1 month in Bali

This blog post marks the end of our first month in Bali, an extremely scary feeling appears when we realise how fast time has passed and is going to carry on passing at this rapid rate. We will be back home in South Africa before we even know what has hit us, but until then...the party, and studying continues!

We had last Monday off from varsity, National Braai day for us Suid Afrikaaners, and we visited Sanur, a beach about 45 minutes away from where we live. The sand was the whitest we have seen and the water was clear, perfect for snorkelling. We met some of the other students there and we all had lunch and a Bintang together. I found a lightning fast worm in my prawn and avo salad, you dont get any fresher than that do you, im not complaining. Although all we could think about was how nice a chop on the braai and some potato bake would be throughout the entire day, it was a good day with being able to swim in the clear blue water and relaxing with friends.

Tuesday was full of Guest lectures again, by full of we mean two because they do take up most of our day. The one lecturer, John Daniels, a.k.a Jack Daniels, we enjoyed listening to very much. Who wouldnt like a man nicknamed Jack Daniels though? His advice to us as students studying Events Management, "A good Events Manager is someone who knows how to invite somebody to hell" or "Invite them to hell and make them enjoy the trip". A very interesting statement but so true at the same time.

We had our first ever "client meetings" on Wednesday with our project groups and our cbl tutor who acted as the client. A completely new experience for all three of us and although we had no idea what to expect going into it, we all survived and due to this we decided a good party was in order. This we have become very good at after scouting out the best places for the free and cheapest booze. Our newest dicovery, Green Box, which is literally just a small green box of a room with a bar counter, is our new favourite place.

We had the greatest time at the Green Box and we have already been inducted to the wall of fame based on our drinking antics that night.

Our weekend started on Wednesday, basically a little holiday and we have become very skilled at not doing much at all and as said before the time seems to fly making it seem like we never get anything done, ever. Thursday came and we made an irrational decision to rent scooters. I then decided it would probably be a good idea to try and actually ride a scooter before we get too ahead of ourselves. This ended really badly, so much so that I have many bruises and scrapes, some financial debt but no broken bones, luckily. What we learnt from this incident is, ALWAYS where a helmet or a fun time in Bali could be very short lived. As a result of my accident we have put the scooter renting on hold, something we are all bleak about but we like having no broken bones so it is probably a wise choice.

Thursday night came, along with a night at Eikon and all you can drink for 100,000 rupee or in rands, just less than a hundred bucks. Bintang and Purple Nurples (Balinese Wine mixed with we dont know what) were consumed at a speedy pace and before we knew what had hit us, it was nearly 3 in the morning and another mission to find a taxi where the driver would actually take us home without grumbling too much because he couldnt rip us off properly like all the other tourists hunting for a ride home. It can now be said that we are slowly losing our 'toursit' status in Bali.

Sami Bosman learnt to speak Dutch in a few hours and lost the ability to speak it within the hours after that. Most entertaining, along with our new dutch slogan "we spruiken af bij de kikkerfontein", tranlsation "meet me at the frog fountain". Code for see you in the swimming pool. 


 

Friday was spent indoors as we experienced our first rainy day of the rainy season. This 'rainy season' will not be enjoyed at all and it is hoped we wont experience too much of it while we are in Bali. A visit to Potato Head was paid where we bought tickets for Foster and the People on Saturday. Friday night was also spent indoors as we prepared ourselves for the debauchery which would ensue the next day at the last beach party before the rain comes for good.

 

Waking up on Saturday feeling as if  it wasnt even my birthday and we werent going to be watching Foster and the People live, was a feeling that was soon replaced by the feeling of absolute awe while we stood in the crowd at Potato Head and felt the amazing energy around us, a moment of crazy happiness. The most amazing firweorks display that all three of us have ever seen just topped the day off as well. Definitely something that will not be forgotten by choice.

 

It has been another week of injuries, fights and fun, and we cant wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.