left her weak and distressed.

Her friend came in to check on her and asked if she was okay. The Redditor explained again that she really needed to go back to the hotel, but noticed her friend’s attitude shift immediately.

Instead of helping, her friend walked out of the bathroom without saying anything. Later, she offered an apple juice and told her, “our guide asked if you were okay, and I told him ‘she’s fine, we’ll keep fishing.’”

This revelation frustrated the Redditor even more, as she had clearly expressed she could not continue the trip. When she again asked to return to the hotel, her friend insisted she take another Gravol and went on her phone, ignoring the repeated pleas.

Eventually, the Redditor had to run back to the bathroom to throw up again. Her friend followed and asked, “so you wanna go?” She replied, exasperated, that she had asked multiple times and didn’t understand why her needs weren’t being respected.

The confrontation escalated quickly, with her friend insisting, “Don’t be blaming me for this! I’m just trying to help.” Meanwhile, the Redditor was still in the bathroom, sick and frustrated, feeling completely unsupported.

Her friend left crying, and the Redditor finally managed to get back to their resort room. But the ordeal wasn’t over—her friend left without saying where she was going and didn’t take a room key, disappearing for over seven hours.

When her friend returned, she attempted to justify her actions, saying, “I’m not sure what I did to make you so upset, but I really don’t appreciate how you treated me when I was just trying to help.” The Redditor explained her perspective, emphasizing that she wouldn’t have treated her friend that way if roles were reversed.

The friend doubled down, insisting, “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.” In that moment, the Redditor admitted she could have booked her own taxi but was too sick and reliant on her friend to manage the situation.

The story highlights how quickly miscommunication and unmet expectations can turn a fun trip into a source of stress. Redditors are weighing in, debating whether this was a boundary issue, a lapse in empathy, or just a tough travel moment.

Ultimately, this experience is resonating with many who’ve traveled with friends and faced illness on the road. It serves as a cautionary tale about friendship, responsibility, and the challenges of navigating sickness far from home.

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.

Psychologists suggest that 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

The Importance of Communication

Dr. John Gottman, a well-known relationship expert, emphasizes that clear communication is crucial for maintaining friendships, especially during challenging situations.

He notes that when conflicts arise, it's essential to express feelings without placing blame. This approach fosters understanding rather than defensiveness.

In this fishing trip scenario, the young woman and her friend could have benefited from openly discussing their expectations and feelings about the trip beforehand, which might have prevented misunderstandings and resentment.

"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

A relationship expert highlights that 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

Managing Expectations in Adventures

Adventure therapist Dr. Keri Bowers suggests that setting clear expectations before embarking on trips can lead to more enjoyable experiences. She explains that discussing potential challenges and preferences can help avoid conflicts.

For instance, if one person prefers relaxing activities while the other seeks adventure, talking about these differences upfront can prevent disappointment. In this case, the friends could have benefited from aligning their fishing trip goals before heading out.

What a "friend."

Reddit u/thecatsothermother

She's a drama queen.

Reddit u/Motor_Dark6406

NTA.

Reddit u/Serenityxxxxxx

Dr. Susan David, an expert in emotional agility, points out that acknowledging and accepting emotions during stressful experiences is crucial. This mindset allows individuals to navigate their feelings without being overwhelmed.

For the young woman on this fishing trip, accepting her discomfort while also recognizing her friend's feelings might have led to a more constructive conversation. When emotions are validated, friendships can emerge stronger, even after difficult moments.

Where's her empathy?

Reddit u/MistressLyda

"Unacceptable."

Reddit u/meoweepy

Traveling can make or break relationships.

Reddit u/atealein

The Role of Humor in Friendships

According to Dr. Robert Provine, a psychologist who studies laughter, humor can play a vital role in easing tension during stressful situations. He highlights that laughter can create bonds and diffuse conflict.

If the young woman had found a way to inject humor into their fishing trip, it might have lightened the mood and helped them navigate their frustrations. Humor acts as a social lubricant, making it easier to discuss feelings and mend rifts.

"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.

Expert Opinion

This incident highlights how stress and illness can amplify underlying tensions in relationships. The friend's dismissive behavior might stem from her own discomfort in dealing with vulnerability or a lack of empathy, which can be common in high-pressure situations. It's a reminder that effective communication and mutual support are crucial in maintaining friendships, especially during challenging times.

Reflecting on this fishing trip experience, it becomes evident that communication and emotional management are vital for maintaining friendships. As experts like Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Susan David illustrate, addressing feelings openly and honestly can strengthen bonds, even in adversity.

Moreover, incorporating humor and setting expectations can turn potentially stressful situations into opportunities for connection. By employing these strategies, friends can navigate challenges together, creating lasting memories and reinforcing their relationship.