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Bali, Indonesia, 24-03-2009

Abakabar! Hope u are doing pine! Get a kopi and hape a bleak and enjoy leading this! .. okay, I'll stop the 'Balinese English' as it might be 'hald to pollow' :). Anyway, we are at our last day of what comes close to paradise; Bali certainly has a lot to offer! After NZ and OZ we had been spoiled but Bali took it to the next level. With its constant 30+ degrees, almost the same watertemperature, great food, awesome surfing, diving, cheap shopping and last but not least its warm people and rich culture! We went with the flow, as in Bali there is no other time than time to relax, although we did it all.

First night we stayed in a hotel a bit out of town, pre-booked thru the lonely-planet, something we learned to do out of comfort and ensure a place to stay :)). Right away we enjoyed the tasty chicken-satay and it's funny to recognize that many things, especially from the menu. Although after the 300+ years of Dutch rule, I would not have mind Bali still being a 'Dutch province' (would be nice to go for a long weekend on the 'strippenkaart':)). Anyway we enjoyed the Nasi/ Mie Goreng, Krupuk, Gado-gado with satay, Babi Kecap or Ayam, which we tried twice a day as it's delicious and at ridiculous prices (diner for 2, with fresh juice, like 40.000... ok sounds a lot, but is not even 3 euro total!).

We took good use of the energy though, as we right away booked a 2-day surf course (with Zayde's teacher from last year). 'Zayruca' showed to be a Surf-chick though, and also I quickly picked up where I had left off in Fuerteventura. We got out in the green, rode some sick waves man and did some hang 10s.. though mostly hangin' them while flying off the board..

To sooth our athletic bodies after all this, of course a massage was very welcoming. Actually we did that every day.. even had my first facial ;0. We also soon integrated with the locals; Zayde with half the shop-owners, doing import-exports.. bizniz woman as she is, it never goes out of style. But also with Zarai/Zihomy's roots-rock-reggae friends from last year (greetz from Barong -and his wailers- from Popies 1!). Besides relaxing, we also took time to explore the cultural side of Bali and rented our personal driver (as driving yourself is nuts here!), which was called Mowgli, yes he even looks like the famous jungle-boy (and Mulya, could that be your brother?). We explored (somos exploradores) hindu-temples, with monkeys, rice-fields, volcanoes, beautiful and funny dance-cabarets and almost every day witnessed a ritual, festival or ceremony.

Well now I just came back from a great shipwreck-dive, while Zayde was arranging the cargo and relaxing, and sad to be at our last day. I have a feeling though we'll be back.. but don't worry Wouter, I won't join your honeymoon!

Speaking of which; congrats (again) to Zihomy and Remy with their first (legal) step in that direction! Great to see a 'half Dutch' joining the family! (I'll forgive the other half :0). And to top it all off, joy and happiness to Rilana's new born Julius!

In moments like this I wish I could be at different places at the same time, perhaps with a 'Luuk-a-like', but until we haven't worked out that quantum-physics (Raz?) we'll ensure to just enjoy the present and being us, right here, right now!

Enjoy yourself, there's nobody else who can do that for you (old Balinese saying), as we are off to our last massage ('pull body') and tomorrow off to Nepal!

Abrazo para ellos, besos para ellas,

Luuk & Zayde