20 days.

20 days of outdoor showers and curly, frizzy island hair. nasi goreng for breakfast and watermelon cocktails for lunch. there were elephant rides (Anna the elephant is my soulmate) and monkeys who jumped on us and tried to steal our water bottles. surf lessons and open-air food markets. we hung out at our bartender’s local village, barefoot and happy and listening to their language. i gave the girls manicures, chris learned to play instruments with the boys. 20 days of chocolate cake in bed (where it tastes better) and avocado massages and milk baths. i really need to find a way to get a swim up bar installed in our living room. local artists opened up their studios to us, surrounded by the noisy jungle and serene rice paddies. we drank coffee made from civet poop… i do not make these things up. we celebrated valentines on a rooftop overlooking the ocean. i spent my birthday nursing my red burnt husband back to white-boy health. we walked miles barefoot along the indian ocean- which is as green as emerald and warm like bathwater. i witnessed a baby monkey driving a moterbike. (again, i do not make these things up). there was laid back nightlife and live bands. fresh coconut water that was literally chopped down right in front of me, sliced open, and stuck a straw in. street peddlers and sunsets of every color. i read 10 books in 20 days. yes, ten- and it was amazing. we went to temple and gave offerings on our knees, sending up all our wishes with the burning incense.

i wish i owned a baby monkey that drives a moterbike.

we started out in the artist town of Ubud, where the streets are lined with street peddlers, and locals trying to sell you anything you can think of. colorful, vibrant fabrics everywhere you look, charming restaurants with outdoor patios, and rice paddies surrounding the entire town. we woke up to roosters crowing, had breakfast every morning overlooking a waterfall, where a few local families would all jump in the river naked, bath themselves while the kids splashed and had fun. it was here was where we spent a day in a local village, learning what a day in the life would be like for them. it was very enlightening- some of my favorite moments were the most humorous. such as when even being in the middle of poor housing, with limited food, bedding and supplies….one of the first questions we were asked was if we had ever met Justin Bieber :) awesome. just as funny was how the mother kept staring, touching and playing with Chris’ arms- she wasn’t used to seeing arm hair. (Balinese people are practically hair-free). i remember one of the little girls who didn’t speak english, staring at me. after a moment of thought, she opened her mouth, pointed at me and said “beautiful.” my heart melted and i wanted to take her home. mother also kept touching and playing with my feet- she couldn’t believe how white and soft they were.  in bali, it is extremely hot- yet everyone is barefoot and the hot roads are just a way of life there. so even though in my eyes, i was in bad need of a pedicure…she couldn’t believe how soft they were. amazing the different perspectives.

from ubud we headed to the beachtowns of semnniyak, legian, and kuta. we lounged by the beach with drinks, surfed (attempted to surf) with some locals, watched kids playing soccer, and took full advantage of the amazing views from all the beachfront restaurants. my favorites were all the beach bars with bean bags in the sand, where we listened to live bands while having front row seats to the amazing sunsets. it was here (especially in semnyiak) that i felt i could live forever. a much slower paced life for sure- days filled with sun, surf, live music and cold drinks.

i decided about 24 minutes into our trip that the 22 hr flight was completely worth it. :)