Tuesday, May 10, 2005  11:08 PM
bali, paradise.
Bali, Indonesia. Here's just a brief encounter of what happened (and what didn't).
Sun-kissed tan: Sun-burnt lobster. Right, I'm all red and burnt and trust me, it hurt for about two days after that. So I went tanning at Kuta Beach, and there were all these Australians lapping up the sun and soaking up the rays, and their skin turning into a delicious, golden tan. So I did the same, except it didn't turn out the way which I foresaw. And yes, in a few weeks, I WILL start peeling in layers, and people will start calling me the walking onion.
Tattoos: Two. A flower vine one on my left arm and a butterfly behind my right shoulder. Really, I only wanted to get the butterfly one, but these beach vendors at Kuta are really persistent, you know, like when you do more you get a better discount and stuff like that. He wanted me to get one more on my ankle, but I declined adamantly. Really, I know when enough is enough. My dad already thinks I look like some kind of witch.
Manicure: Got a nice French manicure for just about $4, well I can't say it's all that professionally done since they approach you on the beach and all, and you're not sitting in some fancy salon, but for $4, it's awesome.
Pedicure: Nice natural pink with pretty white flowers. She started painting before I even agreed. The beach vendors certainly have a way with doing business. That cost about $6, which is of course, cheap, but everyone at Kuta has the exact same design on their toes.
Resort: Modern, spacious, luxurious and beautiful. The Harris Resort at Kuta's just opposite the beach, and the service is excellent. While I was lying at the deck chairs (yes, I didn't stop tanning at the beach. I continued by the hotel pool), the pool guy (?) came up to me and started chatting about everything under the sun, which cured me of my boredom. It can get boring when you're just lying there. Talk about intuition and initiative, he must see plenty of girls like me all the time, choosing to lie in the sun when there's a nice shady umbrella about two metres away.
Shopping: Okay, shopping in Bali is only excellent at Kuta Square, and that place is a mirror image of a typical Australian downtown area. Roxy, Billabong, Ripcurl, Volcom, Voodoo Dolls, Insight, Rusty and what have you...You name it, and they've got it. The selection is huge, but the prices were just about the same as Australia as well, which was abit of a letdown, cos it meant I didn't buy much. Well, except for two new bags from Mooks (a lilac duffel and a small brown handbag), a pink Ripcurl tank top (now that was on sale! $12), a blue racerback with sequins, a green Ralph Lauren polo (it is so cheap there, cos I think they've got a factory there or something), and a handful of VCDs.
Beach: Kuta beach is soooooo fantastic. Picturesque, with tons of surfers, and you actually feel like you're right there in Bondi Beach, Sydney. The place might as well be bought over by Australia. But of course there are the beach vendors who start harrassing you once you set up your beach mat and stuff like that, but I guess we're all trying to earn a living here. But other than that, fine sand, lovely clear water and some hot guys strutting around. Perfect paradise.
Braids: I didn't dare get the whole braid hair thing done with the beads and all, cos I do have to go back to work, but I got four braids done for free. Although I did have to remove the two on top when I went to work today, just in case.
Food: Food's not that cheap in Kuta, mainly because it's a tourist spot, with the exception of MacDonalds, which is like, almost free. But they have such great stuff, and I got hooked onto strawberry milkshakes. It almost became my daily staple, and I had it at least three times in the four days I was there.
Pubs: The Maccaroni Bar. Amazing ambience, low lights, great music and a strawberry daiquiri. Enough said.
Friends: I did get to meet some new people on my trip there, which was awesome. At the bar (see above), I talked to this 23-year-old British guy called Savio for over an hour, and it was great fun. And on my third day, I chanced upon these group of young Christians from Australia that are actually part of this programme called "Youths with a mission" and they were singing Christian songs on the beach, and nothing ever sounded more perfect. Got to know this Norwegian girl called Alla, and this Asian girl called Grace, who's just a year older than me, and she's now studying in Northwestern University in the States, and she'll be coming down to Singapore in July, so we planned to meet up then. We hit it off right away, which is amazing. :)
Cute Australian guy: Well, no cute Australian guy for me, but there was a cute American guy. From me being ready to yell at him for snagging my window seat on the plane, to just walking along the Esplanade in Singapore, I'll never forget the longish sun-streaked blond hair, those amazing blue eyes, and the yellow Lance Armstrong band that is now my treasure.
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