Welcome To My Paradise

It's been a relaxing start to my year-long travels. I keep having to pinch myself that this is actually happening - that I'm lucky enough to be living my dream.

I've spent the last few days truly relaxing. After such a long and winding road to get here, I decided that I needed a bit of self-care and spoiling. So I have treated myself to a keratin hair straightening treatment and blue under-colour, many massages, quite a few cocktails and a lovely silver chain and pendant from Filthy Gorgeous.

Left: Cheeky blue hair colour by Sarah at Ari Spa (Garlic Lane)

Right: My Filthy Gorgeous pendant

Budget, you say? What budget! Bali is a very touristic spot and we do pay a premium for this. I'll just call it my holiday splurge and leave it at that. Next week, I am headed to South Korea so I'll be able to be a bit more budget travel from then on.

Saturday night saw me at the Suriwathi Hotel Great Aussie BBQ. Here I enjoyed delicious food, lots of refreshing cocktails and met an awesome lady by the name of Marian. She assures me that it isn't the case, but I may have broken her. After a boozy dinner, we decided to head down to The Legends Bar for a bit of a boogie and I may have suggested we enjoy what I know as a 'Fluffy Duck'. Now, this monster of a drink has 5 different white spirits, presented in a cute duck container. It was actually quite delicious, I must say. Marian has informed me that it tastes a lot better going down than coming up! I am so glad she is still talking to me...

I kept seeing posters all around Legian advertising 'World of Cats' and thought, 'why not?'. My driver, Ariel, agreed to come in with me and I think he had more fun with the kitties than I did. It is essentially a cat cafe. They give you little tubes of paste to feed the cats and I swear this stuff must be kitty heroin. They'd rip the packet out of your hand given half a chance!

I'm really excited about this coming weekend. My friends, Kadek and Suma, will be coming to pick me up to take me to a rebirthing ceremony. I'm currently having a white kabaya (traditional Balinese ceremony blouse) made for me and I now have a gorgeous sarong and belt to go with it. What a wonderful way to start my year of travel. Time to throw of the shackles of sadness, self-doubt and fear and step forward into the world for whatever it brings. I look forward to sharing this experience with you all here.

I also move hotels tomorrow. It has been lovely staying here at Miss Debby's Homestay, but I am looking forward to 6 nights hospitality with Nyoman and the gang at Suriwathi. They are both in Garlic Lane (Sahadewa St, Legian), but the buffet breakfast is included with the room at Suriwathi and the staff are absolutely gorgeous. So friendly and welcoming.

Well, it's getting to that time of day when a coldie or 2 on the beach is just what may be needed. Take care everyone and see you next time.