To be completely honest, Bali was never really on my bucket list. I associated it with Aussie bogans, cheap drinks and clearly staged Instagram photos of girls in flowy dresses. It was never a place I could envision myself exploring. However, after my friend convinced me to spend 2 and a half weeks in January with her in Bali I have changed my mind and firmly believe that Bali is a great place to explore, though there are a few things that you should know.
Read MoreGili Air. A place of crystal clear waters, amazing snorkeling and island community. The Gili Islands really are all they’re made out to be on Instagram. But what’s not generally included on Instagram is how to get there, and how getting there or back can in itself, be quite the adventure.
Read MoreI’m sure you’ve seen the photos on Instagram. A vibrant sunrise abover the clouds, highlighting a steep volcano in the distance. This is something that can only be achieved by climbing Mt Batur, Bali’s most active volcano. But don’t let that scare you off since climbing Mt Batur has become one of those must have adventures if you are in Bali.
Read MoreMy legs were burning, sweat was dripping down my back and down the sides of my face, and I huffed and puffed like a pack-a-day smoker out on a casual stroll. Apparently we were at the 90% point and only had a small section of rock scrambling to go before we reached the summit of Mt Batur. It was dark and cold and I was considering stopping for one last break when I realised that I could see the top. It was only a couple of meters away. I pushed myself onward and pulled myself up the last lot of rocks.
Read MoreAre you ticklish?
I sure am. Somedays you only have to brush my arm and I’m in hysterics. Getting my fert massaged requires immense self control to not kick my therapist in the face. This being the case, the last place I ever though I’d find my feet was in an aquarium being nibbled by little fish.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately you’ve no doubt seen the gorgeous photos of the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, either with people strolling the fields in flowing dresses or soaring over the fields on a Bali swing. I visited the rice terraces when I was in Ubud, and let me tell you there is more to this location than looking pretty. Namely there’s stairs. Lots and lots of muddy and slippery stairs.
Having amazing animal encounters seems to be a theme on my bucket list, so it should be no surprise that when I heard that you could snorkel with turtles in the wild in the Gili Island I immediately added this destination to my itinerary.
Read MoreUnless you’ve been living under a rock you should be aware that the 20th Century was a turbulent time in the history of the world. During this time humanity was faced with the ongoing effects of colonization, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War and its proxy conflicts in Vietnam, Korea, the Middle East and Central and South America. It really is a wonder how humanity was able to emerge from such disasters. But perhaps one of the most significant events of this time was World War II, specifically, how a political organization founded in hatred, bigotry and anger was able to rise to power in a relatively short period of time and deliver devastating destruction and death upon the world. A movement that is still simmering under the surface in many communities today. For those of you who haven’t recently brushed up on your history and am wondering what I’m going on about, I’m talking about the Nazi Party.
Read MoreBucket list item: ‘Visit a Nazi concentration camp’ to learn more about the tragedy that was the Holocaust.
I love watching historical documentaries, reading historical fiction, scrolling through pages and pages of history memes, debating historical events and being a history teacher. Basically, I’m a bit of a history nerd. With this in mind, it might seem less strange to you to see that visiting a Nazi concentration camp is on my bucket list. My love (obsession) for history isn’t the only reason for this however.
Read MoreHave you ever been stuck at an airport for an uncomfortably long layover? I have and I can tell you that it royally sucks. So what should you do next time you find yourself in this situation?
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