Bali-baby: Visit from Germany

After 4 weeks of traveling, we rented a whole house with a pool in Bali through Airbnb. It's located 20 minutes north of Kuta and about 10 minutes from the beach. Perfect for 2 weeks of 'relaxation'. Our good friend Patricia from Germany also visited us here on the first day. We started by getting two scooters. We got two brand new and really fast ones. Perfect for exploring the island. In the first few days, we spent a lot of time chilling at the nearby beaches. The beaches in Bali are really beautiful. Big waves - a surfer's paradise. But since we also wanted to go snorkeling, especially me, we took the scooter to Amed on the northeast coast of Bali. We passed by beautiful rice fields, went up and down the mountain, through congested streets where our scooter skills were massively challenged and improved, and finally arrived after 3 hours. From the beach, you can take just a few steps into the sea to see numerous fish and beautiful corals. There is also an underwater temple, or as the locals would say, 'a little tempele,' to discover. The return trip was interrupted by a small thunderstorm, which was also the only rain in 2 weeks.

Another trip took us to the center of Bali, Ubud. We visited rice fields. A nice circular path took us past the typical rice fields. After the walk of about 7 km, we treated ourselves to a cold beer in the middle of the beautiful landscape and enjoyed the absolute peace around us.

Then it was time to do the must-do in Bali. Surfing! At the 'Beginner' Beach, hahaha, not really. The waves are really high everywhere here. But the perseverance paid off. We managed to stand up and ride the waves several times. And hey, it's worth drinking half the ocean and getting knocked off the board a few times. It was really fun and made me want more. And what comes after the 'hard' work? That's right, even more fun. I would say, 'let's get the party started' or 'well, that escalated quickly' :) Beach party with our new friends - the surfing instructor and his Thai wife, two really nice and cool people, a Japanese couple, and a few other locals. And what do you drink with the locals? Yes, local alcohol. In this case, the magical drink is called Arak. It is mixed with either cola or soda and belongs to the category of schnapps. You can only get it from the locals, it can't be purchased in stores. After party part No. 1 at the beach in the afternoon, our house came into play. Party part No. 2, house party babyyyy wohooooo. We had so much fun, danced to good old hip-hop music, and laughed a lot. A lively atmosphere, everyone together. No matter which country, religion, or culture you're from, people can drink together and have fun. I will never forget that!

A few days later, we traveled to the south of the island. This is where the most beautiful beaches in Bali are said to be. And what can I say - yes, it's true. Beautiful light sand, clear water, and the most beautiful thing in Bali for me are the sunsets by the sea. I don't know how many I've seen in my life, but it amazes me every time. WOW, just WOW. A feeling of 'no worries,' enjoying the moment, being grateful for what I get to experience, grateful for what I have. Sometimes you don't need much to be happy and content :)

The two weeks went by really fast, and it was time to pack up the backpack and move on. A bit sad to say goodbye to our dearest Patricia again, but you're always with us in our hearts.

Thank you Bali for the unforgettable time, the many fun moments, the amazing people, and the Arak :)