Keeping up with Beth

Our next day in Uluwatu was a ‘get things done’ day. We had been very effortlessly been looking into extending our visas, without much practical action to it but after a little message from our project manager, she suggested we get it started ASAP so we don’t risk the time running out, save ourselves too much hassle. So we listened and our main goal for the day was finding a visa office and setting the cogs into motion.

It wasn’t too hard and BaliVisas were incredible, made the whole process easy as anything (after we found their office- between copying the location from Google to GoJek we had some issues) and we just followed their direction entirely, they were so lovely too!

But important note, before we extended our visa from 30 days to 60 days, we did have to have proof of onward flight. Criteria for entering bali is always having an exit flight but there’s ways to reserve the flight seats for entry… potentially cheeky but worked perfect for us.

So we had to rush around in the morning before we left for the visa office to choose and book our flight out, deciding literally everything there and then.

In case you’re not well acquainted with Jack and I, we’re not preplanners. We’re more than happy to decide as we go and go with the flow.

So no, we didn’t know where we were going next. We didn’t have a plan to when we wanted to leave, we didn’t even know what we wanted to do with another month in Indonesia.

But an hour later, we had decided 2/3.

So keep an eye out to see where we head to next!

Continuing

We didn’t do so much the rest of that day, our task had been completed, we just had to make sure our laundry got sorted, we needed some cash and sorted some food!

I also had a violent headache that day, probably from so much organisation- it’s not good for you kids! And I just wanted to spend all day in bed (hardly much difference). There was a spa across the road that looked pretty nice and since I hadn’t tried a massage yet, it seemed like a good day for trying out the famous and unmissable ‘balinese massage’ and man- it was good.

For starters, the place was amazing. They had a lovely building and the staff were all very gentle and smiley. It felt no different than walking into a salon back home, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

Once we got up, they had everything ready let me change, washed my feet (!) and then got started. It was absolute bliss and unmissable for if you’re in Bali!

My headache did close enough vanish and I headed back to the accommodation in an absolute daze from it.

Our day didn’t hold much more than that. We ate, relaxed let the day pass us by and enjoyed the knowledge that we were in the tropics of Indonesia- still something we regularly like to remind each other of.

The finale of Uluwatu wasn’t really so big- at least for the day time. We attempted to go to a temple that Tripadvisor made look incredible only to arrive and see something totally different and inaccessible to tourists. We found a breakfast spot (went classy with a CircleK) and did some more research to realise that people were very confused what they were reviewing and had used the wrong name for the wrong place. That left us with not much to do and and little plans for the day- another relaxing one enjoying the knowledge that we’d crossed boarders in Asia and appreciating the atmosphere and company in our accommodation. Sultans of swell did us so well.

When we’d gone to the temple on our first day, we’d seen adverts for their fire show or Kecak dance. It’s a traditional dance used in Balinese Hinduism as an expression and now used for story telling. It looked incredible but we couldn’t last the day last time to see the dance.

But with no other plans it seemed an exciting opportunity to head down and see something exciting. So fairly swiftly, with no time to charge my phone on my part, the GoJek’s were booked and we were off!

The most stunning sunset happened before our eyes and we had first row view. With the waves underneath, so much natural beauty of the temple around us and a close enough clear sky illuminating in different shades of orange and orange and the sun setting so elegantly in front of our eyes. Life really has a way of showing up just right sometimes, this was one of those nights!

Our tickets for the Kecak dance weren’t until 7pm so we had a chance to sit and appreciate the sunset with the crowds that had flocked for the same reasons as us. By the time we were told to find a seat, the sky was pitch black and we’d started star gazing in the clear skys above us. The views are so so incredible. If you’re in Uluwatu, it is THE place to watch the sun go down, and if you can make a day out of it before why wouldn’t you!

The Kecak dance was honestly awesome. These people are amazing. I didn’t fully read the synopsis before watching but got a rough understanding of the story with one of the goddesses(?) being captured and held captive by some kind of evil spirit. They had to try rescue her. And most memorably, the White Monkey which no one could ignore. Several times I had my attention taken off the centre stage and found myself scanning the audience for this character running round with the cheeky spirit of the monkeys that live in the temple. He was hilarious, if you make it there it’s absolutely worth the watch!

Our evening after the show was interesting- and only made more difficult from my lack of phone. It died while I was filming some of the show.

We tried for about 20minutes to get any sort of transport back on Gojek. But due to the popularity of the show, there was so much traffic and clearly too many others booking the vehicles before us in the area. The temples far out from much else so cars would be limited in the vicinity. After so many attempts we faltered and walked into the restaurant opposite us that was still open and decided to have dinner there and wait out the busy periods. it was very good and we absolutely needed the food break to help us calm down and refuel before retrying the app.

Eventually we managed to get a bike but when we tried to book 2 (off the same phone, yes) one would always cancel. So Jacks solution, rather genius, get me a bike back (so at least I can get some charge and maybe some help) and then once I’d taken off, Jack could try for himself. And it worked! I have to admit I was a bit nervous and I had planned a rescue mission if all GoJek’s failed us. But once I made it back, got some charge on my phone and waited about 10 minutes, he walked in the door unharmed and happy. Nothing bad was going to happen- Bali is super safe in areas like that. But there’s something eery to me about the darkness and being stranded. The sun sets so early and so fast here that by 8pm I’m wondering why I’m not tucked up in bed ready to doze off!

And so ends our time in Uluwatu. Our next morning we were heading straight up and out and we were both very excited for what the next two weeks held for us!