GT2008 Bali -- part 1

I last visited Bali island on a company WITS team trip more than 10 years ago. I had a vision then - to revisit this place again with my family! Then i got posted to PRC soon after that ...then the Bali bombing happened...not once but twice!!....then I switched job to join the school 5 yrs ago...then finally the vision became clearer and clearer when I started to organise Graduation Tour for the students. Law of attraction at work?...I would say so.

Organised this 4D 3N trip with packed activities with only 1/2 day Freen Easy. During these 4 days - I had no use of computer, no use of handphone, no newspaper, no football ....the last time such thing happens is when I go OBS (outward bound school) during the army for 11 days. But it feel good to just concentrate my attention to the actual happeninings in the beautiful island.

Each year...there will be students joining the trip with no previous travelling / flying experience...the they provide the most fun fot the tour group. I still remember last year was student Y..this year...it's student CY. She checked in her hp into the counter...thinking she will get it back later...and did not switch it off. So the whole flight we are expecting the captain the announce the flight navigation is receiving interference...maybe we will land ia Jarhata instead....and she was obviously worried...we told her police will wait for her on the ground even if we managed to land safely.

Though we had BK dinner at T1, by the time we reached and check-in, it's 11 pm and most of us are hungry again. And we had supper along the beach and had a first tast of what the local food. Still abit surprise to see bottle drinks available there!!.

First activity of the trip the next morning -- Ayung River rafting!! Don't know if we are considered unlucky or lucky...June is actually a dry season...so the river flow was shallower and not so fast. To 1st timer like me, it is already quite an experience...but i think i can take abit more challenge.

But one thing we know for sure we are lucky - our rafting guide was a fun seeking person. I think he also know the trip will be rather boring with the low river flow...so he made us paddle to bang against the rocks and river banks purposely...plus the splashing competition, funny command...that made up more than sufficient for the missing extraordinary excitement.

We really had fun!! I would rate the fun factor as 8.5/10...though excitment factor is 4/10.

Then we go for shopping along Kuta beach shops...and got chopped. Those who are not thick shin enough to bargin for 30% of the original price will help contribut to Bali economy alot. Ask Agnes.

After that we went for the famous Monkey dance at Uluwatu. The pictures show the four girls posing in sequence - Ah Meng (pioneer batch), CY (2nd batch), PY (3rd batch) and Agnes (4th batch, current graduating class).

The grand finale of the monkey dance was rather exciting - with fire too!! I was lucky enough to manage to capture it on video and will be able to add this clip to my future safety lectures.

Finally it was dinner at the seaside. Lucky they serve BBQ chicken beside seafood. Setting of the place was just fantastice with sea waves and singers to entertain you. Foodwise have rooms to improve.

Overall I think the 1st day was really good. After the rafting in the day...we have not much energy left and think of teh full day next day ahead of us...we sleep early..at 12 midnight.