We left at seven in the morning on Thursday via the damri (airport bus) and slept most of the way to the airport. The night before we stayed up far too late because we were too excited to sleep. You know you are splashing with excitement before a family vacation or a field trip - well that's how we felt. Too happy to sleep, too anxious to sleep.
We got to the airport in record timing, thanks to minimal traffic and spent the next two hours at a donut shop. We were revved up to go that we could barely sit and wait until our flight boarded. Another nap in the plane got me immediately to Bali.
The sun was shining, the breeze was hot and heavy when we stepped off the plane onto the runway, but I was too busy looking around at everything around me. Because Putri and I only had carry on luggage, we were able to get out of the airport quickly and catch a cab to our hotel in Legian (leg-ee-on). There are two touristy towns in Bali that are overwhelming with shops, people, trash, and motor bikes. Legian is one of them and the other is Kuta (coo-tah). The reason we stayed here and did not travel north to the more quiet towns was that we wanted to go dancing at night. So we traded in the serene atmosphere for a more roaring frat town - definitely not my style, but we made it work.
We got to our hotel and checked in. We each had our own room. It was quite small, but honestly I didn't need much more than the basic entities because the sole purpose of the room was to sleep.
Wasting no time, Putri and I walked the town to get lunch and start shopping. Bartering there is a must, but it is tricky, especially in our scenario. The vendors are willing to go much lower with an Indonesian, but with a bule (white person) they tend to be obscenely high. Putri was an excellent buffer and managed to get numerous things at dirt cheap prices.
I've realized over the past few months here that Indonesians tend to think that white people are made of money. It's like they think that we have a money forest in our back yard and we can just pick some off a tree or two whenever we need it. Some people get really annoyed with that, as did I at first. However, now that I've been here for so long, it's just a way of thinking that can't be changed.
Our shopping trip was successful and by five o'clock in the evening we had made our way to the beach (which was about a quarter of a mile from our hotel) to watch the sun set beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean. The day had turned cloudy and overcast halfway through so there weren't many colors painted in the sky, but it was beautiful.
After getting some dinner, the two of us decided to rest. You would be surprised how an all day shopping excursion could make you literally want to fall to the floor and wither in exhaustion! Our original plan was to take a short nap and go dancing that night - but we overslept and the taxi service was closed, not to mention that is was literally pouring buckets of rain. So instead of dancing we went to bed and planned for an early morning.
Breakfast was at a little joint just outside of the hotel. I had freshly made apple juice and a raisin danish. It was delicious and just enough to get me going for the day. We rented a motorbike from the hotel and headed northbound to a famous island temple called Tanah Lot. It was about an hour drive and I was the designated driver on the way there. Driving is a lot more difficult in Bali because there is a lot more traffic. There are two forms of surviving the streets on a motorbike: take traffic head on the on the opposite side of the road or driving on the shoulders and sidewalk. My heart was racing like a horse almost the entire drive up. Being so close to cars was out of my comfort zone.
We got to Tanah Lot late morning. After maneuvering through market streets, we arrived at the beach where the famous Hindu temple erected out of the ocean. It was originally a huge jagged boulder that ended up being carved into a beautiful temple. There was, of course, lots of picture taking. After we got our fill of that, we walked the seaside to numerous cliffs where many random temples stood over the water.
It was interesting to be immersed in a new and foreign religion. Living in Java has made me keenly aware of Muslim culture and religious traditions. However, Hinduism is a religion that dominates this island. Not only with the countless temples, but on the streets of the island. There are offerings of flowers, plants, food, and incense in front of driveways and stores. These offerings supposedly "honor the dead, offer homage to the island gods, and bid request for safekeeping."
It's difficult to come face to face with Hindi traditions (let alone Islamic tradition in Java) as a Christian. I find myself overwhelmed sometimes. How do Christians respond to this? How should I respond to this. Some say the best way is to ignore it...I just can't seem to ignore it. Some say to witness to them until they're blue in the face...but here that's beyond offensive. But then I realize that I am called to do something special here - I am being a Christ-like example and teaching Christ to a new generation in my school. That is my calling, and even though I wish I could be superwoman and change the whole world, I recognize the importance of focus. In the meantime I will strive to walk in Christ's footsteps and show His love and compassion everywhere I go.
After my visit to Tanah Lot, we drove down to Kuta, the neighboring town of Legian. We drove past the Bali bombing memorial site which remembers the victims of the heinous terrorist bombing in 2002. Although we didn't have time to stop and look closer, I was able to get a picture while riding passenger on a motorbike.
We purchased refreshing fruit smoothies before hitting the famous Kuta Beach. The beach here was a lot cleaner but full of market sellers that sold a range of merchandise and services from pedicures, sarongs, surfboards, dresses, massages, and much more. We found a patch of shade and indulged in a relaxing nap before heading to the clothing market about a kilometer away from the beachfront.
Near dinner time we headed home to take an extended nap before heading out to go dancing. The rain delayed us several times, but we made it home as soon as we could. When we woke up, we were so incredibly sunburned that we cancelled our dancing night once again and stayed in bed.
Saturday, our last morning in Bali, we woke up the the rain. We had plans of going to a quiet town about an hour north of Legian, but the rain has it's effects on travelling as well. Instead we enjoyed a lengthy breakfast at a cafe and waited for the rain to subside. Putri told me in her Javanese culture (which is a specific Indonesian ethic group) they throw a pair of underwear on the roof and the rain will stop. Since both of us were on our last pair, that option was out. We instead made due with the rain.
We bopped around the town, doing some sporadic shopping before getting lunch at an Australian restaurant. It was nice to have some western food. I enjoy Indonesian food, but I crave western food a lot, and this was a nice fill.
The rain finally stopped and we walked to the beach. We found a little restaurant on the beach and enjoyed a drink before heading back to the airport. Our taxi ride was a little nerve wracking, but I've learned to entrust your life to your taxi driver (no matter if he is the star student of the BMV or the world's worst driver) or you will never get where you are going.
Our flight was twice delayed but we kept ourselves occupied. When we finally took off, I fell into a deep sleep and woke up again in Jakarta. Quick flight, or so it seemed.
It was a great holiday and I am particularly glad we chose to leave on Saturday so that I have a day to recuperate before heading off to school. Another week ahead before the next holiday, which happens to fall on Valentines. It's a busy week, but it will be nice to get back to a temporary norm. I find that no matter how much I wish for the next school holiday, I tend to miss being at school even more.
Hope this Bali trip brought a little warmth back home in the snow-stricken states. Until next time...
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