Bali continued

Here are a few more of the good times we had the month in Bali. 

  Swimming with dolphins. A highlight. A narrow Asian style wooden boat with floats on the sides. You hang on to a trapeze like bar with a snorkel on and he would drive through the water while you hung on for dear life as he chased the dolphins. Some of it I almost felt bad, because we literally were following the dolphins everywhere and it felt like we were chasing them. But it was epic to see them jumping all around the boat and see 30+ swimming underneath you. Lots of little babies jumping and swimming right beside their mammas. Also getting stung by little jelly fish all along the way.

A coffee plantation visit with coffee tasting. We even tried Luwak coffee. It was pretty good coffee but just the thought of how its made is gross.  

Nimas turned 4 at the baby home while we were there. One of the volunteers made banana bread in a cake and brought it back. One time someone had brought a store bought cake and a bunch of the kids got sick so they don’t allow outside food anymore. The children were delighted to see the candles. I don’t think Nimas completely understood that it was her birthday, or what a birthday is. But we sang and gave them all chunk of banana bread. She was so happy and loved blowing out the candles.

Going to the hospital with the kids is a highlight. They usually ask for volunteers so they have one volunteer per kid. Usually those days we arrive early and drive an hour to the hospital. That is when we get to be with the little babies the most. Otherwise we do not volunteer in that house. They are so cute and snugly and love to be held. Some days it takes 5 hours to go there and come back. And there are language barriers and you aren’t always sure what is happening. But you just roll with it and figure out as you go. And try to keep the babies fed and happy. 

The monkey incident. We were at a park/lookout by a Hindu temple. I had read once that you have to be careful of wild monkeys but didn’t think much of it. We seen a couple by the sidewalk and were looking at them. Suddenly one jumped or swung down from a tree behind me. Before I knew what was happening he grabbed my phone right out of my hand. He climbed the tree, pulled the case apart and dropped the credit card and the case. He then tried to play with the phone. Then put in his mouth and climbed higher. I stood in shock. Someone said give it food and it will drop it. So one of the guards said he would go get someone. And  that makes you feel like a dumb tourist. I had read it can happen but I thought it wouldn’t to me?! Anyway. The monkey climbed higher then swung deeper into the trees. The man eventually got it. Right after a monkey tried to pull a flip flop off a kid that was maybe 4 years old the was standing by his mom. Literally tried to pull it right off his foot. Talk about traumatized kid. Throughout our time there we watched multiple other things stollen. A few phones, a few flip flops. One was sitting there trying to get a medication bottle open. Another had a package of baby wipes and was eating them. We saw hats in the brush along the sidewalk and broken glasses. We also saw two monkeys holding stolen glasses. They are feral. One was eyeing me and following along the railing. Someone told me that it was wanting to get the water bottle in the side pocket of my backpack. Later one eyed my flip flops and jumped down and started reaching for it. I jumped away and made the shhhhh sound the guards do to make them go away. He made a jump closer and bared his teeth. I screamed and ran. Not a fan. 

When you went up the stairs in the morning to go get a kid to take them to the playroom, the kids would jump up and down and were beside themselves if the babysitters chose them to get to go with the volunteers for the day. Absolute delight on their faces. 

I learned geckos are loud. And sometimes you wake up with gecko poop on your pillow that was not there the night before. Just part of the experience. 

Bali has some beautiful snorkeling. Brilliant colored fish and neon colors of coral. The green mountains meet the blue water. Stunning.

Bali is the friendliest place with the kindest people. Everyone was so helpful and would say good morning as we walked to work. They were all so concerned we were having a good time. Bali is a very beautiful country with beautiful tropical mountains, endless waterfalls, and lush green rice fields. I am grateful I got to experience this country.