Before I attempt to describe the indescribable experience that was Bali, let me begin by thanking God that the month of October is finally over. #hallelujah
October was the month from academic hell. All of the school work for an entire semester finally caught up to us and we were slammed with assignment after assignment and project after project. I’m not complaining though. This is supposed to be a semester of studying abroad. I suppose I had to do it eventually…
Not to worry though, we did manage to squeeze in a lot of fun in between assignments. Some of the many study breaks we took included: sunset sailing, didgeridoo playing and cliff jumping. Some other big October highlights were getting the opportunity to go back to my favorite island, Rottnest, to snorkel sunken shipwrecks and coral reefs (thank you Joyce family!) and celebrating Halloween by taking a haunted torchlight prison tour. Like I said, no complaints.
October was the month from academic hell. All of the school work for an entire semester finally caught up to us and we were slammed with assignment after assignment and project after project. I’m not complaining though. This is supposed to be a semester of studying abroad. I suppose I had to do it eventually…
Not to worry though, we did manage to squeeze in a lot of fun in between assignments. Some of the many study breaks we took included: sunset sailing, didgeridoo playing and cliff jumping. Some other big October highlights were getting the opportunity to go back to my favorite island, Rottnest, to snorkel sunken shipwrecks and coral reefs (thank you Joyce family!) and celebrating Halloween by taking a haunted torchlight prison tour. Like I said, no complaints.
Now, to describe my Balinese vacation getaway from my semester-long Aussie vacation:
We only had the highest of expectations coming into Bali and everything from our villa to our various excursions blew them away. The villa alone was so extravagant that we hardly wanted to leave at first. It was huge in size, comfortably accommodating all 27 of our Notre Dame crew at Port Lodge plus some extra friends. Its main attraction, however, was the lengthy infinity pool in the back that overlooked rice paddies. We spent the majority of our stay at Villa Infinity Bali laughing and lounging poolside and pretending that we actually deserved this:
We only had the highest of expectations coming into Bali and everything from our villa to our various excursions blew them away. The villa alone was so extravagant that we hardly wanted to leave at first. It was huge in size, comfortably accommodating all 27 of our Notre Dame crew at Port Lodge plus some extra friends. Its main attraction, however, was the lengthy infinity pool in the back that overlooked rice paddies. We spent the majority of our stay at Villa Infinity Bali laughing and lounging poolside and pretending that we actually deserved this:
Once again, we were not disappointed when we did venture out of the villa for our many adventures.
On Day 1 we went snorkeling at another island, Nusa Lembongan. Not only did we see heaps of colorful fish and beautiful reef, but also we even spotted a nearby pod of dolphins! The only downside was that everyone walked away with varying degrees of sunburn. Mark that as the first and (so far) only sunburn of my time abroad.
On Day 2 we took a bike tour throughout local villages, coffee plantations and rice paddies in order to experience Balinese landscape and culture. We wrapped up the day by visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest. Don’t be deceived, however, these feral creatures only appear cute and playful.
On Day 1 we went snorkeling at another island, Nusa Lembongan. Not only did we see heaps of colorful fish and beautiful reef, but also we even spotted a nearby pod of dolphins! The only downside was that everyone walked away with varying degrees of sunburn. Mark that as the first and (so far) only sunburn of my time abroad.
On Day 2 we took a bike tour throughout local villages, coffee plantations and rice paddies in order to experience Balinese landscape and culture. We wrapped up the day by visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest. Don’t be deceived, however, these feral creatures only appear cute and playful.
Finally, on Day 3 we commenced the most highly anticipated activity on my personal Bali bucketlist (check it out on my “Bucketlist” tab above): the sunrise volcano hike! Our day began at 1:30AM when our tour guides picked us up at our villa. We travelled by van until we reached the base of Mt. Batur at 3:30AM. For the next two hours we stumbled our way up the volcano just in time to watch the 5:30AM sunrise. Words truly cannot describe the natural splendor we witness standing on top of one active volcano watching the sun rise up over another volcano in the distance, but I do know that I will not easily forget that moment.
This moment was especially significant because the day I hiked Mt. Batur happened to be the same day as the 12th Annual Baraka Bouts Semi-Finals for the Notre Dame Women’s Boxing Program. It felt especially symbolic that I should fight my way up to the top of a volcano to witness the sunrise at the same time as many of my friends who would fight in the ring to raise money for Holy Cross Missions in Uganda.
This moment was especially significant because the day I hiked Mt. Batur happened to be the same day as the 12th Annual Baraka Bouts Semi-Finals for the Notre Dame Women’s Boxing Program. It felt especially symbolic that I should fight my way up to the top of a volcano to witness the sunrise at the same time as many of my friends who would fight in the ring to raise money for Holy Cross Missions in Uganda.
For as much as it killed me not to be able to participate this boxing season, I would not trade this experience in Bali (sunburns and monkeys included), nor would I trade my entire experience abroad in Australia (assignments and finals included) for anything.
Cheers!
Maggie
Cheers!
Maggie