Day 71 - difficult

10th July 2019

Day of departure - we pack together all the things we haven't packed yesterday and prepare a big breakfast for Ian and Lucy. Ian went surfing this morning at 6:30 am and is back at 10:00 am when we wake up. We all sit together at the table and eat pancakes, bacon, brownies, and doughnuts - a well-balanced fitness breakfast.

Unfortunately, Ian has to go back to his surf lesson - a very busy person. We say goodbye to Ian more or less warmly; he's just not that type. After that, we sit with Lucy for a while and talk about our further travel plans. After a short rest in the empty room, we call a taxi and go to the agreed pick-up point with Lucy. However, saying goodbye to Lucy is much more difficult than expected and accordingly heartfelt. The last two weeks were unforgettable because of Lucy and Ian. We have already made plans to meet again in Indonesia for the last few days and even talked about meeting when Lucy and Ian visit Europe (including Germany) next year. It's funny how two completely strangers can grow so close to one's heart in just two weeks.

We get in the taxi and have a very pleasant ride to the next accommodation (5.75€ for one hour drive). It is located on the Uluwatu Peninsula, which is the southernmost part of Bali. We arrive at a kind of estate located in a secluded forest. We check in to a room on the second floor and immediately order a scooter, which will be delivered to us in 15 minutes - what a luxury! We immediately drive off to visit one of the beautiful beaches that the peninsula has to offer. First stop is Nyang Nyang beach, which has an impressive cliff coast and is said to be relatively deserted. Not 50 meters after we started the descent, we see a small warung to our right, which offers a great view of the beach, so we spontaneously decide to take a very early break and order some food and drinks.

We go down the coast, which turns out to be much longer and more difficult than we thought. But the efforts are rewarded with an impressive sight down at the beach. The coastline is rugged, the surf intimidating, and the current strong. Everything seems very natural and untouched. We lie on the beach for two hours and then go back the same way - unfortunately, uphill this time.

Fairly exhausted, we sit on our means of transportation and head west to see the sunset from there. Without a map and without a plan, we pass through a gate where a kind of gatekeeper takes 1000 rupiah for parking (6 cents!) and then on to a large square where already hundreds of cars, buses, and scooters are parked. We accidentally drove to the coastal temple, one of the main attractions in Uluwatu. We think for a moment and then decide to buy tickets - "If you're already here" is the motto! Since I'm only wearing shorts, I'm given a long cloth to cover my legs. Jonna, on the other hand, is dressed appropriately and only has to wear a hip cloth.

It's very crowded in the temple complex. It's a struggle to squeeze through crowds of people and walk along the coastal walls. But the crowds are understandable - the view is truly breathtaking. As a bonus, there are monkeys everywhere on the paths and buildings, but you should be cautious around them.

We look for a free spot to take some photos and then visit the rest of the temple complex until the sun has completely set and daylight has disappeared.

Together with the huge flow of tourists, we leave the area and drive back towards the accommodation. On the way, we stop at a supermarket and eat fried noodles and fried rice next door at a street food stall. But then it's time to go home and to bed