More on Bali

Hello again dear blog followers.  I write to you as I take in my last few hours of Balinese sunshine--rather, hide from the sunshine as I still can't seem to spread my sunscreen in an even layer that eliminates patchy burns. Anyway...

As wonderful and luxurious as these last two weeks have been, I am ready to move back to a more structured schedule, so to speak, where I have things I have to do each day, and people that I will be spending more than a few hours with.  I must admit that being the lonely tourist in Bali has worn me down a bit, and I was feeling a bit homesick and quite anxious about aimlessly traveling around.  I grew tired of walking around a town by myself to take in the sights and find the best place to ask for another "table for one." 

To quell my loneliness I tried to make myself busier.  I visited a monkey sanctuary one afternoon.  This was a lush garden park in the middle of Ubud with hundreds of monkeys crawling all over everything, including you if you are in possession of any food.  There are stands to buy bananas so you can intentionally feed them, or they will crawl up your leg to find any scraps you may have forgotten in your handbag. 

I found a wonderful open air yoga studio to practice at.  Classes were a bit of a sweaty mess, considering Bali's humidity and proximity to the equator, but it was nice to practice with other people again.

And I finally found the courage to try surfing. I stopped in at one of many surf shops to sign up for a three hour lesson.  Apparently surfing and snowboarding are pretty similar in terms of finding balance, but my one attempt at snowboarding (during which I spent more time on my butt than on my feet) did not inspire any confidence in my ability to stand on a surfboard. Turns out I am a natural and I stood up right away!  Okay, maybe lucky is the more appropriate word as it took another hour to stand again, and I managed to clock myself in the head twice while pursuing success.  I should also point out that the waves I was surfing on were probably laughable to anyone who actually knows what they are doing on a surfboard, but I don't care...small victories!

My three hours of surfing turned into an entire afternoon playing on the beach with a rowdy crowd of Balinese guys running a little concession stand on the beach. I returned to the same spot for several more days after that, as they made quite an entertaining bunch.  I also found myself on a lunch and dinner date with my surf instructor since I failed to play the "I have a boyfriend back home" card. It was nice having company for a couple meals, but I will not admit to being single again anytime soon...too hard to get rid of the pursuer without being flat out mean.

I finally met another lonely traveler hanging out on the beach as well.  We both lamented the woes of traveling alone on an island seemingly made for groups or couples, and spent the following three days together.  Much of the time we just lounged at the beach which would normally make me crazy, but to do so in company of a friend is much more tolerable.  At night we went to various sleazy night clubs where we sat passing judgment on the other girls wearing dresses so short you could see their underwear (or unfortunate lack of it) and speculating on their loose morals while on holiday.  Sure it was a bit cynical, but at least my only regrets the next day were my unfortunate booze choices still lingering in my stomach and head (keeping me off a surfboard for another day).

Making friends really enhanced the last few days of vacation here on Bali, but I am happy to be moving on.  I will report back soon(ish) on the elephants and whatever else Thailand has to offer.

Your worldly correspondent, Richelle Jean Rothman