26-10-2017 I'm still thinking about how to put down in words what I've experienced during my stay in Bali, a place which I learned to call my home. 8 weeks have passed and these weeks have surely and entirely changed my life. And now it is time to say goodbye again as I will leave tomorrow. But not for long. I already know that I will come back. This place, which many refer to as a paradise for making holidays, turned out to be much more for me than just a nice island to enjoy the sun. Looking back, I remember a girl coming to Bali, slightly nervous about what was still to come. But this place has changed me in a way I didn't expect. The culture, the music, the sound. Everything has bewichted me, body and soul. And now, sitting at home on the nice veranda here in Ubud, it is kind of funny to reflect upon the way I've developed. I didn't know that I would consider myself being a minimalist and Hindu after 8 weeks, a person with faith in the most mysterious thing
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25-10-2017 Time for making offerings! I guees there are millions of offerings made everday here on Bali - you can literally find them every couple of metres. Finally, I got to make three of them by myself and discovered that it is actually hard to make them. But as I feel kind of Hindu now, it honestly was so much fun. Palm tree leaves and wood: your only material to create ... ... this. Add some flowers - each colour for one god and put them in the right direction (yup, every god has an own direction like north, south etc.) - and ... you've just created these magical offerings.
24-10-2017 Today was my very last day at school. 6 weeks of teaching English from 3rd to 6th grade in a Balinese school are over now... the students gave me loads of drawings with cute greetings and I have to say that I will really miss them. I didn't realize that it was already time to say goodbye, I kind of couldn't understand that my time of being a teacher would be over now - perhaps for some time, perhaps forever. Who knows? But what I can tell is that I met so many students who inspired me and taught me so many things in terms of living kind, living simple and living happy. Terima kasih - thank you - to these inspiring and cute little creatures. You have enriched my life!
19-10-2017 to 21-20-2017 My "best volunteer friend" left Ubud on Monday due to health problems. She went to Canggu, a small town on the coast of Bali, and we agreed on spending the weekend together before she has to leave Bali. So on Thursday after teaching in school, I packed my small backpack, called a motorbike taxi and drove to Canggu. Whereas she stayed in a nice hotel, I decided on staying in a nearby hostel to safe my money - and well, I spend the daytime in her hostel anyway. Although we both weren't really healthy yet (we both got badly ill last week), we enjoyed many hours of eating and talking, talking and talking. When she had to leave on Saturday to go back to Switzerland, I went back home to Ubud. I want to say thank you to Janine! She is by far the most inspiring person I've met on my trip and I'm so happy that we became and will stay close friends! Thank you for the most intelligent conversations I've ever had and that we could lear
15-10-2017 This was ought to be the most fascinating day so far - and a day that changed my life. Another volunteer - who has become a very special friend to me - and I decided on doing something extraordinary. As it really is something special most people wouldn't believe or would even refuse to believe and it means so so much to me, I don't want to explain it further. After this activity, we got a ceremony, just for us, by a Balinese priest as you can see below. You might call this purification. This is something very special and I am overwhelmed and so happy that I was givn the chance to make this literally life-changing experience. And to be honest, after having lived among the Balinese culture, the inspiring locals and many impressing experiences and intelligent talks, I have faith now. Even though I've never really believed in God or heaven and hell, I would define myself as a kind of Hindu now. And my heart feels the fullest and my soul the lightest they have e
13-10-2017 What would a trip in Bali be without visiting another waterfall? This time, my "bali family" and I went to the Gitgit twin waterfalls which are quite in the north of Bali. It was probably the most magical place I've ever seen. We imagined fairies and mermaids living here and enjoyed the swirling air that made water drops flying and floating through the air. After that, we also went to a famous temple of Bali which is located on a lake. The clouds hang so deep down that you felt like you could touch them if you would just stretch your arm high enough. It was really a day to remember! Unluckily, by the time we came back, I already felt sick and then, I didn't know that this would keep me in bed for a while...
10-10-2017 Another day, another waterfall. Today, two other volunteers and I visited the Dusun Kuning waterfall after teaching. This was effort! I estimate we had to climb about 300 or 400 hundreds steps (one way) to get to the waterfall. Leg day and waterfall day. This wicked waterfall and lush green rainforest made me forget about all my thoughts.
07-10-2017 And again, some other volunteers and I went to Klungkung, where many evacuees have stayed since there is the eruption alert level 4 out of 4 for the volcano Mount Agung. With the members of the project, we went to this camp and provided some food for them. It was shocking to see how almost 300 people lived under the couple of roofs and sleep on the floor.
06-10-2017 Today, another volunteer I've made friends with and I went to the holy springs, not far away from Ubud. They are located next to a big temple and I estimate they consist of more than 30 small springs as you can see them below. The holy water runs into a kind of pool in which big - I mean really big - fish are swimming. I took some time for me to dare to go into the water, but it was so worth it. You literally had the holy water all for yourself and could take your time to purify you body and soul at each of the springs. Every spring has a different meaning - one is for health, one is for luck, ... You really had to go into the water wearing the traditional Balinese skirt "Sarong" and covering your shoulders, just as locals would do it - I have to say I'm proud to finally possess a real traditional Sarong with belt now!
29-09-2017 I woke up at 4 am this morning and came up with the idea of going to Kuta, to get some "vitamin sea". So as soon as I stood up, I packed my little backpack, called a motorbike taxi and went to Kuta. After some shopping I happened to meet someone again I met in Kuta about a month ago, so we spent that evening together and saw the most beautiful sunset.
26-09-2017 I didn't go to school today because I had to go to the Immigration Office in Denpasar to arrange the extention of my visa. To do so, I had to get rid of my anxiety and hatred against motorbikes. In the afternoon, another volunteer and I corrected the students' exams and I also got my eigth hole in my ears this day - ooops.