Journal Entry 3
May 28th, 2002
"Bali = Heaven"
Room at hotel, includes breakfast: Rp 35000 ($4)
Surfboard 1-day rental: Rp 30000 ($3.50)
1 hr full-body massage: Rp 20000 ($2.25)
2 meals and drinks: Rp 50000 ($5.50)
One day in Bali, Indonesia: Priceless
Simply one of the most amazing and happiest days in my life today. Got to Bali last night. Slept in, went to beach. Got a
surfing lesson, got up on first wave and rode it all the way in! Surfed for 2
hrs, until exhaustion. After that and a large drink, it was time for the
aforementioned full-body massage (no monkey business) by an old, but strong
Balinese woman. Can you believe that price?? Those massages will likely become
part of my daily routine while I stay here.
So a step back...
Got to Singapore late Friday,
after 2 hr delay. We got stickers from the airline as apology for the
delay--that really made it worthwhile for me!! Glad I'm not using Air China.
Stayed at a hostel in Singapore
and met several fun new people. Saturday, decided at last minute to stay in Singapore for a few more days as I was having
fun, and besides, Bali would
be there in two more days. Changed plane ticket 10 min before deadline. Walked
around a lot with Simon (US) and Bastiaan (Holland),
some fellow travellers.
Thoughts on sleeping: that night, slept on dirty, flat mattress (if you saw one
of these mattresses at a garage sale, being given away, the thought of taking it
would never enter your mind) on floor, along with about 10 others. Hot, no fan,
open windows to noisy street outside, Buddhist chanting across the street in
morning. Slept like a baby.
Didn't do a whole lot in Singapore,
really, just walked around a lot, ate a lot (very cheap food there). Went to a
nature reserve that's the only remaining sizeable section of rainforest left in
Singapore--saw a bunch of
monkeys. Got a henna tattoo on my arm. That's about it.
That brings us back to present. I successfully got into Indonesia with a one-way, not a return ticket,
after filling out a form and being assured I would not be arrested by the
airline (which I've heard can happen--that form was my guarantee, apparently).
So I can stay here for up to 60 days if I choose. Hmmm....
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