Until Christmas leave! We have just 5 more teaching days to go until the holidays, for the teachers at least. Staff must work until the 23rd of December! A little unfair and not really nesacarry as 95% of the students we have come from privileged backgrounds, they have to due to the cost of sending a child to the school! Which means that they won’t be coming to EF looking for courses as they will have gone away on holiday, most likely to Singapore or Thailand or perhaps a little closer to home such as Bali?
Speaking of Bali that's where I'm headed in 9 days from now. Just a 1.5hr flight from Jakarta International Airport but....I'm not taking the train from Statsiun Gambir near Monas in Central Jakarta. I know, I know, Bali is an Island how will I take the train there, well the route is pretty straight forward even if the journey time isn't, I leave Jakarta at 5pm and arrive in Surabaya Gubeng at 5:49am, I hope as there are rumors a-plenty about the trains here never running to time, but I'm hoping as it is a night sleeper there will be fewer trains on the lines to wreak havoc to my journey as I have a shortish transfer time to get my second train. The second leg will be from Surabaya Gubeng to Banyuwangi at 09:15, Banyuwangi is the port town closest to the island of Bali, so once I alight this train I get a 30 min ferry crossing to Bali, then my final leg which I cannot be certain of times is a bus to Kuta. Total travel time will be maybe 24hrs!
I have never been to Bali before but the other native teachers have and they will also be there for Christmas, so I will rely on them for telling me the best places to go for food and partying! However I have some plans of my own that I will put into action during my 2 week stay, firstly is horse trekking, it's not cheap but I think it is worth it. A 3hr horseback ride through a Balinese village, down past a river and onto the beach for an hour before heading back, WOW! Horse riding along the beach, AMAZING say I! Second will be climbing to the top of Gunung Agung or Mount Agung, it takes approx. 3 hrs to get to the summit but I think well worth the effort! Finally white water rafting for the day, my friend has already done this is Bali and he said it was really fun, going through the rapids then into a quiet area in the jungle with cliff faces to boot, stopping off in on a little area at the side where magically sellers with eskies full of beer come out, coincidence? I don't think so! Apart from that I will spend my days relaxing at the beach, maybe try my hand at surfing but mostly taking a well earned rest over Christmas.
Christmas that's another thing, This will be my first Christmas out of the country and I have recently started to get a little bit emotional about it, I don't mind not being with family on Christmas day as I have worked Christmas day for the past 4 years because the money has been too good to refuse and we don't have a big family anyway so we get together just before or just after between Christmas and New Year. It's just feeling weird that it's December 10th and I'm not cold and putting layers of clothing on before going outside, No complaints about that you understand just weird. Also the fact that when I visit the mall there is no Christmas music (this being a Muslim country) everything I am used to about Christmas is not here. But I am going to enjoy Christmas in a different way, sat on a beach with a beer to my side a book in my hand and a coconut by my other side!
One thing is for sure though! Santa will be visiting, I have agreed to play the part myself for a local school, and my girlfriend took delivery of the suit this morning! I am yet to try it on but it will be something I have always aspired to do, be Santa and bring joy and happiness to some underprivileged hearts. I will be doing that on 17th December so look out for my video/pictures!
Look out for my next post and feel free to leave a comment, I love to hear your feedback and I will always answer any questions as fully as I can!
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How should I get back from Bali
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Bali Ojeck driver-"Ojek Ojeck, Mr. you want Ojek. Dimana Mr."
Goose- "Saya pergi ke Jakarta, lima ratus ribu."
Ojek- "Apaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?"
haha Oh man please go by Ojek, or at least add it as an option. You could film the entire thing, think of the video.
Oh yeah, don't forget to vote on the options, I plan to take the option that is most popular, (Flight only if budget allows, haha)
haha, that's a pretty good idea, Can you imagine I tell the ojek I will give him 4 million and then when he gets me home, I'm like oops, I think I left my wallet in Bali, maybe we can go back and fetch it! haha
I suggest options 4 and 5.
4. Hire ojeks all the way home and see how far each one will take you.
5. Ankot hop. It'll be cheap and entertaining. I bet you could get from Surabaya to Gading for 50,000 just by using the Ankots.
Go for it Goose! Orang Keju!
No champagne in Bali!!?? You poor thing!
Champagne! Now that's a great idea! not sure they have champagne in Bali, not at my hotel anyway! will have to make do with a cold beer on the beach instead! haha
This will be my first Christmas away from home too, but Italy loves Christmassy things and there are tress, lights, tinsel, pies, everything. I agree with you though, it does feel weird not being with family, but I'll be celebrating in the same way: champagne for breakfast! :D
Thanks Whereverimayroam! Glad you enjoy reading them!
Sounds like you're going to have a great time in Bali! Great blogs by the way.
Argh! you're right it will be an amazing Christmas break but I have to admit I am missing the traditional Christmassy things like the mince pies and Christmas trees and the cold weather! Still It will be a Christmas like none other and you will be able to read all about it on here!
Wow! Quite jealous about your Christmas break - surfing and horse trekking sounds amazing!
Beats tinsel and mince pies hands down I say!
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