Bali Baby!!

It is so good to be out of Australia! Don’t get me wrong it was fun while it lasted but I’m kind of a weird person and really like being out of my element. Australia was too much like home- but Indonesia is a whole new exciting world. Full of people completely different from me and being in that sort of environment is what makes me truly happy- inspired… Before I left home- while I was planning this little adventure- my mom said that the only time she really hears me happy is when I am planning a trip- “It’s like you’ve won the lottery,” she said. I guess she’s right in some respects but no amount of money can compare to fulfilling my lifelong dreams…

Anyway- I spent the last two days in Kuta, Bali a popular beach destination on the southwest coast of the small Indonesian island. This place is teeming with tourists mostly on holiday soaking up the intense sunrays- and the heat here is unbearable. The humidity weighs you down- clings to you- and the wicked, daily thunderstorms don’t offer any relief but just make it all the more steamy.

The busy beach town is comprised of stonewalled alleyways full of vendors who extend their arms in the direction of their stall and tell you, “yes, my shop- free for looking” as they try to sell you extremely affordable souvenirs. Apartments, houses and hotels are stacked one on top of another and even the most dilapidated abodes are adorned with extremely intricate architecture. Motor bikes race in and out of the confusing labyrinth of streets honking their horns at anything that moves and I was really surprised that in such a touristy place there were practically no beggars.

Religion is a huge part of the culture here and the people are extremely superstitious. Several times a day they leave offerings to the Gods around their homes of rice, flowers, Ritz crackers and burning incense. It was also very interesting to see that rather than erecting statues of famous leaders on horseback with their swords the Balinese have monuments 20 feet tall of their Buddhist Gods decorating the roundabouts in the city centers.

Bali is famed for it’s great surfing and the beach scene here is no different although Kuta’s waves are more geared towards beginners. The palm tree lined beach is littered with boards in all shapes and sizes for rent and eager Balinese men ready to teach you how to ride. I rented a great longboard and after not being on a wave for about 2 years had quite possibly my best surf day ever. The only little glitch was as I was paddling out a local thought it would be funny to tell me that there was a shark- I’m pretty sure he was just looking for a reaction- at least I kept telling myself he was kidding…

I really enjoy the people here- they are so helpful, friendly and thankfully speak English pretty well. It’s such a laid-back happy place- the people work hard but laugh even harder… Anyway, Kuta was fun but I am really looking forward to heading inland- away from all the tourists and really check out what Bali is all about.

The Great Ocean Road

My updates are sort of scattered at this point but after Melbourne we headed out for the Great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road is a stretch of coastal highway that runs from the famous surf town of Torquay to Port Campbell on the south coast of Australia.

As we headed south we stopped in Geelong for a day of jet boating and a helicopter ride over Corio Bay. Both activities were super fun and I really enjoyed my first time in a helicopter.

Then we headed to Torquay where the famous Bells Beach surfing spot is located. This beach is engrained in surf history and hosts the longest running surf competition in the world. Unfortunately the day we were there the surf didn’t live up to its massive standards and we missed the big Rip Curl Pro surf competition by about a week- but it was still a cool place to visit. One surfer declared it, “God’s gift to surfers.” And we had a blast acting out the final scene from Point Break (although that was technically filmed in Oregon).

The Great Ocean Road definitely lived up to its name. The winding road twists and turns around the costal cliffs offering stunning views of the turquoise ocean and large swells. We got to check out the Cape Otway Lighthouse, the oldest operating light station in mainland Australia, and had fun dealing with the extreme heights on the Otway Fly skywalk- the biggest and longest suspended walk in the world. Plus the best part was seeing koalas in eucalyptus trees!!! They have to be one of the cutest animals I have ever seen and all I wanted to do was cuddle one. Although I was informed they aren’t the friendliest animals and would probably rip my eyes out if I went up to one… Yikes! We found three sleeping peacefully in a tree as nocturnal animals do during the day but we managed to shake the tree to wake them up. TYPICAL AMERICANS!!! Oh well it was much more fun when they were awake and the little, fluffy, Yoda looking creatures put on a great show climbing around and eating leaves.

Finally we got to Port Campbell and the highlight of the Great Ocean Road- The Twelve Apostles. The 12 Apostles are these freestanding rock formations that stand about 45 meters high. There are actually only 6 apostles left because the sea and erosion have caused half of them to crumble. I also really liked a place called the London Arch, which was formerly known as the London Bridge, but it too fell back in the 90’s and stranded 2 tourists and their car. I thought man that must have sucked but not as bad as if they had been driving out to the lookout point when it came down. They wouldn’t have had a chance!

Melbourne and Mullets

We spent several days in Melbourne before and after the Great Ocean Road. I really liked this city, it’s completely different than Sydney and that mainly has to do with the culture. Where Sydney came off as a clean, starched shirt, uptight sort of place Melbourne is more gritty, more funky and definitely more alternative.

The young people here have really embraced the whole 80’s style thing. I lost count of the number of leggings and Flock of Seagulls haircuts I saw. It seems every girl owns a pair of leather, flat-soled Pat Benatar style boots in an array of colors and for the men mullets rule in this city.

We spent many nights in shock and sometimes wide-eyed horror at the variety of amazing mullets we saw. Anywhere from skullets (shaved on the top and long in the back) to full blown feathered do’s that would have made Jon Bon Jovi proud 20 years ago.

My favorite part of Melbourne was a section called St. Kilda on the outskirts of the city. Lot’s of fun thrift shops, less 80’s more retro and I figured it would be the perfect place to pierce my little nose. It hurt like hell and despite my mother’s adverse reaction over the phone and a reminder that God didn’t make me that way I think I’ll keep it. She doesn’t usually throw out the God card too often so it made the whole situation all the more hilarious.

Stay Left

I made my first attempt at driving on the left side of the road the other day and despite some eye rolling from the crew and a nervous Steve (or two) I thought it went pretty well.

It wasn’t really all that hard and after almost sideswiping a sign and knocking a few things over in the van, as I got use to the steering, it was basically smooth sailing from there.

As the only female on the trip that volunteered to take on some of the driving burden during this early leg of the trip I expected some nervous glances and maybe even some criticism but what the guys don’t know is that I am sort of a driving fanatic.

Ever since I could remember I loved to drive. When I was a kid I use to tag along with my dad when he went golfing just to drive the cart and would sit on his lap and steer our big family van home after school. Once, I even “borrowed” my mom’s old Buick, when I was about 12-years-old, for a joy ride around the block. My seventeenth birthday (the legal driving age in NJ) couldn’t come fast enough for me or my parents.

Anyway, back to my maiden-driving voyage… So for several days, from Sydney to Melbourne, we had been driving through these really nice, wide, open country roads which helped build up my confidence but it turns out the day I decided to try my hand behind the wheel the Great Ocean Road became a great winding road. I had to tackle one of the toughest parts of the drive with hairpin turns and steep cliffs around every turn.

Other than Shoppman crying out “whoa, whoa, whoa” (when I almost hit the sign) there were no other comments about my day as campervan driver and only time will tell if I get handed the keys again.