April 4: Departure and Wrap-up

Another great vacation in the books... I'm certainly thankful for not only the opportunity to travel, but also a great country to call home. Although our time away was nothing short of adventurous and fun, staying somewhere like Bali can be a quick reminder of how good we have it. That said, Bali was beautiful, the culture was fascinating, and the people were as friendly as you could hope. In full disclosure, I wasn't expecting the level of poverty and lack of education that I saw. It was a little more Third World than I expected. I'm not sure why I expected more development--perhaps less planning than I normally do for an international trip. This takes nothing away from Indonesia or its culture. I'd recommend Bali to anyone. The land itself is beautiful and very similar to Hawaii. Palm trees, coconuts, and volcanoes. The weather---well, it's scorching hot, humid, and sweaty. The food--far better than expected. I'll be seeking out Indonesian eateries in Seattle. The people, religion, and culture are what makes Bali what it is. They're peaceful, inviting, and pleasant. Hindu religion appears to be a constant force in their lives. We met folks at the touristy resorts, along with cooking with locals in the northern villages. They all shared a common Balinese spirit of making us feel welcome. It's a bit hard to describe, but I recommend you go see for yourself!

Singapore was all about the eats. It's basically a concrete jungle, similar to your giant cities like NYC, Tokyo, or London. Although the adventure can be found here or there, it's really all about the food, the family, the people-watching, and relaxing in a nice hotel. Again, Singapore did not disappoint.

I'm currently sitting in the Tapei Airport, knocking out a 6 hour layover. So time to wrap it up. If you've been following along with the blog, I hope you enjoyed it. I'll leave you with an ongoing list Terri and I compiled along the way:

10 Unique Sightings/Experiences in Bali:

1. 25 year-old mother driving a motorbike at 30 mph--
A. Handle bar in right hand
B. Infant baby cradled in the left arm
C. Not a helmet anywhere
2. Ordered by village police to buy a sarong at Besakih Temple. Ignored them.
3. US $100 bill is worthless because it's older than a 2006 version
4. Where being a millionaire (rupiah) can be erased by a nice dinner and a few cocktails.
5. Where Arak Attack is a tasty concoction next to your plate-- not something ordered by George W.
6. Where you can go to the spa, spend $5, and get a 30-minute vaginal steam that will prevent cancer.
7. SCUBA certification? Not necessary. A broken English 5-minute briefing will do.
8. Balinese Cooking Class:
Step 1: Take your shirt off.
Step 2: Always taste seasoned raw chicken before cooking.
9. BBQ Red Snapper and Prawns at a Jimbaran Sunset Dinner. Serenaded by a 5-piece Balinese Band. Song Selection: Sweet Home Alabama.
10. Where you just might find yourself on the phone saying, "We're ready for our butler Drusadi to come drive us to dinnner."

Thanks Bali and Singapore! Till next time...