Sunday, September 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Brisbane, Australia
My flight left at 12:55 am from Bali and straight to Brisbane. I arrived at 8:30 in the morning, after a tiny bit of sleep, and my friend Kristina picked me up and took me to her house. It felt kind of strange to be back in a "Western" country.
I mostly slept at Kristina's house during the day and just ate dinner and hung out with Kristina a bit before bed. Today we went into the city. We walked around South Bank, which is by the river. It's kind of funny because there's this little fake beach for swimming with sand and everything. We went to a museum and then came back to Kristina's uni because she has class (which she's at now). I went book shopping earlier and it kind of blew my mind because a paperback book costs like $23 (one that would cost like $8 maybe in the US).
The seasons are opposite here so it has just turned from winter to spring. Though it's pretty warm and nice.
After traveling by myself it's definitely nice to have a person to talk to all day and to show me around.
I mostly slept at Kristina's house during the day and just ate dinner and hung out with Kristina a bit before bed. Today we went into the city. We walked around South Bank, which is by the river. It's kind of funny because there's this little fake beach for swimming with sand and everything. We went to a museum and then came back to Kristina's uni because she has class (which she's at now). I went book shopping earlier and it kind of blew my mind because a paperback book costs like $23 (one that would cost like $8 maybe in the US).
The seasons are opposite here so it has just turned from winter to spring. Though it's pretty warm and nice.
After traveling by myself it's definitely nice to have a person to talk to all day and to show me around.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Bali Photos
I finished my second Bali album
A kind strange at the beach offered to take pictures for me since I was by myself, which was pretty nice. Actually that's happened to me a couple of times when I've traveled by myself, it's pretty cool.
This morning I woke up early and had the hotel breakfast which was of course overlooking the water. It was wonderful to hear the sounds of the ocean last night lulling me to sleep. There was also a big tropical storm last night, which I quite enjoyed.
I said good-bye to Candidasa and took the shuttle bus to Padangbai, then back to Ubud. Then I got to the airport. I really enjoyed all the rides, despite the crowded bus. The scenery is just amazing.
Even looking out my window right now isn't so bad. The palm trees are swaying outside the airport.
My flight to Brisbane is a red-eye so hopefully I can get some sleep before I arrive in Australia tomorrow.
A kind strange at the beach offered to take pictures for me since I was by myself, which was pretty nice. Actually that's happened to me a couple of times when I've traveled by myself, it's pretty cool.
This morning I woke up early and had the hotel breakfast which was of course overlooking the water. It was wonderful to hear the sounds of the ocean last night lulling me to sleep. There was also a big tropical storm last night, which I quite enjoyed.
I said good-bye to Candidasa and took the shuttle bus to Padangbai, then back to Ubud. Then I got to the airport. I really enjoyed all the rides, despite the crowded bus. The scenery is just amazing.
Even looking out my window right now isn't so bad. The palm trees are swaying outside the airport.
My flight to Brisbane is a red-eye so hopefully I can get some sleep before I arrive in Australia tomorrow.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Candidasa
This morning I woke up early and was a bit sad to leave Ubud.
I took the shuttle bus to Candidasa. The drive was fantastic. Bali is so gorgeous- I kind of doubt there's an ugly part. Through rice paddies and jungle and coast and people farming and making offerings at the temples. I really enjoy scenic rides on boats or cars.
Most people got off at Padangbai because that's how you get to Lombok. I was the only one who headed to Candidasa which meant I got dropped straight off at a nice hotel my driver knew, and I'll get picked up straight from the hotel which is nice since I have heavy luggage.
My hotel is right over the water and I can see the ocean from my window. It doesn't get much better. Candidasa is kind of weird with lots of ocean front hotels without much sand or beach area (so no beachside strolling). It's gorgeous- clear water and all.
I decided to go to a white sand beach from Lonely Planet, Pasir Putih. According to LP, in 2004 there was literally no one here except fishermen. When they last updated my guide they said there are a few places to get drinks there. As of now, probably in part because of the LP guidebook, which rates Pasir Putih as a top beach, there are a few small warung (eateries).
It's still a bit tricky to get to which is probably why it's not overwhelmed with people. My hotel got me a motorbike taxi, a guy called Made (mah-day). He agreed to take me to the beach and wait there until I wanted to return. Not a bad deal!
Once again, getting there was half the fun. The scenery was breathtaking from my motorcycle perch. We wound up hills through jungle to overlook gorgeous rice paddies and the mountain in the background, until we could see the ocean.
Down "barely a road" and there was the beach. Spectacular. White sand, clear water that was incredibly blue and aquamarine. There were beach loungers and snorkels to rent, and guys who would gladly crack open a coconut for you.
My driver Made got me to sit in his friend's beach area, and he showed me where to snorkel. There was coral, lots of beautiful tropical fish, and even a barracuda! I did some swimming and some lounging, and had a coconut of course
I'm currently eating beside a lagoon, and then I think some seaside hotel lounging is in order.
I took the shuttle bus to Candidasa. The drive was fantastic. Bali is so gorgeous- I kind of doubt there's an ugly part. Through rice paddies and jungle and coast and people farming and making offerings at the temples. I really enjoy scenic rides on boats or cars.
Most people got off at Padangbai because that's how you get to Lombok. I was the only one who headed to Candidasa which meant I got dropped straight off at a nice hotel my driver knew, and I'll get picked up straight from the hotel which is nice since I have heavy luggage.
My hotel is right over the water and I can see the ocean from my window. It doesn't get much better. Candidasa is kind of weird with lots of ocean front hotels without much sand or beach area (so no beachside strolling). It's gorgeous- clear water and all.
I decided to go to a white sand beach from Lonely Planet, Pasir Putih. According to LP, in 2004 there was literally no one here except fishermen. When they last updated my guide they said there are a few places to get drinks there. As of now, probably in part because of the LP guidebook, which rates Pasir Putih as a top beach, there are a few small warung (eateries).
It's still a bit tricky to get to which is probably why it's not overwhelmed with people. My hotel got me a motorbike taxi, a guy called Made (mah-day). He agreed to take me to the beach and wait there until I wanted to return. Not a bad deal!
Once again, getting there was half the fun. The scenery was breathtaking from my motorcycle perch. We wound up hills through jungle to overlook gorgeous rice paddies and the mountain in the background, until we could see the ocean.
Down "barely a road" and there was the beach. Spectacular. White sand, clear water that was incredibly blue and aquamarine. There were beach loungers and snorkels to rent, and guys who would gladly crack open a coconut for you.
My driver Made got me to sit in his friend's beach area, and he showed me where to snorkel. There was coral, lots of beautiful tropical fish, and even a barracuda! I did some swimming and some lounging, and had a coconut of course
I'm currently eating beside a lagoon, and then I think some seaside hotel lounging is in order.
Aug 29th: Ubud
This morning I mostly planned my Australia trip. I am leaving for Brisbane in a couple of days, as it turns out! I ate lunch at Nomad again.
I tried to make the most of my now last day in Ubud. I did some shopping, and then I treated myself to a massage spa treatment. Now by treated myself I mean I splurged and spent $15 whole dollars US to get the usual hour-long Balinese massage, followed by a spice bath. First there was a scrub made with Indonesian spices. The hot bath that followed was really a giant tea cup for a person to soak in: there was a huge bag full of spices and herbs. It was pretty amazing.
I had a nice dinner and dessert at a restaurant that had a live cover band doing requests from the audience, which was fun. A Balinese fish dish and bananas flambe for dessert.
I decided that since I'm leaving for Australia so soon I don't really have time to go up to Lovina, so I'm going to go to either the East Coast seaside areas of Padangbai or Candidasa for my last night in Bali. I want to be ocean side again before I leave Bali.
I tried to make the most of my now last day in Ubud. I did some shopping, and then I treated myself to a massage spa treatment. Now by treated myself I mean I splurged and spent $15 whole dollars US to get the usual hour-long Balinese massage, followed by a spice bath. First there was a scrub made with Indonesian spices. The hot bath that followed was really a giant tea cup for a person to soak in: there was a huge bag full of spices and herbs. It was pretty amazing.
I had a nice dinner and dessert at a restaurant that had a live cover band doing requests from the audience, which was fun. A Balinese fish dish and bananas flambe for dessert.
I decided that since I'm leaving for Australia so soon I don't really have time to go up to Lovina, so I'm going to go to either the East Coast seaside areas of Padangbai or Candidasa for my last night in Bali. I want to be ocean side again before I leave Bali.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Photos
I finished off my first album, which now has 200 photos of Ubud, Sanur, and Kuta
Second Album of Ubud photos
Second Album of Ubud photos
Aug 28th: Ubud
After my amazing lunch at Nomad, I headed to my gamelan lesson at the Pondok Library and Learning Center, which is a really cool place by the way. I reviewed my old song and remembered it surprisingly well, then learned a new song along with its harmony part. If I go to another lesson I can work more on that, which I might do.
I spontaneously decided to get a massage at Bodyworks, which is in a family compound. It was really nice and I got to keep the extra massage oil, which I chose- cempaka. It's an amazing floral scent. It will probably always remind me of Bali now.
For dinner I headed to Warung Enuk, which I'd seen on one of my walks around. It's a really cool funky restaurant, out near the rice paddies. It's very classy but fun- it has chandeliers with brightly colored lampshades, and funny art. The waitstaff was amazing. I love that in Bali I can eat at somewhere and feel really fancy but still get a delicious meal for under ten bucks.
I had Balinese tea with ginger and milk, and a perfectly fried crab cake with rice and spicy pepper sauce. It was sooooo good.
I am trying to decide what to do tomorrow. I thought about doing a tour or a cooking class but I'm having a bit of a hard time being one person- they usually want at least two people for those things. I can probably find a cooking class for one on one if I looked a bit harder so I might do that before I leave. I am thinking about doing another art museum, maybe another music lesson, and I'm really tempted to have another meal at Nomad.
I spontaneously decided to get a massage at Bodyworks, which is in a family compound. It was really nice and I got to keep the extra massage oil, which I chose- cempaka. It's an amazing floral scent. It will probably always remind me of Bali now.
For dinner I headed to Warung Enuk, which I'd seen on one of my walks around. It's a really cool funky restaurant, out near the rice paddies. It's very classy but fun- it has chandeliers with brightly colored lampshades, and funny art. The waitstaff was amazing. I love that in Bali I can eat at somewhere and feel really fancy but still get a delicious meal for under ten bucks.
I had Balinese tea with ginger and milk, and a perfectly fried crab cake with rice and spicy pepper sauce. It was sooooo good.
I am trying to decide what to do tomorrow. I thought about doing a tour or a cooking class but I'm having a bit of a hard time being one person- they usually want at least two people for those things. I can probably find a cooking class for one on one if I looked a bit harder so I might do that before I leave. I am thinking about doing another art museum, maybe another music lesson, and I'm really tempted to have another meal at Nomad.
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