Day 4 Surfing and Tannh Lot

The last day....

Earthquake in Indonesia..? I didn't feel it, I didn't know about it as there's no TV in room...!

I spent a little time walking around the town and found some more hostels around, cheaper (40,000 Rp compared to where I stayed 60,000 Rp with similar conditions and facilities). Final checked out and had my first lesson...

Surfing! Sounds nice but it was tiring. Indeed it could be a demented experience as you were being pushed by numerous waves before you lie on the surf board... and even worse you may fall off if the waves were too strong before u started to paddle for catching the wave..

I remembered a scene in the Japanese TV drama of 電車男 (Train man) which he tried to learn surfing and demonstrated in front of Hermes.... It was such a hard and tough time. Generally speaking, Surfing spend 90% time paddling and 10% for surfing. But I was spending 90% fall into water and less than 1% standing up... Only 1 time I could really ride the wave till reaching the shore (feeling was nice!). By then I could possibly not able to retake the lesson as the surf school has a "Standing-up" guarantee as one of their selling point... #_#

I got myself in one piece after all, took a meal and headed to the famous tour spot: Tanah Lot (temple by the sea). It took me awhile to decide the way to get there, choices: 1. Rent a motorbike and ride illegally without license (should apply international license before!); 2. Take a cap; 3. hire a driver... But I got my way on 4. Hire a motorbike rider to ride me there and then to the airport. (that was 3pm afternoon and my plane took off at 7:50pm).

The currency in Indonesia is Rupiah and the values are all in thousands (they still have 100 Rupiah coins as the lowest value). I was figuring out how to calculate into some currencies that I would be familiar in the first day and finally got it out: just cut the thousands (3 x 0s) and that would be an approx. of HK dollar.

Renting a motorbike costed 30,000 to 40,000 Rp a day. That was 3pm in the day and no shop neither lowered the fee nor allowed me to rent one without a license. Moreover I wasn't sure how to get there too (maybe just follow where the sun dropped?!). I dropped that idea and about to went for a cap (budget was allocated) but finally considered hiring a driver was the best way as I had to stay in the tour spot for a considerable amount of time which the fare meter might continue to jump... 70,000 Rp ( compare to what I read for the cap for 120,000 Rp) was the acceptable value between the driver and me (included the gas which cost 10,000 Rp for him to top up the tank during the trip), bon voyage..!

It was a long ride (45 minutes) but worth to as that was a postcard scene. There was also clips by the sea that reminded me the days in Australia looking at the 12 Apostles scenic view in Victoria.... The sound of the wave and the breeze, so refreshing and nice..

I stayed there for about an hour time and headed to the airport (to avoid the sunset which would be the rush hour for people watching the classic sunset postcard view). I reached the airport on time. It was a challenge to ride such a long trip with a heavy load but thank God time keeping was good and I saved my money for the expensive airport departure tax (100,000 Rp) which I wasn't expected (or didn't find it out before).

Back home, long for a nice shower and a good night sleep... though I got a bit toasted due to the sun...

Break ended, gonna start working in the weekend then...! ^^

ps. will upload photos later, got a lot of clips this time and will be in youtube..!

Day 2 and 3, Ubud and back to Kuta..

The rafting.. was something good that you saw beautiful views and learned a bit of coordination work..! However, the experience I had wasn't as excited as I thought due to lack to down fall..!

There were 3 of us + 1 staff (the local who controled directiona and gave order for forward paddling or stop). The total travelling took 2 hours (include a middle stop which you could take a break, buy drinks and take photos of a small waterfall).

The most teriible down fall was the 6 meter one, which everyone had to get out of the raft and walked down the stair where the raft will be dropped... -_-! Then it came the final fall around 3m which I did a bit of filming and will be uploaded to youtube later...! ;p That was terrible fun but it only happened once... Overall, I would say this rafting experience in Bali would be suitable for novice.

After the river journey, I was dropped down to a town called Ubud which was much quiter but more culturised with art gallaries of pantings and less commercialised than Kuta.. Hopped in a homestay immediately and continue my journey of exploring... which bought me to the Monkey Forest Walk in a Conservation Sanctuary (the monkey mountain in HK never needed to conserve them as they multiplied exponentially...!) and went for some local art craft shops. I am never a good bargainer, things I bought possibly could be cheaper...

Watched the Balinese dance at night, which was awesome..! It was long that I did fall a sleep in the second half, but the dancers were really gorgeous in dancing techniques and facial expressions... (in youtube soon)

The room I stayed in second night still primitive, but the difference is, it's worth it (as v cheap) and it didn't have mosquito, which made the whole night difference!!

Starting another day with a local tour trip whihc I have decided to see the volcano and nearby temples.. I forgot to get my money change but thank God just had enough to pay for the entry fee and got an extra souvenir - a sarong for men to enter those holy places...! (Sorry guys, forgot to take a self-portrait though...) ;p

Temples were mostly hinduism with a minorityof buddhism.. but different from Angkor for sure. Viewed the volcano from the far end still stunning.. (it's still alive, getting close for sure it's not possible). There were rice paddock views, but it wasn't as stunning as those in Vietnam... can tell by just adding some coconut trees..

Again, barganing time in Ubud art craft market, which I did some bargaining but still think I could get them cheaper in HKG..?! (to be vertified)... Got on the bus in time but not enough time to taste the famous 'dirty duck' in one of the restaurant in Ubud, leaving me a bit of unfulfilment..

Back to Kuta in dark, got into the near beach hostel with the right budget and enrolled for my first surfing class in my life time... Hope I can stand a bit longer ('cos the class has a gurantee of student to stand..!?)

Still need to see 1 more temple (Tanoh Lot) tomorrow before taking off.. shouldn't be a problem I would think....!

1st nite in Kuta - Bali

Finished my shift, took a nap and jumped on the plane...

Again been to a place that I never have been to, no idea what it looks like... didn't make any booking at all and just open to different changes and plan... (even Amazing Race has a task for teams..). Extra stress or frustration? not really but just another time for adventure...

Walked around the airport after claiming my luggage, tried to catch the cheapest vehicle to Kuta... Different people approached me for transportation and hotel deal... until I met a man approached me from the other end, guessed I was a Japanese and told me he could do the job with 25 dollar...

Q: US$25 or Rp 25,000? (fr internet I got quote with public transport it cost Ro 30,000 with shuttle fr airport to Kuta)

I took the 2nd bet, and hot on his old van alone which I wouldn't have any idea where he was driving.. just to Kuta, budget hotel...

Got dropped off to a pretty old bungalow with no a.c. and swimming pool as the driver told me (since I told him I just want something budget). The reception quoted me Rp 250,000 per nite.. which I forgot to do my homework... (1. have to ask driver to drive me to Jalan Poppies where those backpackers are living; 2. Budget to stay in backpackers around Rp 100,000~!)

I checked the room and paid the room fee for 1 night.. (feel so strange when I give 50,000 notes 1 by 1 that I have to digged up my envelop for more since that's actually out of my budget..!).

The drama replayed again as in Vietnam when the motorcyclist ride me to the hotel in Hanoi.. which we were referring in different dollar...! (even worse in Hanoi that he said 30,ooo Dong which he actually demanded 300,000 Dong.. bad luck man..! X) The van driver in bali was annoyed and keep saying 'No, No.." But I think he knew he actually wanted to cheated me for such a 20 min drive for US$25 it's really astronomical and unreasonable...!! I kept my stand point.. finally gave him Rp 5,000 more as to make him feel better (he kept saying got bankrupt got bankrupt....)..

So, the world is, u cheat him, he cheats u....?! -_-

Will try rafting 1st time in my life 2molo... not sure i still able to blog in another town (Ubud)..

God bless..! ^^

ps. been to the bombing memorial plc.. still dark in there.. wish world peace..!