The Jungle Book: Friday, March 19 (Tanah Lot)

Friday, March 19

Today we had a chance to sleep in which was nice. After a quick breakfast of papaya and watermelon, we went back to Sanur so Steph could register for her scuba certification (YEAH!!!). On the way to the scuba shop we also stopped in a couple of tourist travel shops in hopes of finding a good trip for next week. One of the guys we met claims he is the chief of the village of Sanur and agreed to take us wherever we want to go for a “student” rate. We name a price and a location, we negotiate, agree on a price and away we go. He had a TV in his shop so we heard the unfortunate news about Obama’s trip to Indonesia being postponed until June because of the health care vote in the States. He was supposed to arrive in Indonesia March 20 and come to Bali the next day. Most Balinesians are supporters of Obama and were disappointed (as were we) he isn’t coming. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to see him here in June.

Steph begins her scuba classes on Tuesday, and since she’ll be in class all day, I decided to sign up for my own scuba trip. Bali has some of the best scuba diving in the world so I’m very excited to go and come Thursday, Steph will be able to join me – assuming she passes her classes.

After lunch on the beach, and Steph intently reading her Scuba manual (and some hard bargaining) we made the 45 minute trip in a bemo (Balinese form of transportation where anyone hops on board this mini VW van) to Tanah Lot, a hindu temple that sits on an island in the ocean. Although it’s one of the biggest tourist traps in Bali and full of people, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. When it’s low tide you can walk around the temple (you can only go in if Balinese). As is the case with everyone else there, we watched the picturesque sunset and took hundreds of photos.

For dinner we met up with Steph’s friend Racheal in Seminyak and also met her roommate and some of his other friends from Milano. I never figured I’d be hanging out with a group of people from Milano in Bali but they were all super friendly and were fun to go out with. Around midnight we made the long trip back to Sanur in a cab and crashed for the night.