6 Week Gap Year

Me and fruit bat just hanging out on the island of Pulau Serangan (Turtle Island)

31 October
Today I took a half day trip with Nusa my faithful Passepartout and Nyoman our driver. Went to a beach area around Nusa Dua in South Bali and took a glass bottom speed boat out to the island of Pulau Serangan also known as Turtle Island. It used to used by the turtles to lay their eggs but this no longer happens, most likely due to the incredible profusion of water sports companies along the adjacent beach lines making it impossible for the turtles to return. They now keep around 100 turtles for tourists but return them to the sea and replace them with different ones every month. Did get some good photos. Also they keep a python who weighs over 20kgs and eats a live chicken weekly. A fruit bat who was raised by the centre from a baby, is released every night into the wild but always returns and is waiting for his breakfast in the morning when they come to work. The staff say they reckon he’s out looking for girls at night and comes home ‘cause it’s easier than finding food for himself. They home an owl and a Monitor Lizard, the latter weighing probably twice as much as the python and about 4 to 5 feet long. His tongue was smooth and tickly and he ‘smelt’ me with it. By the way fruit bat was huge as you will see by the photo, and had a lovely light and dark furry head. The wings were more a leathery skin feel but quite strong. Turtle Island centre is, like most tourist businesses suffering severely from the effects of the 2nd Bali bombings at Jimbaran Bay and Sanur 2004. The Bali people say the Americans are the most notable absentees………………….. No offence meant Barbara, Cheryl and Gwen.
Back to the beach and the MPV and off we went to Pura Luhur Uluwatu. Uluwatu meaning high stone as the temple of stone is set on the 600ft high cliff top. As always with temples you cannot enter through the main split gate (Candi Bentaur) unless you are a worshipper and there is a ceremony to attend. So always limited photography opportunities. One drawback to visiting this temple is the wild monkeys who have made their home in and around the temple. The are aggressive, scavenging and lightning quick. Saw some Germans taking photos and while they were distracted the monkeys snatched their water bottle and a hat. I’m told the only way of getting your stolen goods back is to pay the local guides and guardians to try and bribe the monkeys with peanuts and food to return them, though this is by no means assured. End of tour and back to Royal Bali Beach Club resort for my full massage.
Wayan , (there are many Wayans in Bali, and Made’s and Komang’s and Ketut’s too which I’ll explain later), the masseur of Onsite Buda Massage is a first class masseur and one of the few massage, Shiatsu and reflexology instructors in Bali. My package was the Royal Jimbaran consisting of special Shiatsu massage with focus on acupressure points and gentle stretching of the muscles and limbs using aromatherapy oils. This followed by a traditional facial treatment including facial scrub, clay? face mask, and 5 minutes massage of key acupressure point in foot, face, neck, shoulder and hands. To finish with, a traditional massage, body scrub and exfoliation and skin moisturisation by way of yoghurt. All this took 2 and a half deeply relaxing hours during which after about an hour in at a very rough guess, I fell asleep for a while! Having been finally coated and rubbed roughly with an exfoliator he applied liberal coatings of yoghurt to my person and then directed me to my bath which he had begun filling. Having yoghurt applied externally is as disturbing as having to eat it and I fear I shall now be mentally scarred for the rest of my days. However the end result of this experience is I feel relaxed, refreshed, invigorated and many little muscle niggles appear to have gone. Tomorrow may prove otherwise. . My skin? Well I suffered a small allergic reaction to something he applied and I had an itchy rash over part of my chest, across my shoulders and a small part of my back. Some 7 hours after the massage it has all quite cleared and I am left with smooth wrinkle free silky shiny skin. I blame the yoghurt.
Oh btw, ordered a made to measure suit. Lightweight cotton rich material for hot weather, cost RP1,375,000 about £80.