Indonesia - Step 7.8. back to Bali - christmas in Canggu - ciao to Indonesia

We took a cab to our accommodation in Canggu and went to a coffee place of course (first things first). Also first things first is our nail appointment after this and then we could check into our room.

Canggu is a wild mix. A mix of endless fancy, nice cafés, beach, surfing, young people, party, influencer, pretentiousness, tattoo places, western restaurants, scooters, grab and gojek driver, a lot of building sides and dust, fancy clothing stores, spas and bars. So you have everything and it attracts a lot of digital nomads as this is what Bali was known for years ago. I haven't been here years ago, but from people who did I found out about the craziness that happened here with everything changing, new buildings, new hotels, clubs, cafés etc.

As sad as it is in some ways, now we are here to enjoy what we can enjoy of these things. For me it is also fascinating to just be in the middle of it and watch my surroundings and the people in it.

I did a big research for gyms in Canggu as most of them are unreasonable expensive (like 20-30 EUR for a daypass). So in the end I found a cheap one where I immediately went the next morning and got a weekpass. I met my dutchie in the tattoo studio after my gymsession, where I had my consultation first and she got a beautiful tattoo. Next stop, guess what: my favourite place in Canggu (where I am sitting right now, writing this): I am vegan babe.

Maybe I should get that as a tattoo as well, as a reminder. Anyways

After gym, tattoo and amazing food, living life, being grateful and spoiled, we walked around a bit and went to a big market. (you can never have enough rings tho)

The next days we envolved this same routine more or less and the second day our other two friends finally came back from all their hikes. It was a night to say goodbye to my dutchie-bestie and to celebrate the birthday of my german-bestie. So after a crazy lot hugs and kisses we waved her goodbye when she hopped on the grab scooter. Good moment to find a bar and have drinks to process but also to celebrate. At the end of the night we were dancing in the old mans, but I left early because I am actually old and I was tired.

Now I am actually sitting in my café again, questioning life decisions again. I just said goodbye to my gerrman friend, that gave me a handshake to agree on going to Australia together. She decided to go to Germany now for Christmas, while I paid a shitton of money to go there (visa, flights, accommodation for the first days). 🥲 That is also why now, I need to go there because I need to work on a farm to earn that money back and to afford living in Australia.

So yes anyways. Now it was the two of us from the girls group left and this friend is very outgoing and loves party. So this evening I found myself again in olds man and thought ok what am I doing here. It's fun but sometimes I just can't get into it too often, also because I want to wake up early, go to the gym or do yoga and have breakfast. That is exactly what I did the next morning, then journaling with my friend and got unreasonable amounts of rings at the market.

I knew that my friends will all be gone when it is christmas, that is why I booked myself into a party hostel for that time. Chilling at the pool in the new hostel, a friend came over that I met on a festival in South Africa (that was a random, funny coincident as they happen when you travel).

Finally I went for my sunset-surf that I wanted to do for some days, but always found excuses not to. So the surf: it was just great. and hard at the same time. but I think that's normal.

One moment you're enveloped in the stillness, calm and peaceful presence of the ocean and the setting sun turning the surface of the water to a shiny orange-gold. The next moment you're fighting for your life after falling off your board trying to catch a wave and the waves violently take you with them until you're finally back on your board and paddling back, gasping for breath. A few seconds between the quiet peace of nature & the sea and the violence of the waves crashing against you. Peace and war. I still have to force myself to rent the board and go into the water, because once you're there, it's good. Especially the nature and to learn.

Afterwards I went back to the beach, my friend was already waiting. Showering off the sand didn't go so well and there were 2903 plants and plastic pieces in my hair. We then met up with friends at Luigi's, went for a stroll and ended up dancing with another group (dutchies) in Mexicola and Old Man's for a long time. It was really fun and I really enjoyed it compared to the other days.

The next day was the last one of my friend and she left to go to Sydney - where we would meet again - in the afternoon. Our friend was recovering from a puking-morning, thanks to Bali belly that day, so I watched the sunset alone and went to my room to go sleep early, now that my party-friend has left. (Yes after one night in the party hostel, I didn’t wanted to stay there longer and booked a private room)

Good that I did that because this night around 2am, I woke up from nausea and had some hours of suffering and vomiting as well. The next day I was really sick and dead from that, so for Christmas (24. december) I just slept 24 hours. Luckily after this entire day of sleep, the next morning I felt stable again, so I could do some restorative yoga. I was still a bit weak and my body wasn’t really happy to have food, even though I didn’t ate like 40hours. But as I lost a day and just had 2 days in Bali left I had my hair and nail appointments this day. (I knew these things I wont do in australia, as its just too expensive over there)

On my last day I needed to be productive, which means before 10am I was in the gym, brought my laundry to wash, went to the ATM and got a coffee & papaya juice. Because after this I spend like 8 hours in the tattoo studio. I got the most expensive, but maybe also most impressive tattoo. I finished the last day with dinner at Lolas and felt like now time passes so fast and I wasn't entirely ready to already leave.

My flight was in the late morning so I could get one last breakfast in my favourite Café before heading to the airport.

Bali was a great time for me. The people I met and got the gift to travel with them, was a huge part why it was special to me. The other huge part was vegan cafés. The nice thing traveling in south east asia is also that you have a lot of cute islands, it is affordable, exotic fruits and coconut everyday and nice activities. This will change in my next chapter in Australia, as there I will work and stay longer in one place, which also enables me to establish some routines again. Therefore I am happy and excited for that next chapter, see you soon.