The Adventure Begins...

Greetings from Bali! 

We write from an internet cafe on the Gili Island of Trawanga! Life is pretty good on the island, beautiful beaches and we agree it may be one of the cutest places we have ever been - no cars or motorbikes (quite the change from Bali).. just bicycles and horse drawn carriages. There is only one main street lined with cafes, small charming hotels and beach bars.

Our trip this far has been fun and per the usual, an adventure. In true form we our getting our travelers legs and now are feeling more comfortable. We definitely have a better understanding of rupias ($10,000 rupia = $1 US/AU), how to aggressively barter and cross the street/navigate traffic/dodge scooters. Truthfully though, we are all cringing about money that could have been spent better (accommodation, food, souvenirs) but what can you do?

Balinese money - Rupiahs

Kerri & Laura's first night in Kuta, Bali, kissing a Balinese dwarf at the bar haha!

We began our trip in Kuta which is the most populated and touristy part of Bali, lots of clubs, lots of traffic, lots of trash and lots of people bothering you on the street to buy anything and everything (magic mushrooms, local food, souvenirs, etc.) Kerri and Laura booked a hostel ahead of time that was in a very inconvenient location in relation to the main strip of Kuta... talk about dodging cars and scooters! We only stayed there a couple nights before we found a better hotel once Alexis arrived!

Picking up Alexis from the airport

Alexis arrived the following day, Saturday, and was able to rally her first night (to the surprise of all involved). We went out to some clubs in Kuta, drinking many a Bintang (the local beer, a light and refreshing pilsner) and lots of dancing. We spent our second day relocating to a hotel with a better locale, in the more upscale Seminyak area. That afternoon we ventured to the beach where the 10-15 foot swells were impressive, but the ample trash on the beach was not. The next day, we booked a full day tour - and were privately transported around the middle and east coast of the island (which is about the size of Delaware) by a balinese tour guide. We did some shopping, saw a Balinese traditional dance performance, visited the rice terraces, walked through a traditional Balinese home compound, visited a beautiful temple, drank some crazy poop coffee, saw a waterfall and visited the monkey forest! Although it was a packed day, we were disappointed by the evening weather as we missed a beach sunset and visiting another famous temple on the ocean.  Overall was a good day and we covered nearly the entire island!

Enjoying at Bintang at the beach

Hostel in Kuta

Alexis luckily made some friends (shocking) on her layover in Taiwan to Bali. Lauren and Caitlin from LA, who have been a hilarious, clutch and fun addition to the trip. After spending two more nights in Seminyak, we met up with the two girls in the beautiful mountain town of Ubud.

Ubud is gorgeous, cleaner, low key and a little cooler in the mountains. After travelling (very hungover) that day, we laid low our first night. The next morning (and agreed by all the best day yet) we went with Lauren and Caitlin to visit a medicine man, bathed in the Tampak Siring springs and had a lovely lunch overlooking the rice terraces (serenaded by some enthusiastic roosters). Truly, Bali is magical. Words fall short to express how impressive the energy (no other way to say it) is in Bali and at these spiritual places. The medicine man experience is not one that can easily be explained, but was very moving. To overly simplify, the Balinese people are doing a lot of things right - with their culture being both inspiring and beautifully traditional. 

First temple we visited :)

Tampak Siring holy cleansing

Tampak Siring natural Spring

Tourist shot at Tampak Siring

Kintamani Volcano

An evening out with Caitlin (left) and Lauren (right)

Laura and Chakorta (the Balinese "medicine man")

One of our favorite things about Bali is the daily offerings. As part of the Balinese culture, every day before every meal Balinese people place an offering (made out of all natural items, a tiny basket made of palm fronds filled with rice/snacks, flowers and incense, money, beer, etc.) The offerings are placed on the ground or on an alter to honor good spirits and ward away bad ones. These offerings also serve to placate both the "upper gods" to bring good luck and good fortune and then"lower gods" to ward off negative energy and bad luck. They are beautiful, and everywhere! At the store, on the street, in the cab... They are the quintessential Balinese symbol. 

Balinese Offering

Next we were off to the Gili islands, which are off the coast of Lombok. Everyone who has been to Bali raves about then Gili islands and say it is supposed to be the best part of Bali. To get to the Gili islands it is typical to take a fast boat (about $30 US one way) which is  a 2 hour speed boat trip. Well, right now it is in the rainy season in Bali, so due to the weather (and choppy ocean) the fast boats are not running. We were informed as an alternative we could take the slow ferry which would take about 7 hours. In reality, it was an all day, 12 hour trek. We were picked up at 7am and took an hour long shuttle to a small town on the coast where we boarded a very large (and very dirty) ferry, which we were on for 6 hours. No one mentioned we then would get off the ferry in Lombok, drive another 90 minutes (in a packed small bus that had holes in the floor..) that for the last 20 minutes was legitimately off-roading in mud... to then board ANOTHER boat to get to Gili T. Needless to say we were tired, only made worse by taking the first room we could find, which unfortunately was located right next to Hindu prayer center which over the very LOUD (cannot emphasize enough) speaker, led the evening prayer chant...and the 4:30am and 5:00am prayer chant the next morning. Although it left little to be desired, we made the best and were happy to check into our new hotel on the beach (with pool) this morning. Had a nice day riding bikes exploring the island and then getting a little burned while enjoying a Bintang on the beach in paradise. We look forward to the next few days here, checking out the other two Gili Islands, all the cute bars and restaurants and snorkeling! 

Enjoying a "tower" of Bintang!

Monkey in Monkey Forest, Ubud!

Our "death van" ride through Lombok to Gili T!

Boat to Gili T!

Although this week had some bumps..literal poop on our hotel room floor in Seminyak, money that could have been spent better, a really long travel day (which was dirty as well as scary at times).. we are all able to laugh it off and are still having a great time.

Miss you guys...aren't you proud we blogged?

Xoxo

Lex, Kerri & Laura