“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”

― Khalil Gibran

Day 5

SEMINYAKA, LEGIAN & KUTA

I remember this day started out with a really beautiful morning~

E & I woke up and decided to walk to the cake shop nearby for some cakes for breakfast.

Look at how happy she is! :)

So we bought quite a few cakes & pastries and went back to the villa to share,

because sharing is caring!

After breakfast, we decided to head off to Legian again for more shopping~

The first shop we went to was this shop that sells everything related to Bob Marley,

it reminds me of Jamaica~

Oh~ Jamaica~ I'll be back soon~

Then another interesting shop we went to was selling tons of dainty accessories which I love!

I got myself a silver ring!

Last year, I was crazy about bracelets~

This year, slim dainty rings are my latest craze!

Then along the way, we stopped at this shop because E wanted to look for something~ but she couldnt find it, hence her sad face! Heh.

I couldnt stand being in that store for too long... Pink overload!

Yes, I'm not a fan of pink.

Then after shopping around, we stopped for some Hotdogs at Skooby!

It was a really good meal :)
And it made me happy!

~~~

After the meal~
 we decided to head to Kuta Beach one last time before our flight to take more pictures,
enjoy the sea breeze and see if it was possible for me to say goodbye to a friend I met the night before.

The thing is, Kuta Beach isn't exactly a small area and there are tons of people~
So, I didnt get to say goodbye...

But~ I did managed to enjoy my time at the beach~
and... apparently, it seems like it wasnt time for a goodbye then...
Because he will be in Singapore in a few days time~

I would love if the weather wasn't so hot and humid but~ looking at these photos now...

I was in paradise~

We cheated a little by seeking shade under the lifeguards' umbrella...

and in a way, I was glad we did!

Look at the gorgeous lady I snapped in the photo below while I was under the shade!

I swear, I was just taking this photo to show how many people there were... but ya, you can thank me now

Sexy, huh~

(You're welcome.)

The next sexy creature is this dog here!

The dog was together with the lifeguards who are all really friendly and funny to talk too as well!

It's so adorable~ It was so relaxed, and looked really peaceful napping away~

Anyway~ here are the photos by the beach that were taken by my awesome cousin~!

And as always~

Something goofy!

After the sun, sand and sea~

We headed back to the villa, showered, packed and finished an entire bottle of wine

before heading to the airport.

Mid flight,

I guess~

They are all really tired but Et & I couldn't resist a good photo moment like that!

Hahaha~

In the end,

Bali was a really good trip~

One that I needed and truly enjoyed!!!

It was sort of bitter sweet when we got to the oh~so~familiar immigration point

and it hit me that I'm back to Singapore.

But the moment my mum run and skip towards me

with open arms the moment she spotted me...

and my dad giving me the "that's your mother" expression with a smile.

(Hahahaha~)

Being home, isn't that bad~ but that moment is forever imprinted into my memory.

Until my next wanderlust hits!

Here's a video to wrap things up!

“All journeys eventually end in the same place, home.” 

― Chris Geiger

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for”

 – John A. Shedd

Day 4

UBUD, LEGIAN & KUTA 

A day of fun, more aches, massage & alcohol!

On this day, we woke up early for our next happening activity~

Water Rafting!

We had a pickup that drove us to Ayung River, we got changed and started making our way down a very scary narrow winding steps of a staircase.

So not funny~

But, we made it down anyway and there lies our raft!

Ever since I did water rafting in Nepal,

it has been one of the activities I try to do wherever I travel to!

I love the adrenaline rush & the fact that I can enjoy the scenery as we raft down the river~ 

We made a stop at this waterfall for a photo moment~

I know the water does not look as clean, but it felt really cool & refreshing!

Trust me, I know~

Because CK decided that it will be very fun to splash water (throughout our rafting journey) 

and even pour water down my back.

Regardless, the whole experience of rafting together was awesome~

We are a crazy bunch.

Along the way, we also stopped for a break and beverages~

There were a handful of resort along this river and

 most of them look like it would be a bliss to stay there~

The view from the rooms must be awesome!

Apparently, there are a few levels of rafting down this river, I think ours was a 3..

Maybe the next time round, I will attempt a few levels up.

And remember the scary steps I mentioned early?

The one which we used to descend to river to start our rafting,

while we were going down, I said "if we are climbing all the way down now, I think we have to face a long flight of stairs to get up later"

...

I was right.

Super tiring~!

But we weren't complaining because there were a few local aunties who were climbing up the stairs too...

but they had to carry all the equipment we used, even deflated raft (must be super heavy) up!

And the most remarkable thing is that they were balancing them on their heads while ascending up!

We were just climbing up with nothing heavy...

So yes, we did vent our tiredness but kept climbing up with admiration for these ladies~ 

~~~

Then we did a quick wash up and headed to the dining area~

We had lunch included in our water rafting package which was awesome, 

because I was starving!

And after all the activities,
I started feeling the aches settling in and I told myself mentally:

And I was right~

After my meal,

 getting up from the bench was painful...
Hahaha~

I'm so weak.

~~~

After lunch, we were driven back to our villa where we had a nice shower before heading out to shop until it was time for our massage therapy!

But not before we goofed around a little outside of our villa, taking ootds & random shots...

Because we can.

I find this photo below the funniest,
because this was captured by ET and her instructions were:

"Flip your hair"

And Taadaa~

E looks cool in this~

I like!

During our stay in Bali,

we passed by Jalan Raya Legian a lot~

Saw tons of cool shops!

 So with an hour to spare,

we head to this stretch of street to shop!

I was eyeing these necklaces to add to my collection of funky items from countries I've been too...

but they looked weird on my neck.

So~ I shall settle for a photo of it instead :(

I still think they are gorgeous~

~~~

Then, mid shopping, I collapsed and went to A&E...

...
...
...

HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I'm kidding~
My dad freaked out when he saw the photo above.



It was just part of our spa experience~
Oxygen Therapy

We had a great full body massage that eased some of my muscles ache temporarily~
followed up by the oxygen therapy which I thought was hilarious but in a way~ my lungs felt very clean after.

~~~

After spa, we had dinner and decided to spend our last night in Bali with some partying at Sky Garden!

I think clubbing in Bali is pretty awesome~

Free entry + Free booze

and, their free boozes are really strong!

Not the weak watered down stuff...

I tasted alcohol.

Which~ kind of explain why I look weird in all the photos below...

Hahahaha~

E noticed something strange~ after clubbing...

With the alcohol pumping through our bodies, our muscles didnt ache while we danced like crazy people!

I swear, I didnt realised it until she mentioned it..

Because I was lifting my arms up (which I couldnt managed when sober), swaying around (which would hurt when sober) and even just walking around with ease (which would have ache with every step when sober)!

But we felt the pain the next morning... but still~ our bodies were pain-free while it lasted~

Thanks, E for keeping an eye out for me and being such an awesome wing-woman!

p.s. Avoid taking cabs near clubs after 12am because they are opportunists!

US$30 for a ride that is usually SG$3!!!

I will remember E's reaction from this night as she rejects cab drivers~

“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves, and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again—to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.”

- Pico Iyer

"It's all about where your mind's at"

-Kelly Slater

Day 3

KUTA

This is a day where we said,

enough of slacking around and eating like a true Singaporean.

Today,

we surf.

There are tons of surfing schools & instructors along Kuta,

We choose ODYSSEYS Surf School because E learnt surfing from them the other round 

& the rates are pretty decent for us.

So, they taught us the basics of how to stand up on the board to surf on the sand.

It's really common sense~

3 Simple Steps~

...

...

...

Until, you do it out on the waves...

HAHAHA!

We did the morning class because the waves are smaller in the morning~

That being said,

the first time I went out to sea with my board and the first big "small" wave came crashing at me...

I went under and tumbled.

HAHAHA!

First gulp of salty water.

I think on a whole, the guys did better than us~

After a few times with the instructor, they were paddling out on their own~

Catching the waves and surfing like a free man~

And the most humorous comment I heard for that period was from CK:

"I went to paddle out and realised that I didnt know how to turn the board around"

He got hit by the waves & tumbled seconds later...

But kudos to him for giving it the first go~

I still have no idea how to turn the board around. 

Surfing felt like walking for the very first time.

It sounds simple but come to the crunch time,

my limbs go to "Scumbag" mode and have their own thoughts.

The instructor even asked me if I was afraid of the waves...

I told him honestly:

"No.. My body just dont listen to my brain."

From that moment onward,

he started shouting instructions:

"Push up, Right Leg, Left Leg"

I made my first stand.

It didnt last very long...

Part of the reason was because I stood up too straight.

Haha!

My cousin and E did well too~

In fact, all of us managed to stand up on the board.

Surfing  is tiring.

Every time you fail,

you end up back in the sea,

tumbled around by the waves

& occasionally, getting whacked by the board.

Then there are 2 alternatives:

Quit

or

Get back out there and try again.

The whole process is pretty spiritual.

Each fall fueled my determination to stand up.

This is my determined face:

The second part of our session was tough,

the waves were BIGGER and oh man~

each waves actually pushed me back so far,

by the time I was far out enough,

I was panting.

The up side to bigger waves is the surfing experience.

But it was during this period that I actually felt pangs of fear.

I only called Quits after getting injured, I had too~

 I reached shore on my board,

took a step down on the beach with one foot,

 and the other on the board..

the waves came in and in that instant,

I knew I was going to hurt myself...

Because of the force,

I did an instant split...

Felt something popped

and went jelly-legged.

Hahaha~

So much for being flexible when I was younger.

Thankfully, by the time I injured myself~

Our session was close to over.

~~~

After surfing, we washed up and had a light meal before entering 

Waterbom!

And the very first water ride, E and I took was awesome~

They called it the Boomerang.

The first time we did it, we didnt go as high up.

But the second time was so~ fun!

The trick is speed.

On the whole~ Waterbom is pretty alright~

Perhaps it was because we took all of the scariest ride first...

So the rest of the rides and attractions seem pretty meh~

If you do go to Waterbom, try out the Climax ride!

It was so scary and funny at the same time!

One moment you are standing, after 3 seconds (the ride does a countdown for you)...

A dead drop and it's water splashing all over all the way until you realised that it's over...

and you have the ultimate wedgie.

(They didnt allow any cameras etc, but this video is pretty good~)

Tip: Try your best to keep your legs crossed.

And yes, it's normal for your legs to open up the moment you drop.

Haha!

After everything, we chilled along the Lazy River~

And allowed our body to take some time off.

Day 3 was awesome~

But, the aftermath of it...

I felt it in every muscle of my body..

One little step ahead,

One little step up the stairs..

Even getting into the cab was painful.

Overall, it was worth it~ 

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

-Dr. Seuss