No longer a beach bum

I finally got a job! I’m going to be teaching online English conversation courses and subbing at an internationally-recognized school!! It sounds like a lot of fun. So I’ll finally be able to put my TESOL Certificate to use! It's funny though how quickly I've gotten used to not working. The idea of having a job again taking up so much of my time is a bit depressing. But at least I'm in a beautiful place to enjoy my time off!

Losar Tashi Delek!!!

HAPPY TIBETAN NEW YEAR!!!

I hope everyone has a prosperous and happy year of the fire pig, full of adventure and excitement! :)

Fittingly, I found a Tibetan Buddhist temple tucked away in the middle of rice paddies here in Bali! Driving past, I was surprisingly confronted and comforted by the 8 auspicious symbols and “Om Mani Padme Hum” written in Tibetan script on the front of the building. When I finally got the chance to explore the temple further, I found a strange combination of Tibetan, Chinese and Indonesian scripts and symbols. There were Chinese lanterns for the new year and out front of the temple was a small traditional Balinese Hindu temple (found in nearly every house and in front of important sites and buildings). On one of the alters inside, there was a picture of a Tibetan man standing with a monk, and a rack of books of Buddhist principles written by a Tibetan man (but only available in its Indonesian translation). The only person I could find at the temple spoke only Indonesian. My mum and I managed to understand that ceremonies and meditation sessions are held Sunday mornings, but the girl didn’t understand my question as to whether there was a Tibetan lama at the temple. I may just have to venture back with someone who speaks more Indonesian!

Surfer Girl!

I finally did it! I went surfing for my first time and it was SSOOOOOO much fun! We rented longboards (much easier for beginners) on Kuta beach and were practicing in the breaking waves (also easier for beginners!). I was so amazed at how fast it feels like you are moving and how huge and looming some of the waves are. I rode a lot of the waves because it was less scary to ride the big ones than to watch them approach and then have to go through them! In an hour, I managed to get up on my feet, but I was still hanging on to the sides of the board. Supposedly not bad for my first try – better than my mum at least!! I can see it being totally addictive, despite the liters of sea water that I snorted up my nose and I can’t wait to go again!

Arak Attack

Arak is a local rice wine that varies immensely in its quality. Some are really quite good, while others make you really sick. And at dinner the other night I ordered two “arak attacks” (arak mixed with sprite and grenadine)… normally a decent amount of alcohol comparable to two mixed drinks at home. But this was BAD arak. I was totally sloshed by the end of the first one – don’t ask me why I ordered another! And just like tequila, the effects just get worse over time. By the time I got home, I felt like I had drunk at least 6 drinks and smoked way too much!! I was sweating and nauseous and couldn’t even fall asleep I felt so shitty. They don’t call it an arak attack for nothing!

The next morning I swore that I wouldn’t drink arak anymore. But that didn’t last very long! That night, Shawna and I went out to a reggae bar and ended up drinking “jungle juice” (arak, vodka and passion fruit juice!) with a couple of guys from the band. At least it was good arak and no one was sick! :)