Happy New year!
After torrential downpours, amazing lightning storms, building-shaking thunder, and a couple pitchers of Gin & tonics, we have left the Gili Islands.
On our last dive we went out just as it was starting to rain and lightning. The ocean swells were big and we were getting pushed around by the powerful waves. As soon as we arrived at the dive sight, we were a little nervous to jump in with all the lighting happening, but our dive master assured us that it was "O.K." and we were not going to be electrocuted. It was quite wild to be underwater and still be able to see the flashes of light happening 20 meters above us, and this proved to be our best dive yet.
As we drew closer to new years, the island filled up with travelers and all the prices went up.......everything- drinks, water, rooms, all of it. On new years eve the streets were packed with foreigners and locals alike, all getting really excited and dancing all over the place. We went to the far end of the "strip" and spun some poi on the outside of a private party that was hosting a DJ from Ibiza. They wanted $35 to get into this party!!! We had another plan though- infiltrate their party, spin fire and have them ask us to stay and dance........YUP, that's how we roll! (Yes, it worked ;)
About 4am we made it home, only to roll our bodies out of bed at 7am to get on a boat for a 4 day/4 night sailing trip through some of the most pristine waters, lush green islands, idyllic snorkeling spots that I have ever seen. On this trip we went to Komodo and Rinca Islands, the only 2 islands in the world that are inhabited by the ancient Komodo Dragons. We went on a few hikes and got to see these very large prehistoric lizards, that apparently feed on wild pigs, monkeys, deer and each other....and the occasional human, should they get lucky. There was a great mix of people and cultures on the boat and many languages being spoken; German, English, Icelandic, Slovenian, Indonesian, Dutch, French, and Malaysian. Its so fun to be with such a variety of people and get to learn about other peoples lives and ways of seeing the world.
We arrived in a small port town and flew out the next day to Bali, then again 2 days later we flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is where we are right now. Getting tired as we were up at 3:30 AM to catch our "cheap flight", cheap if we wouldn't have had to pay $40 in baggage charges and $30 "tax" to leave Bali, but hey, that's the cost of traveling.
That's all I have for now. Make sure to check out our new pictures posted on the Flickr account (you can find the link in earlier posts). I'm sure Amy will have some more fun stories to tell you too!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22230486@N06/
Selamat Malam
1 comment:
mmmmm....sigh....love, love, love soaking up all of your tropical flair. something big is stirring in me ~ teaching on a remote island in micronesia? volunteering at an orphanage in thailand? oh so ready for this lovely new year! Cheers, hugs and smooches. I love ya'll!
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