3/19
I first want to start off by thanking everyone who has been keeping up with my blog. I realize that I have not been writing in it as frequently as I would like or as I was when I first started but thank you. As I am traveling to these beautiful locations around southeast Asia and engaging in activities with my school, I often think about what I would be doing had I not 3 years ago walked into Dr. Legget's office or even gone to Morgan. How would things be different had I not played sports in college or if I had moved to North Carolina after graduating? What would I be doing right now if I had not just returned from Bali, Indonesia for a week long vacation? How would my life be different if our mother had not passed away? What would have happened if my father, family and community were not there to raise my two sisters and I? I recently returned from Tanah Lot temple outside of Ubud, Bali. While amazed at the majestic sunset in the background of this pristine and setting, I realized that without those things happening or not happening maybe I wouldn't be here to appreciate this. Everything happens for a reason and I those different circumstances shaped me to who I am today. THANK YOU
The last two weeks have been veeeeeeeeery interesting to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I live in a animal clinic with the animals or lizards that pass through the apartment. I've seen sooooooo many different types of new species of animals and heard so many different bird calls that I feel like I could be a Zoologist and have a second degree. The ETA's and mentors had a meeting at Sekayu waterfalls. Sekayu is amongst the heavy tourist attractions in the state of Terengganu. I went fishing for the first time in a long time and made my own pole. That's probably why I didn't catch any fish. The next week would prove to be even more of an adventure.
When I booked my ticket to go to Bali almost two months ago, I would never have thought that I would have the experiences that I have been through. I set out Wednesday night on the trip with the "intentions" that everything would go as planned. Firstly, the bus ride was about 7 hrs to KL which was not bad because we got to sleep on the ride. Once we arrived at PWTC at 5 am, we met up with my friend who agreed to pick us up and take us around before taking us to the airport before our flight. We arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia at midnight and decided to take a van to the ferry in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. What we did not anticipate was the ride to the point. We fell asleep shortly after renting the van. When we woke up that next morning, we still had 3 hours to go at 8 am. Our driver, who knew no English, and had been driving all night decided to stop 2 hours out at his friend's house to take a break and so we could eat. After that we drove 2 hours to the ferry point whee we would catch it to the Bali island. Once we got to the island, we caught a bus that promised the ride would only be 30 mins to Denpasar where we would then catch a taxi another hour down the road to Ubud. WELL.....it actually turned out to be one of the longest, most beautiful, scenery enriched, non air-conditioned, and tightest traveling trip of all time. The trip lasted 4 hours but we drove along the coast, passed rice patties, and passed through lush jungles! When we arrived in Ubud, we checked into our hostel and was elated at how nice it was. The group couldn't wait to go out as that's something that is not as readily accessible here in KT. The spot to be at was called The Laughing Buddha. Jazz, Funk, Salsa, and Groove all were being played by a multitude of different musicians. The next day we decided to take a tour around Ubud and surrounding areas so we visited The Elephant Caves, 4 different temples and saw Mount Kintamani. All were spectacular. My favorite being the last temple, Tanah Lot, about 20 mins out of Ubud. When we pulled up to the temple it was about 6 pm so the sun was just over the cliff that we were now approaching. As we walked to the edge of the cliff, we embraced a sunset over the water and reflected off this temple that stretched out on a inlet. This has to be one of the top 10 most beautiful sights I have ever seen. It was simply......a blessing. The way the orange, yellow, pink, and reds reflected off the water was undoubtedly gorgeous. We spent most of our time at the temple taking pictures and reflecting. The next day we traveled to Kuta, Bali.
Kuta was only about an 30 mins away from our first 3 nights in Ubud but it was night and day compared to Ubud. Kuta is the more touristy area as oppose to Ubud which is more cultural relevant. Beaches, beaches, reggae music, parasailing, interesting hostel, AND lost itouch just about sums it alllll up. When we arrived it was afternoon and our first order of business was to get a hotel or hostel for the night. We found this spot close to the beach and soon realized what we were paying for was location not quality. The only thing that worked there was the price. Nevertheless, we got the room then decided to go to the beach and enjoy the sun and water. That night we met up with two other ETAs who were also on the trip and we all went out to a Reggae spot and had a BALL!!! It's nothing like reggae music. It changes your whole perspective on everything. One of the things that I decide I wanted to do even before i went on the trip was that I wanted to go parasailing. I went to Tanjung Benoa Beach which is known for its watersport activities and went parasailing. What a experience! Scary at first but you get used to it. I had a wonderful time. That night we went BACK to the reggae spot and again had a wonderful time. The next day I woke up and looked around for my itouch to charge it. I couldn't find it...."ok think think think...where did I have it last???!?!" I must've went through the hostel 4 times looking for it. Last night, after I came back from being out I went back to the mart to use the itouch there and remember walking back with it. NOW, I don't have it. The logical explanation is that I dropped along the way of only about 100 m from the mart to our hostel. BUT I know better to be that careless with an electronic. Where could it have been? I retraced my steps that next morning atleast 5 times hoping that it fell on the ground or grass and that all of Bali that night walked right past it unnoticed. BUT I know better than that also. I always try to look at the positive side of things so I keep telling myself that atleast it wasn't my wallet or passport because then THAT would be a problem. It could always be worse. The next couple of days I met a lot of wonderful people who were from Bali and surrounding islands and we had long talks about everything. That night not to break suite, Kelley, Elizabeth and I went back to the reggae spot. I saw some of those same people I met at the beach earlier and we all had a great time.
Even though I lost the itouch, it was times like this past week that make life that much better. Good food, interesting adventures, beautiful scenery, and great company! THANK YOU
PICS!!!
I first want to start off by thanking everyone who has been keeping up with my blog. I realize that I have not been writing in it as frequently as I would like or as I was when I first started but thank you. As I am traveling to these beautiful locations around southeast Asia and engaging in activities with my school, I often think about what I would be doing had I not 3 years ago walked into Dr. Legget's office or even gone to Morgan. How would things be different had I not played sports in college or if I had moved to North Carolina after graduating? What would I be doing right now if I had not just returned from Bali, Indonesia for a week long vacation? How would my life be different if our mother had not passed away? What would have happened if my father, family and community were not there to raise my two sisters and I? I recently returned from Tanah Lot temple outside of Ubud, Bali. While amazed at the majestic sunset in the background of this pristine and setting, I realized that without those things happening or not happening maybe I wouldn't be here to appreciate this. Everything happens for a reason and I those different circumstances shaped me to who I am today. THANK YOU
The last two weeks have been veeeeeeeeery interesting to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I live in a animal clinic with the animals or lizards that pass through the apartment. I've seen sooooooo many different types of new species of animals and heard so many different bird calls that I feel like I could be a Zoologist and have a second degree. The ETA's and mentors had a meeting at Sekayu waterfalls. Sekayu is amongst the heavy tourist attractions in the state of Terengganu. I went fishing for the first time in a long time and made my own pole. That's probably why I didn't catch any fish. The next week would prove to be even more of an adventure.
When I booked my ticket to go to Bali almost two months ago, I would never have thought that I would have the experiences that I have been through. I set out Wednesday night on the trip with the "intentions" that everything would go as planned. Firstly, the bus ride was about 7 hrs to KL which was not bad because we got to sleep on the ride. Once we arrived at PWTC at 5 am, we met up with my friend who agreed to pick us up and take us around before taking us to the airport before our flight. We arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia at midnight and decided to take a van to the ferry in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. What we did not anticipate was the ride to the point. We fell asleep shortly after renting the van. When we woke up that next morning, we still had 3 hours to go at 8 am. Our driver, who knew no English, and had been driving all night decided to stop 2 hours out at his friend's house to take a break and so we could eat. After that we drove 2 hours to the ferry point whee we would catch it to the Bali island. Once we got to the island, we caught a bus that promised the ride would only be 30 mins to Denpasar where we would then catch a taxi another hour down the road to Ubud. WELL.....it actually turned out to be one of the longest, most beautiful, scenery enriched, non air-conditioned, and tightest traveling trip of all time. The trip lasted 4 hours but we drove along the coast, passed rice patties, and passed through lush jungles! When we arrived in Ubud, we checked into our hostel and was elated at how nice it was. The group couldn't wait to go out as that's something that is not as readily accessible here in KT. The spot to be at was called The Laughing Buddha. Jazz, Funk, Salsa, and Groove all were being played by a multitude of different musicians. The next day we decided to take a tour around Ubud and surrounding areas so we visited The Elephant Caves, 4 different temples and saw Mount Kintamani. All were spectacular. My favorite being the last temple, Tanah Lot, about 20 mins out of Ubud. When we pulled up to the temple it was about 6 pm so the sun was just over the cliff that we were now approaching. As we walked to the edge of the cliff, we embraced a sunset over the water and reflected off this temple that stretched out on a inlet. This has to be one of the top 10 most beautiful sights I have ever seen. It was simply......a blessing. The way the orange, yellow, pink, and reds reflected off the water was undoubtedly gorgeous. We spent most of our time at the temple taking pictures and reflecting. The next day we traveled to Kuta, Bali.
Kuta was only about an 30 mins away from our first 3 nights in Ubud but it was night and day compared to Ubud. Kuta is the more touristy area as oppose to Ubud which is more cultural relevant. Beaches, beaches, reggae music, parasailing, interesting hostel, AND lost itouch just about sums it alllll up. When we arrived it was afternoon and our first order of business was to get a hotel or hostel for the night. We found this spot close to the beach and soon realized what we were paying for was location not quality. The only thing that worked there was the price. Nevertheless, we got the room then decided to go to the beach and enjoy the sun and water. That night we met up with two other ETAs who were also on the trip and we all went out to a Reggae spot and had a BALL!!! It's nothing like reggae music. It changes your whole perspective on everything. One of the things that I decide I wanted to do even before i went on the trip was that I wanted to go parasailing. I went to Tanjung Benoa Beach which is known for its watersport activities and went parasailing. What a experience! Scary at first but you get used to it. I had a wonderful time. That night we went BACK to the reggae spot and again had a wonderful time. The next day I woke up and looked around for my itouch to charge it. I couldn't find it...."ok think think think...where did I have it last???!?!" I must've went through the hostel 4 times looking for it. Last night, after I came back from being out I went back to the mart to use the itouch there and remember walking back with it. NOW, I don't have it. The logical explanation is that I dropped along the way of only about 100 m from the mart to our hostel. BUT I know better to be that careless with an electronic. Where could it have been? I retraced my steps that next morning atleast 5 times hoping that it fell on the ground or grass and that all of Bali that night walked right past it unnoticed. BUT I know better than that also. I always try to look at the positive side of things so I keep telling myself that atleast it wasn't my wallet or passport because then THAT would be a problem. It could always be worse. The next couple of days I met a lot of wonderful people who were from Bali and surrounding islands and we had long talks about everything. That night not to break suite, Kelley, Elizabeth and I went back to the reggae spot. I saw some of those same people I met at the beach earlier and we all had a great time.
Even though I lost the itouch, it was times like this past week that make life that much better. Good food, interesting adventures, beautiful scenery, and great company! THANK YOU
PICS!!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2083068&id=11104806&l=262b326ca7
