Mother and Son Make The World Their Classroom for a School Year: February 9, 2015 (Bali, Indonesia)

We woke early and had breakfast on our porch with the windows open and looking out over the lush tropical gardens of Hotel Tugu and onto the ocean. Every view from the hotel is a classic Balinese photo with flowers and palms and Hindu sculptures and antique doors with the backdrop of the ocean and the neighborhood temple next door.

We met our surf guide Made, yes like our driver’s name. In Bali everyone when born receives the name of their birth order and so you can be in a first grade class and you may have 7 Mades if you all are 2nd born. So most people are referred to by their last name. So our surf instructor was either Made or Dennis, his last name. He taught us a few basics right out on the beach. We are staying on one of the most popular surf beaches in the area and as they have said the best beach to learn on. As we headed out into the ocean it was amazing that if you just push up on the board you can get over most of the waves. Paddling was a workout and the back of my neck was killing and my triceps after a couple times paddling out were dying. How do surfers do it?! I am convinced they have to be some of the fittest athletes. I was kneeling on the first couple of waves and then I was able to stand up and catch one in. As I was paddling out a huge wave spun me around and took me almost into shore. I thought there is no way I have the energy or strength to go all the way back out, my neck from looking up while paddling was killing me so I rode the wave the rest of the way in and parked myself on the beach and watched Sam.

I couldn’t believe how good Sam was … he caught dozens of waves, and stood up on everyone of them. He stayed out for about 1hour and a half. It was so fun to watch him. As he caught his last wave he took it all the way in which was really far. He was about 4 breaks out, I was glad he was coming in since the waves were starting to get really big and I was worried that if a wave crashed on him he could get really hurt. The waves on the far out break were HUGE, they said about 3.5-4 meters, about 12 feet. Friends like the Madsens and Johnsons would be loving this and no coral to climb over. We jumped in the pool after surfing and then got ready to take the bikes out again and go explore.

Our friend Diane had told us about a place called Desa Sani. Everyone told us it was just a yoga place but she told us to go eat there. We headed out in search of it. Along the way I did find a great little jewelry shop where people were making silver pieces. Everything in the shop was so cool. It was hard to pick. I ended up getting a silver cuff that they had oxidized with a big tree on it- love it. Continuing on, the map the hotel gave us was so bad and we started questioning ourselves as we were biking through rice paddies.Everyone we stopped to ask pointed us in the opposite direction but we finally made it!! We were so stinking hot that we just walked in and saw the pool and immediately asked, can we eat here? Can we eat here at the pool? …Yes they said and invited us to to sit under this charming Balinese hut on stilts with a big padded lounge. We accepted :), stripped our coverups off and jumped in the pool. It was perfect. I had the tastiest fish taco and Sam enjoyed his tuna sandwich poolside and his Avocado Shake- Diane :) Never had an avocado shake before, super creamy.

The list of Sam’s first followed…we figured to buy some more time at this charming small resort known for it’s yoga retreats and set up like a little village, we went to their little outdoor spa and had pedicures. Sam was’t sure if this was something boys did, but I assured him, if Dad was here he would do it ;) We had our feat soaked in warm water in copper bowls filled with flower pedals. Our feet were in some need of care and it was the perfect treatment since we could be outside and still visit and get some necessary grooming. Sam was a bit ticklish and the ladies thought that was funny as he couldn’t help himself from laughing a bit as they rubbed his legs and pulled his toes ;)

So glad we didn’t give up finding Desa Sani since it was such a treat. All yoga people, you would love this place and really meant as a yoga retreat with also a tasty Vegan menu! We pedaled back to our hotel much quicker this time now knowing the way. We had one more stop for a cool drink and Sam’s new favorite peanut butter and banana smoothie at Deus’s. As we were near our hotel we came across almost a parade with big symbols and everyone dressed up in gold and white and carrying large floral offerings. Not sure if it was a temple offering event or a funeral or what it was but it was such an interesting and exciting event, so glad we were able to witness. It was a quick reminder that we are in Bali, not Mexico or some other beach town. Despite the many expats that live in the area, this is a Balinese village.

In the evening I had a massage outdoors while Sam relaxed in our room. These women are so darn strong, the masseuse had a vice grip and when she climbs up onto the bed and cracks your back- wow! It was great and loosened up my tight neck from surfing that morning.

We are a few miles from Seminyak and Kuta which are the very busy and more commercial areas of town. Where we are is a fairly quiet neighborhood with rice paddies and surf beaches. We opted to take a taxi into town for dinner and at least see what the Seminyak area was like. It was hopping- lots of restaurants and bars and nice shops- like a mini Miami. We ate at a restaurant a little ways from the “strip” and it was just such a lovely setting. It was called Sardine. a modern Balinese restaurant set in a rice field lined with tiki torches. It was charming and enjoyed tasty fish dinner. We caught a quick taxi-which we had to bargain the price for- and spent the next hour or so exploring the town of Seminyak.

We immediately came across the foot spa that Sam has been really wanting to do. But, since we had just given him a pedicure, he opted for his hands which also needed some care and where the fish would have plenty to eat. Yes, gross I think, but Sam was game and had been dieing to do it. We negotiated a price for a “hand spa treatment” with the fish for $2. They set up a chair over the tank and Sam put his hands in, immediately dozens of tiny fish started eating the dead skin off his hands- so gross! He couldn’t stop giggling since it tickled. I put my finger in and immediately they started sucking on my skin like an electric tooth brush it felt like. He thought that was very entertaining and had a good giggle about it. Hands all “cleaned” we found our way to other shops and then settled in on a cool restaurants that had all these displays of collections. Sam ordered up his favorite Chocolate and Nutella crepe and I had my favorite chocolate fondant before hopping in a cab and getting back to our hotel. The night was still so hot that I took a cool shower and Sam a cool tub before climbing into bed. Enjoyed the best night sleep I had had in a week.