Sami’s Blog: Bali

You never really know how you will travel with a friend, until you actually do it. Last week I finally went to Bali.  I was afraid it would be a hot mess of drunk bogans wearing Bintang singlets necking stubbies at 10 a.m. while haggling in the streets over fake Gucci.  I was so wrong. It was my own little version of Eat, Pray, Love as a great friend and I enjoyed a few days of massages, amazing food and lounging on the beaches. Travel for me is about seeing new places and making lifelong memories along the way.

So, with our carry-on luggage (4 pairs of togs and the new Liane Moriaty book) Elly and I set out to enjoy nirvana. I have two memories from our sun sojourn that will fortify our friendship forever.

The first was day spa pamper package that included a ‘rain shower’.  We had no idea what to expect as we were shown a concrete room with two plastic covered beds.  Wearing nothing but those one-size-does-not-fit-all throw away undies we soon got to know each other very well realising we were basically nude in some sort of couples’ massage.  The giggles started.  We were told to lie face down and put on shower caps.  Looking far from hot with handkerchief size mesh covering my curvy bottom (Elly is a size 6 so of course she looked stunning), big metal rods were swung above us with 7 shower heads attached.  Freezing cold water then shot down on us as if we were being whipped.  It just kept coming.  By now we were roaring laughing and trying not to swallow the water because we didn’t want Bali Belly.  It was not relaxing or luxurious.  It was strange and uncomfortable, but one of the funniest experiences of my life.  We lay for half an hour snorting laughter together while trying not to drown.  

As for my second memory, well it is hard to beat the old Bali sunset over the ocean.  Nestled in bean bags we wiggled our toes in the sand while soaking up some locals playing Pearl Jam covers.  We spent the sun-drenched afternoon drinking $3 beers while locals tried to sell us ‘authentic’ pearl bracelets for $10. But the highlight was when our waiter asked if we were hot?  He disappeared then promptly returned with two sandwich bags full of ice, his hands gestured for us to place them on our heads.  We did as we were told, it worked a treat!  

Homemade ice packs sitting on our heads, I looked ridiculous, Elly somehow looked stunning.  The sun set on our cool scalps, me being paranoid the leaking Bali water would somehow make my hair dye run.  We just laughed and laughed at the little patch of the world we had discovered.  Friendship really is a sheltering tree.