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Sweating Buckets
Entry 11 of 12 | show all | print this entry |
Hello everyone
Right, well this is my third attempt at writing this blog, because the last time it (by 'it' I'm referring to the machine) decided to delete everything I'd written...nothing to do with me of course!! Also I'm in a non air conditioned Internet cafe, that has very uncomfortable chairs, therefore forgive me if this isn't a great blog. But I'll do my best, and don't you worry about me, I'll just struggle on with sweat dripping down my back and my thighs sticking together! I guess I shouldn't complain as I'm here suffering in the most romantic place in the world, Bali!!
Anyway, where was I when I signed off last? Oh yes that would be Sydney. Well, sadly I didn't get to the Blue Mountains or cuddle a Koala, due to running out of time and money, mainly because I spent it all on (and I'm sorry Mum & Dad) drink and partying!! The problem was I met this really nice and very socialable english girl called Lucy, who insisted on showing me the city at night and well, the rest is history. It has to be said that Sydney is a great city to enjoy yourself and have some fun, so I don't regret it. Anyway I got to do and see alot, including taking the ferry everywhere. One day we took it to Watson's Bay, and then walked from there to Bondi Beach, which may not sound that impressive to you but it was about 3 miles. Anyway we saw some lovely views along the coast. We took the ferry around the harbor at night and and did a Darling Harbor pub crawl, and I even found a British imported sweet shop, which made me scream when I saw they sold frazzles and Penguins!!! Did manage to get in a bit more culture by seeing a production of Romeo and Juliet, set in the Australian outback, which worked really well and it was great hearing Shakespeare spoken in an Australian accent. On my last day I was taken around the south of Sydney, including Botany Bay by friends of Mum and Dad, which was lovely.
Then it was time to fly to Singapore and meet Robert and Joe! God, I was soooo excited, that my room mate in Sydney told me I had been laughing in my sleep the night before. For the entire flight I had the biggest grin on my face. I think the Qantas crew thought me a bit strange, either that or far too enthusiastic about the complimentary crisps they were handing out. They even presented me with a free bottle of bubbly because of suffering a wonky dinner tray (maybe they just thought I needed a drink). Almost eight hours, four movies and two meals later we arrived in Singapore. Thank God it was late at night because the airport was quiet and we got through customs really quickly! Waiting for my bag to arrive I could see Robert and Joe waving at me in the arrival lounge. Then it was through the doors and straight into their arms. Quite an emotional reunion, lots of hugging and screaming on my part!!! Once we got over that it was straight into the Limo sen and to the Mandarin Oriental on Raffles Avenue. Wow, this was a real treat as they had booked me a suite with huge bed, balcony with a view, a BATH and orchids everywhere. It even had it's own office space...essential of course!! If that wasn't enough there was champagne and chocolates to greet me. So what with all the drinking, chatting and excitement it was a late night for all of us.
So, we started at a nice reasonable hour the next day (Robert had a hangover), with breakfast at Raffles, then some shopping. The days were broken up with a welcome cocktail, in the afternoon and pre and post dinner (actually thinking about there were a lot of cocktails). The fews days I spent with Robert and Joe were lovely and pretty packed full of activities, and they spoilt me the whole time. Included in our adventures was a trip on the London Eye but in Singapore of course (can't remember what it was called), with some amazing views of the city. We took a boat around the harbor, which was very interesting and went to a Fish Spa. This was a memorable but strange experience, and involved putting out feet into a tank full of hundreds of little fish (with TEETH), who would nibble on your feet to take the dead skin off...sounds disgusting doesn't it, well believe me it was!! I was the first one in, and almost frightened Robert and Joe off the whole idea because I spent the first couple of minutes screaming and laughing my head off and saying things like "Ooooo that's horrible....Ooooo I can't stand it, they're eating my feet"! Well after half an hour of being eaten alive by the fish we decided that was enough. Not sure if I would do it again, but I guess my feet did feel softer after (but that could've been because they'd been soaking in water for thirty minutes) Great fun though. Over the few days with the boys the time went too fast and having enjoyed lots of lovely meals (including afternoon tea at Raffles), drinking lots of cocktails and chatting about everything it was time to say goodbye....very sad! We both had flights leaving the same day, they were going to Hongkong and I was on my way to Bali.
Now some of you might be thinking...why Bali? I thought she was going to Vietnam, Laos and stuff? Well a couple of reasons. One because the weather is better in Indonesia at this time of year and second...well I guess a kind of personal journey that led me there. Anyway why I got there is beside the point I had arrived! Bali as you can imagine is beautiful and full of culture, history and strangeness!!! My first destination was Sanur, near the beach. Very nice, spent time relaxing and walking about. On my first day of arriving I had my first marriage proposal and one chap offered to take me off into the sunset on the back of his scooter! Very nice I thought but a couple of hours on the back of a bike and all I'd be thinking about was a sore bum!! The thing is Bali people seem to find it strange that a woman is traveling alone and constantly ask where's your husband / boyfriend? I learnt also that telling people that you're divorced confuses them completely!! After a couple of days I made my way to Ubud (kind of in the centre of Bali). This was the place I really wanted to visit, having read lots about it. This is where you come if (unlike most of the rest of the tourists) you don't want to serf and party in Kuta, but would rather experience the culture and hang out at temples (which there are hundreds). I stayed at a really nice place called Sama's Bungalows, where I had my very own bungalow in a beautiful garden. A really nice chap would bring me plates of fruit in the morning, and ask me 'how are you today?'. Every day when I would get back to my bungalow, having spent it walking around town, looking at temples and the Volcano, etc, there would be a flask of hot tea waiting for me. While I was in Ubud I went to a couple of culture shows to see some traditional Balinese music and dance. This is where the strangeness comes into it. Really differ cult to describe but the first was Kecak, known as 'Monkey Dance'. Kecak integrates vocal music, dance and drama, but what's really amazing is it's intricate vocal chanting. I saw it on a video once but to see and hear it live was very memorable. The evening also included a Fire Dance. This involved setting light to a pile of coconut shells and then a chap running though them. Very impressive, but a little dangerous for those of us in the front row, who almost got burnt alive!!!
My next destination was the Gili Islands, off Lombrok, specifically Gili Air. A perfect remote island with no cars, just beach, turtles and quiet!! But I tell you all about that soon!!
Bye for now
Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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