Indonesia: The End!

When we arrived in Kuta we checked into a hotel that had a swimming pool, hot water and air conditioning. It may seem like we were being ridiculous needing those three things, but they were necessities in the heat of Indonesia. Plus, we only paid a few bucks more and split two ways, it was cheap.

How could we say no to a place with a pool that looked like this?!?! The best part is, Heidi managed to get us a $10 discount per night on our room. Spotted this adorable little boy playing with the dog on Kuta beach. We were being harassed by older women to buy bracelets, etc for 'cheap price.'

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to nap before heading out to watch The Assassins play at a club in Kuta. It was by fluke that they played in Ubud the night before and we were heading to Kuta the next night where they would be playing. When they finished their set they stuck around to hang out with Heidi and I, so we had free motorcycle rides all night. First stop was Bounty Discotheque, which was full of drunk and disrespectful Aussie's. However, we had our Balinese rockstars to keep us company.

This is Pandu and I. He was pretty much my life line this night and my driver :)Heidi and I with our rockstars, The Assassins at Bounty Discotheque!

We pretty much just bar hopped around the main street of Kuta between Bounty and Paddy's before we headed to Double 6, which was about a 20 minute ride away. The ride would have been better minus the rain and me being soaking wet when I arrived at the nightclub.

Heidi and I share a special Kodak moment on the Double 6 dance floor.

Double 6 is pretty much open until the sun comes up, so we packed it in around 5:00 a.m. and then headed for some food. The boys took us to this super cheap local food stand where we ordered food and a juice for about $3. Then they were kind enough to drive us back to our hotel, where we said our good-byes and headed to bed. We spent the next day shopping for last minute gifts because I had to catch my flight home at midnight (more on this later) and wanted to make sure I had everyone taken care of. My last meal was at Poppies, the oldest restaurant in Kuta. I enjoyed some guacamole followed by a delicious smoked salmon pasta. I was very sad to be leaving Indonesia. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of this sign in the Poppies washroom. Just in case you were thinking about it...

*Insert Story: Ok, so my flight was scheduled to leave Bali on Friday morning at 12:04 a.m. That's was all fine and good except that I was out partying with Heidi and the boys in Kuta. I got confused with the midnight flight time and thought it was Friday night at 12:04 a.m. (I know *cough* idiot). Normally, I'm so organized and responsible, so when I showed up to the airport and found out I missed my flight I was shocked and almost started to cry. Then the airline wasn't very helpful with replacing my ticket, so I had to buy an entirely new plane ticket and stay in Bali an extra day. Ok, that is fine, but I had to be back Sunday night for a concert and the only seats available on the flight were Executive Class. I had no choice, but to buy the executive class ticket, which cost me almost as much one way as my ticket to and from Indonesia. I was choked and really upset, but everything happens for a reason. Anyways, I took a taxi back to the hotel we were staying at in Kuta because Heidi's flight wasn't until Saturday afternoon. Then she introduced me to this Indonesian family she knows through a visit to Indonesia in 2000. They drove her to the airport and then they took me under their wing for the rest of the day until I had to go to the airport for my new flight.*

The wife took me past a Hindu temple. She told me I could get out and go see it, but I opted to just take pictures out the window of the car. This is just a closer look at the Hindu temple. Hinduism is the main religion in Bali.

She also took me to an artist that she knows house. He is from Singapore and now lives in Indonesia where he sells his paintings. His house was absolutely gorgeous and so were his paintings. He was such a nice guy that he gave me a ceramic/porceline bowl to give to my co-teacher. This is how the conversation went down:

Painter: Do you have a grandmother or family in Korea?

Me: My family lives in Canada?

Painter: I mean some one you love, look up to?

Me: Oh yeah! My co-teacher.

Painter: How old is she?

Me: In her early fourties.

He goes into his kitchen and comes out with a bowl.

Painter: Here, give this bowl to her. Koreans love ceramic/porceline. She love it.

Me: *Shocked look on my face* Thank you so much.

Painter: No problem, would you like me to wrap it up for you?

Me: Yeah, sure.

I mean, seriosuly? Who just gives a random person they just met a gift to give their co-teacher as a gift? I couldn't believe it. Afterward, we headed to the International University that is made entirely of bamboo. I didn't get any pictures of it, which is ok, because it wasn't that awesome. Then we stopped for some pizza before heading back to her house, so I could rest and eat before heading off to the airport. At the airport, I bumped into Mike who's flight I was now on since I missed my real flight. Since, I was executive class I decided to totally milk it for all it was worth, so I hung out in the executive lounge at the airport.

The entrance way to the executive lounge where I enjoyed some free food. There was alcohol as well, but I skipped that. Mike paid to join me in the lounge, so he took a picture of me on the stairway in the lounge.

The minute I sat down on the plane I was served champagne (Assa!), there was so much leg room, I could literally recline my chair almost into a bed and no one sat beside me, so I was living the high life...well, I better have been for the price I paid for my ticket.

This is the delicious breakfast that I got served on the plane, it was also accompanied by warm bread, yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and juice.

I arrived home, to Korea, early Sunday morning and then by the time I got my bags and bussed to my house it was almost lunch time. I had to meet Nicole to get my house key from her and we ended up chatting for over an hour before I told her I wanted to go home, unpack, shower and try and nap before the Big Bang concert that night.

Indonesia was an amazing place and I will go back there without hesitation. It was a great and eventful two weeks that I loved and I can't wait for the next vacation!!