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► 2010 (6)

▼ 2009 (39)

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Nerdy Nomad
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Earthquake and rough sea in Gili

Gili cafe

One of my last days in Gili I was half awake at 7 am when the bed started shaking in circular movements. At first I thought it was a dream and wasn't really able to decide if I should get up or not, and then I thought it was probably a small earthquake.

It stopped after just 30 seconds and I fell asleep again. I didn't really think much about it (nobody made a fuss about it either) until the owner of the boat on the way back to Bali told me it was an earthquake measuring 6.5 on Richter's scale, the epicenter was about 100 miles south of Bali. Some people were hurt jumping out of windowns in panic, but nothing serious. The return boat trip to Bali that day was a bumpy ride, a couple of the other passengers got seasick, but I managed. A few years ago I would've been really ill, but my seasickness disappeared after we got a boat, and I really enjoyed the rough sea and wasn't scared at all.

Dark clouds gathering upon my departure ...

On my return to Bali it was the end of Ramadan, the islamic fasting month. This has little influence on most Balinese people, however, as the majority is Hindu. I must say it will be nice to stay somewhere where there are no mosques, as they really keep it going all night around the end of Ramadan!

My last days in Bali will be spent with no plans. I'm not in temple mode at all and feel I just need to rest and work on my tan. Relaxing is not difficult in this place, though! Cheap restaurants, lots of shopping and a lovely cafe 300 m away with free wifi and delicious ice cream! I tried skyping there yesterday and it worked fine, I even got to hear my newborn nephew (good loungs on that one!) and say hi to the family. Today it's raining, but the weather should be better tomorrow and the day after, just a passing storm I guess. I must admit sitting in a perfectly tempered hotel room with clean hair and clothes (only salt water in the shower in Gili!) typing away on my mini laptop and listening to the rain outside is quite relaxing as well.

Tonight I might meet up with my couchsurfing host from Surabaya (my cell phone is starting to act a little strange though, I suddenly remember why I got a new one when this wasn't completely dead yet), eat some fresh fish (a tuna steak is around 2,5 euro) and browse the shops. Hopefully I'll have better luck than yesterday ... at the first shop the shopkeeper lady got angry because I was looking for a color she didn't have, at the next one I left as soon as I saw a rat climbing around, and at the third one a huge (ok, maybe small pea-sized, but still) spider was living on the dress I tried on and wandered down my arm. At least I made the shopkeeper lady laugh as I did a little dance, screamed and stepped on it as it fell to the floor. Bought the dress though!

My nephew