So I’ll make this one slightly quick, after all you can’t hold on to your sweet memories forever when reality is demanding so much more from you since you got back (thanks for the e-mails requesting the follow-ups). Anyway, I’ve been busy. Registered my new semester (interesting classes, zero male prospects); mom & Dan are here, work has gotten too demanding, been very depressed (pre-‘pre’ PMS anyone?) and uhm, I’m flat broke. And oh, I’m off to Penang over the weekend for work-related reason. Congratulations to Nini on her wedding.
Now, Day 2 & Day 3. They’re a lot shorter than the previous one, and hopefully Day 4 will ensue soon. No promises though.
Day 1
We were told that we’ll be taken to Tanjung Benoa Beach, in which we should be able to check out the Turtle Island and try out all sorts of water-activities there. To get to Turtle Island, it’ll take about 10 minutes by boat. On the way the boat was stopped for a while so that we could feed the fishes and see the corals through the glassed floor of the boat. I wasn’t very impressed though. When we reached Turtle Island, we were taken to a ‘mini-zoo’ of turtles, pigeons, chained baby monkey, non-flying giant eagle, caged giant bat and er, huge cocks (now why do I find myself snickering when I type this).
*mwahahahaha*
Anyway, I was made to sit on a giant turtle. Rumor has it that I can live longer if I sit on these turtles. Hmm okay.
Trivia: Not a single Balinese is left-handed.
Got back from the island, Nyüman offered us to try the water sports (paragliding, jet-skit, banana boat). Said no, not only they cost a bomb and part of our travel motto is: ‘why try things that we can try in our homeland’. Of course, doing water-sports in Bali would give a different meaning but hey, no need. The Benoa beach wasn’t that impressive anyway.
Next up was a trip to Batu Bulan Bilin to see the batik processing and we stopped at few places to check out the jewelry-making process (ooh very intricate stuff) and its wood carving art center. Once again I wasn’t impressed with the batik factory – "If I want to see some batik processing, I can always go to Kelantan la weii!", I scoffed. But then again, this is Bali. Everything is supposed to make you go ‘aaah’ here.
Had nasi padang for lunch as we were trying to avoid the pork-infested restaurants. I don’t mind having nasi padang everyday if Girl wasn’t that particular about obscure and would-be squalid nasi padang shops haha.
Reached Ramada in the evening, got changed and walked to the streets of Kuta to shop. There’s thousands of shops along the road, the locals, the branded items shops, the markets – it’s like a massive labyrinth of shopping goods! Here’s a typical conversation with fellow vendors:
Me : Berapa ini? Vendor : 50,000 rupiah Me : 30,000 rupiah Vendor : Oh nggak bisaaaaa…. Me : (pretends to walk away) Vendor (at the top of his/her voice) : Mbak mahu berapaaa... Me : (walks back to the shop) 25,000 rupiah la, kalo gue beli banyak, gi mana yach?
With the right technique of bargaining, you can get the things cheap. I normally leave the bargaining to Girl, since she’s the shopping queen. Sometimes I just don’t have the heart to bargain, and buy the stuff without thinking twice.
Eversince the Sari club bombing in October, 2002, the Bali economy has bit hit hard. Imagine a country or state that relies heavily on tourism (say 80% of their income comes from this industry). Then bam, it’s taken away from you. Bali, from a happening and over-crowded haven for foreigners has been reduced to a quiet town, with excessive things to sell and no one to buy them. Everywhere you go, you’re bound to be mobbed by locals trying to sell their goods. As you walk the streets of Kuta, you could almost feel the devastating effect on the people there and if I could, I would have bought at least one thing from every shop.
Which explains why I ended up overspending. Heh.
Balinese are a religious lot, wherever you go, you’d bound to see mini-temples, or offerings made of leaves and flowers on the ground. I was told that religious ceremonies are held every single day. The ceremony is beautiful, with locals in their traditional garbs and chants emanating from the temple.
Oh shit, it’s only Day 2 and I’ve written this long!?! To be Kontiniud then.
Next up was a trip to Batu Bulan Bilin to see the batik processing and we stopped at few places to check out the jewelry-making process (ooh very intricate stuff) and its wood carving art center. Once again I wasn’t impressed with the batik factory – "If I want to see some batik processing, I can always go to Kelantan la weii!", I scoffed. But then again, this is Bali. Everything is supposed to make you go ‘aaah’ here. 
Balinese are a religious lot, wherever you go, you’d bound to see mini-temples, or offerings made of leaves and flowers on the ground. I was told that religious ceremonies are held every single day. The ceremony is beautiful, with locals in their traditional garbs and chants emanating from the temple.