Home again home again jiggity jig!

Me and Reffa just arrived safely (but tiredly) back into Surat thani. We had such a crazy wonderful trip together in Indonesia. I'm going to try to outline some of the things that happened while we were away, and if you would like to see the pictures (and some videos) which go along with the stories then please go check them out on facebook!!! =)

Bali

Kuta
So, as I had already posted, we started our trip off with a 10 hour bus to Bangkok and then a flight to Bali. We were expecting a crazy annoying touristy place jut like Patong, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that Bali is a very relaxed and fairly inexpensive place to stay. We easily found a hostel to stay in (called Rita's place) for only 10$ a night, so 5$ each and it was right on the beach! We just hung out there for a few nights just strolling around, laying on the beach, taking photographs and enjoying the sights (both the landscape as well as all the cute surfers!!!!). We also met a really cool group of friends who were travelling around Bali too and we joined forces and found Dreamland beach and had a photoshoot there as well. =)

Ubud
Only a 1.5 hour drive north of Kuta we came to an enchanting little place called Ubud. We had heard mixed reviews everywhere from it's a shithole, to it's a gorgeous garden, to it's rundown by tourists? As per usual, Reffa and I chose to make our own judgments and fell head over heels in love with the floral little place. It has just been touched by tourism enough to make it comfortable for the western traveler in Indonesia, but has still retained a significant amount of it's culture. We spent a full day walking with a lovely girl named Ruta (who we also shared our 5$ gorgeous cottage bungalo with) and found rice fields, locals, and a monkey forest where we actually got to feed and play with wild monkeys. It was really amazing. The scenery was amongst the best I've ever seen. Also, There was a huge festival going on while we were there so there were enormous celebrations around every corner! Because of this, there was a movie benig filmed - a new movie with Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt!! we were in the same town as them for a few days!!! We didn't see them though.

Lovina
It was just as we were leaving Ubud that Reffa realized she left her phone behind DOHHHH but luckily we were able to contact out Bali friends to bring it up north to us!!! Thank goodness for connections! :) Lovina is a great little place with hardly any tourists. It's famous for it's dolphin watching. We got up at 5:30 am one morning and went out on some guys boat for 5 dollars (split between 4 people) and managed to see hundreds and hundreds of jumping dolphins against the sunrise. amazing. The guide told us that it is believed to be a key honeymooning spot for the dolphins! how sweet. They don't do anything to draw them there, they come on their own and seem to be attracted to the sides of the boats where they jump and entertain! :):) so enjoyable.

Java

Probolingo
Probolingo is the place you go after you get off of the ferry from Lovina. It was the ugliest, scariest, sketchiest place I've ever been. Me and Reffa held hands and tightly onto our purses throughout our stay here. If I can avoid it, I will never go there again.

Mt. Bromo
the one good thing that came from Probolingo was Mt. Bromo, a famous Volcano located only 2 hours away. We paid about $30 each for a hotel, 2 day transportation, a jeep up a valcano at 5am and a lift to another volcano afterwards and free breakfast. Not a bad deal! We, yet again, had to get up around 2am to make it to the volcano on time for sunrise, but boy was it worth it. It was one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen! But it was zero degrees... Usually our Canadian bones would be okay with that, but not when we were still working out our sunburns from snorkeling less than 24 hours ago in 40 degree hot weather!!!!!

Jogja
Is the name that they call the smallest province in Indonesia, Yogyakarta. It's a sweet little touristy place renouned for its wax art produced in 6 stages. We took a few pictures of them, and in our curiosity asked "What is your inspiration for such abstract paintings?" to which the men relpied "I eat the magic mushroom" ......... we left the store after that. hahahahaha There happened to be the best celebration of the year going on while we were there also, a muslim celebration. Reffa and I always luck out on stuff like that every time we go away!! :) so we got to see a great parade and lots of traditional costumes and religious influences of Indonesia. A great opportunity for us! :):)

Borobudhur Temple
This temple is easiest to reach from Jogja. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the WORLD!!! Which is pretty awesome. It was gorgeous! This was like, the 5th time this vacation that Reffa and I got up earlier than the sun to catch it in it's glory above the temple. It was a lot of fun and the pictures came out great! I read somewhere that it is one of the seven wonders of the world, but I have a feeling that it's just one of the ones that was tacked on somewhere along the way? I'm a little confused as to what those actually are... if anyone knows let me know??? Anyways the temple was great.
That about sums up our time in Jogja! as long as I include lots of MARKET shopping!! it was cheap cheap cheap!!

Jakarta

is insane. we were too afraid to take pics most of the time because people were eying us and our camera and our wallets... etc.. so it was really dirty and sketchy. we treated ourselves to a nice hotel so that we'd feel safe in the huge city, and didn't do anything other than spending a delightful (but somwhat scary) day in the largest zoo in the world! (or something like that?)
It was cool, but we saw a guy get clawed by a tiger YIKES there's a pic on facebook of his bloody arm. it was really scary.

now we're home safe and sound! miss you!

am now planning a travel trip to Laos and China! :):)

we <3 bali

we are now in Bali, Indonesia having the time of our lives.

We just spent a few days in Kuta, the craziest most touristy place in Bali, and it was wicked. great beaches, wicked shopping, amazing sunny weather every day so far! yay!

today we're moving on to a place called Ubud. I guess there's lots of traditional dancing, cool lakes, and maybe a volcano to climb.

then we're going to the gili islands- they are 3 cute islands with no power, no vehicles. people get around by horse there. they want to reserve it so they make a point of not bringing in any technology. we're going to spend anight there.

after that we'll travel our way over the north of bali to a place aclled lovina. it's known for DOLPHINS!!! yay!! we love dolphins. we might swim with them- depending on how much it costs.

after that we take a ferry across to yogyakarta- the smallest province in indo. I guess one of the seven wonders of the world is there? I still have to solidify my research on that. IT's a big beautiful temple of some sort anyways!

after that we go to jakarta, and then fly back home on the 21st.

contact reffa if you want our phone number for indonesia to call us.

xoxoxox!! all is well in Indonesia!!!!

Gone goin gone

We're going on yet another spectacular vacation starting TOMORROW!!
Yikes, Ref and I aren't quite ready for it because it feels a bit rushed after just finishing the school semester, but luckily we don't have any serious plans to adhere to so we are free to just float in the waves of Bali and sun bathe on the gorgeous untouched (or tourist trampled) beaches. whichever we find first.

yes, that's right, we are giong to Bali, Indonesia. Tomorrow we go to Bangkok, because unfortunately no matter where in the world you want to go from Thailand you pretty much have to go to either Malaysia or Bangkok. We're taking the 10 hour bus (sounds long, but it's a piece of cake now !) up tomrorow. Then we're sleeping in thea irport a few hours and catching an early flight to Bali. We'll be there mid morning on October 8th. As I mentioned before, we don't have any real solid plans, we'er going to get there and see what presents itself. We know our initial destination and that's mainly what matters. The only other commitment we have over there, is somehow making our way to Jakarta (about 24 hr busride/ferry) because we booked a flight FROM Jakarta back to Bangkok on the 21st. We should be back in Surat arounddddd the 22nd?

thennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn RICHARD IS COMING!!!!!! =) =) =)

yay
ps. OH MY GOD Maggie and Thomas had their baby. She's gorgeous. Most of you reading this already know that, but still , YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to meet litle Louise Allison Vaughn. My first Neice-Cousin. You can call me Aunt Jesse. =)
Congrats you two lovebirds. I'm so happy for you.

xoxoxoxoxox

Butterflies

There are butterflies in my tummy. The awesome tickley ones that are just letting you know that you're getting ready for something really amazing and really exciting. The ones that can predict an adventure. The ones who know you're following your heart. Those butterflies are the most beautiful and colourful, because they bring a hapiness and energy to your day-to-day life that is hard to acquire anywhere else.

When you are bored, they flutter around in sync with the dancing thoughts of possibility- just to remind you that you have something else to look forward to and have no need to feel bored. While your mind day dreams, your butterflies play and they lead you to the most desirable things!!

What do these next few months hold for me? Take me there, butterflies - I trust you!