Day 4 + 5 in Ubud - If every day is the 'best!'

I already thought that I would experience a lot and would need some time to process everything. But the fact that I experience something great every day and say, 'That was the BEST DAY of my life!' and then completely rethink it the next day because I had an even better day than yesterday...I didn't expect that.

But you can decide which of the two days was really better or maybe both were just equally good.

Day 4 -

(I have to call it that because I don't even have a clue what day of the week or date it is)

started with a small earthquake on one of the neighboring islands at around 6 o'clock in the morning and I...slept through it. The others said the ground shook a little, but yeah...I didn't notice anything.

- and still, I arrived at the spa after 45 minutes. ;)

I was incredibly well advised here, even my sunburn was taken into consideration. I chose a massage oil while getting to know Anna - my therapist. First, I received a 90-minute traditional Balinese massage, then - instead of the booked salt scrub, because of the sunburn - a lavender scrub, followed by the Aloe Vera body lotion and then I was allowed to take a flower bath.

Afterwards, I felt like a new person and had no problem at all walking the 2 kilometers back. For the incredible 2 and a half hours at the spa, I only paid 21 euros. So after I had completely let go and recovered, I treated myself to a mango smoothie in a hipster cafe and went back to the hostel.

Day 5 -

today was excursion day! My booked trip with Eka (my personal tour guide for the day) started at 7 o'clock, he picked me up by car. His English was really good, he told me a lot about the traditions and culture here in Bali. For example, about the small bowls with flowers, rice, or cookies and often incense sticks in front of doors and windows. These are the daily offerings to the gods, with the flowers representing spiritual and the food representing physical health in the next life - because here, they believe in reincarnation. The incense stick is used to show the way to the god with light and smoke.

My tour with Eka started with the first waterfall. (I had wished for hidden, lesser-known waterfalls because I hate tourists - even though I am one myself) We had to be quite athletic, climbed over rocks, hopped over small streams, and stepped through muddy puddles while water dripped from the ceiling. And then...in a cave, the waterfall was hidden. I was overwhelmed and thrilled like a little child. Eka took many photos of me to capture the moment and then asked if I wanted to go in and swim...and yes, I wanted to!

So I climbed into the cave and stood in knee-deep water right in front of the waterfall. The water was roaring so loudly that you couldn't think clearly, the wind cleared my mind, and it took my breath away. I was in love, exactly as I had wished for.. overwhelmed by nature and so full of adrenaline and happiness that my little heart threatened to burst. I could have embraced the world - (or Eka, after all, he brought me here). What an indescribable moment...I felt so overwhelmed by the feeling of freedom..

I could hardly wait to see the second waterfall, so we climbed back and made our way, hoping to be lucky and be alone again.

The way there was easier this time, although there were many stairs, everything was more geared towards tourists (There were even lockers and a waterfall lifeguard!). But when we arrived, there were actually only 3 other tourists there - who left after a few minutes - so I had this much larger and almost perfect waterfall all to myself again. You could really swim in this waterfall. This waterfall was better for photos and more powerful, beautiful, but you couldn't get too close. So this unique moment, where you feel the water and the power in your face, the moment where time stands still and you have no chance to put all of this into words, remained in the cave with the small waterfall. But it was still beautiful! I was and still am overwhelmed.

In the car, I had to fight fatigue, but luckily we arrived at a much more visited tourist activity 30 minutes later. It was a coffee plantation, with rice fields and one of the many Bali swings. Originally, I wanted to go to the official Bali Swing, but 30 euros for admission was too much for me. Here, I paid 9 euros and had super nice employees who immediately offered to take photos of me and again, I was lucky - there were only 3 other people in front of me - so I didn't have to wait long. I put on the extra-bought red skirt and off I went, even though I usually can't swing (because I get sick), everything went great and so I flew over the rice terraces into the sky, feeling as free as at the waterfall before.

So...I already said it, somehow every day is the BEST DAY of my life. I just can't describe it any other way...I'm in love with the world, in love with Bali.