I get up early and thrash out some blog. Sooooo boring. Ha. Julie has decided to stay a little longer in Bali, ha, maybe I convinced her. So when she arrives we have a look at what we should do. Moto time!!! Of course, being up so early means that I haven't had anything to eat, so we'll get something after we get the Moto. I think the best plan is if Juli does the talking, being from Indonesia and what not. Though we did make a mistake, in that I was standing there and so they could clearly see that a white person was involved. She manages to get a bit of a discount, but nowhere near the 'real' price. What is more unbelievable is the fact that Juli has to show no divers license or anything to get the Moto, and nobody asks me for anything either, and I'm the one who drives the Moto off. Love how relaxed everything is.
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We go to meet Juli's friend Rosa for lunch, she is the one that got married the other day. I'm not sure what level of English to expect, but I am pleasantly surprised that English isn't a problem over lunch, not that it really matters to me. I have my Asian English, my special weapon. I get Juli to pick something for me to eat, I ask for spicy and local. That's what I get, it was delicious. After lunch Juli and I are going to head to Ulwatu, which is a temple on the coast in the south of Bali. I have left Juli in charge of directions, while I will be in charge of ensuring that we don't die, I think it is a good deal. Of course I wouldn't want to leave complete directional control to Juli, so I have a good idea about the direction we should be going. Yet as we are plodding along the main road, Juli shouts that we should take a right, just because there is a sign. Now if I know one thing about Asia, it's that just because there is one sign, doesn't mean that there will ever be another one, but Juli is in charge, so I take the right. The effect this has is taking us off the main road and instead down a narow local road, that is packed with cars meaning that it will take twice as long. Good one Juli! I warn Juli that if we miss the sunset due to this mistake that I will leave her in Ulwatu, maybe throw her in the sea!
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When we arrive there is a good buzz about the place, a lot of people scurrying around taking various photos and looking around. I jump up to the wall to get a look out over the sea. There is a nice breeze and the view is epic. I can see down to the violent ocean crashing against the cliff face that I am standing on top of. The ocean is so blue and the surf looks majestic. The temple is on a cliff that is higher than where I am standing. We are not allowed in to this temple either, seems to be a common thing in Indonesia, from where I have been. We are here just in time for the fire dance, which is something that I wanted to see. There is no sunset, so Juli will be going in the sea after the show. Though she claims that it is due to the weather and not her bad directions. Lies!
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We get in just as the show has started. We are packed in to a semi circular tiered seating area, the seats are so close that I am sitting almost with my chin between my knees. There are a group of men sitting cross legged on the ground, rocking backwards and forwards, making the most amazing noises, with just their voices. This goes on for quite some time, and I'm starting to think that this is all the show is. Then more characters enter and the area is changed around to depict a story. I should really have read the english sheet that I got that explained all this to me. Instead I will watch and take photos, Juli can read the story as it is all unfolding as she has seen it before. I must say the show was amazing, I really enjoyed it, and it was so much more than I had expected, thus further confirming my system of having no expectations and therefore can only be pleased. The stand out from the show was this character who was dressed as a monkey who interacted with the crowd and generated some good moments of laughter. One of his more questionable moments was when he was surrounded in a ring of fire. In the story he then becomes possessed by some spirit, in reality he stands up and starts kicking the flaming kindle about the place. Most of it was directed away from the crowd, but there were a few fire balls that were sent hurtling towards people. I love it, the shrieks of fear/excitement and perhaps even a little bit of terror. A much more authentic experience. Other characters of mention include a hunchback, an evil monkey thing, evil santa and some minions. After the show is over there was the opportunity to get your photo taken with some of the cast. Juli practically strong arms me up to get my photo taken with the monkey, something I would never have done if I had been on my own, I would just have left, instead I have the great privilege of getting up and close to a sweaty man dressed like a monkey. Just time for the toilet before we head back. I must say, one of the worst I have been in, the noxious gases nearly prevent me from entering! Phew!
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Back on the Moto and we have some night time driving. Great. Really not my favourite, with the much larger % of death. Anyway, off we go, much quicker on the way home, as it always is. On the way back Juli want to stop in some local place for some food. We go to a padang restaurant, and Juli fills my plate with some things. One of them is gulai otak, I eat it up as usual, then Juli tells me what it is. Good old cow brain! Great, sure it has been a while since I have eaten anything weird. It was not unpleasant, kind of had a texture of marshmallows, and a curry flavour. Juli tells me that she has never tried it. Nice of her to offer it to me. I insist on her trying some, which she does. Mmmmmm curry marshmallows. We drop the Moto back at the hostel and then head round to potato head for a few drinks by the sea. Though we are not getting back to the hostel until 3am. Nice.