Dutch Friend and Turtle Island (Feb. 24, 25, 2015)

Feb. 24, 2015

Today I had a great day with Selina, the Dutch girl I met last night, and shared a room with. She is really sweet and today we slept in because we were just two in the room, and no snoring. I skipped yoga today for the lovely sleep in, which was fine. 

I got up quite a bit earlier than her, and had a nice FT with family. I certainly do enjoy that to start off my day. When Selina got up, we had some breakfast, then decided to walk to a nearby temple that is by the beach I did yoga on. The temple was small so it didn’t take us very long to walk down there, take a look, and get some photos. Then we just walked for a long time down the beach, stopping for a swim here and there. It was really lovely and very chilled out.

Selina quit her job to travel, and was the Food and Beverage Manager for two restaurants in a large 5 Star Hotel in Rotterdam, Holland. She is very capable, smart, and funny, but is still running on full steam and hasn’t yet come down. She just got to Bali, on her way to Australia, and only quit her job less than two weeks ago. I look at her and totally understand where she is coming from as she still feels that she has to get stuff accomplished in order to be productive and ‘on’. We talked about this and I told her that it took me at least a month or so before I felt that I didn’t have to be doing something all the time anymore. Our day at the temple, beach, and riding around on our scooters, was really enjoyable.

Selina and me in our required sarongs

The Temple we visited

Me on our walk along the beach
Do I remind you of anyone????

Later on, we came back to the hostel to cool off and have a cold drink. Then I received a text from Yulia as we had planned to meet for dinner after her work. She finished late, and the traffic was bad, so we met at a nearby McDonald’s for an ice cream and chat. It was nice to see her, but I had to cut it a bit short because the lightening began, and looked as if it were going to come down like crazy, in a short while. I didn’t want to be on the scooter, going back to the hostel at that point, so I told her that I was leaving before the downpour. Lucky I did, too, because just as I arrived at the hostel, it came down super heavy with loud thunder and very strong winds. It continued well into the night and I was happy I was warm and dry. About a half hour after I returned, Selina came in, soaking wet, saying that she got drenched coming back from using the WiFi at Starbucks.

I went to be fairly early in order to get up in good time for yoga, and to go to Reza’s before he left for the day with his guests, so that I could pick up some items I would need for my journey to Lombok and Gili Islands on Thursday. As well, I have to go and pick up my passport from being processed for my Visa Extension.

Feb. 25, 2015

Today I did my yoga early, got ready and went to Reza’s place to get my snorkel and mask, plus a few other things. I had planned to go to see him first, then to go to his office to get my passport. As my great luck had it, Reza’s guests weren’t ready to go when he thought, and he needed to go to the office to get something. He said that he would pick up the passport for me and return right away as the guests and he were going to a Water Park for the day. I was thrilled, drank a nice coffee, got my stuff together, and waited for him to return. Shortly he did, gave me the passport, and I left for the hostel. Yesterday, Selina and I had spoken to a tour guy and asked about possible outings. An interesting one that sounded cool was a snorkelling trip, in a glass bottom boat, and a visit to Turtle Island. I had texted Selina from Reza’s place when I realized I would be done sooner than I thought. I said that maybe we could do this trip today if she was up for it. She was, and when I returned, we got ready and the driver came around 11:00 to pick us up. 

We went snorkelling, and then to Turtle Island which was so cool. There were many animals and reptiles and birds there that you could touch, take photos with and hold. We saw giant turtles, a toucan that was so cute, a big Python, some fruit bats, and a few others. It was a really great trip. I took a good part of the day, including the lunch, and drive to and from the hostel. We arrived back, happily tired, but satisfied. 

Turtle Farm petting the Iguana

Holding the Hawk

I want to keep this guy.....he's amazing.

Beautiful Pythons

On our way to Turtle Island

Selina and me on the boat

It was a great day, and left enough time to get things organized for tomorrow’s trip to Lombok. I haven’t booked a hostel because everyone says that it’s better to go and speak to the owners there in person, to get the accommodations that aren’t listed, and to get better prices as it’s low season. So that’s what I will do. I am taking a flight there in the morning. The flight is 30 minutes, then taking the Airport Shuttle to Senggigi, Lombok, and will stay in Senggigi for the night. Then I will decide whether I want to stay longer, or go to Gili Air, or one of the other Gili’s. There are three islands just off the west coast of Lombok, to choose from.

I am looking forward to seeing these places. More news once I arrive.