Last feelings before going home

My time in Bali has been just flying by. Tomorrow I will head to the airport and leave this paradise behind. I've done many of the things I wanted to do and realized once again you can plan as much as you want to but it never quite turns out the way you thought it would(: 

The past two weeks I've been in Kuta, or actually south of Kuta, near Segara beach. I've been learning how to surf, which wasn't as hard as I thoug ht it would be! Small waves and a long board makes it easy to practice standing up on the board and catching a wave... which is one of the most amazing feelings btw! When you see that perfect wave coming, start to paddle to reach the speed of the wave and then feel the mass of water rushing underneath your board and you push yourself up and stand on the board, feel how it's becoming one with the wave... and you can't but laugh out loud(: I've caught a few amazing waves and managed to stay on my board until the very end, it feels so amazing. The hardest part about surfing is getting back into the spot, you have to walk in the water with your board, fighting your way through the waves, pushing the board against then so it doesn't flip and go flying around. And the paddling. Oh my, now I understand why all the surfers have such beautiful back muscles, and those arms... Who ever said surfers are lazy should go try surfing for a couple of hours! It's no wonder they just want to chill after being in the water for hours, doing one of the hardest exercises I've ever tried in my life. But it's fun and definitely very addictive(: On Kuta beach in peak season one can get a board for 2 hours for 50 000 rupiah, around 5$ or a surf lesson with one of the local guys and one hour of practice time for 100 000 rupiah, around 10$. 

I don't really get why people hate Kuta so much... Yes it's busy, yes there are a lot of tourists around and yes everyone tries to sell you shit all the time. But the beach is nice, surfing is good and there are sooooo many beautiful people around you have no idea. Going out is fun, everyone is drunk and there are free drinks all around the place if you use the offers(: Definitely not the Bali that I like the most, it's a tourist destination and could basically be where ever in the world, but it's fun for a while. Two weeks is kind of stretching it here but luckily it's so close to everything that it's easy to escape once in a while. 

Padang Padang beach down South is definitely worth a visit, really long stairs lead you through rocks to a small beach that's known to be a good surf spot for more advanced surfers, rocky bottom though so bring your booties. Not amazing for swimming, too many tiny jelly fish floating around. 

I've tried and tried to find all the crazy foods I wanted to try, with no success. Even in Borneo I couldn't get my hands on those maggots that I really wanted to try. So I guess those culinary experiences have to wait for another time. 

All in all these two months have been absolutely amazing. Full of fun, absolutely phenomenal people, sun, diving in the most beautiful places I've ever seen, learning so much about myself and others and enjoying the Balinese sun. It amazes me how many people I've met who have been traveling for months and months or years and years. The world is changing, more and more people are realizing it's not for them to live in one place and do it like the handbook says. This has encouraged me to find my own path, to make life happen the way I want for it to be... This is just the beginning for me, this is where my journey starts. I'll keep you posted. Might have to start another blog for "the great plan" and how I'm turning my life upside down. I'm turning 26 today and I feel like my best years are just ahead of me. 

To move, to breathe 

To fly, to float

To gain all while you give

To roam the roads of lands remote

To travel is to live

Peace out,

Emma