One Day in California

"HEY! STEFFI! I'm getting married next year!" Lily's text popped up. Oh really? I am so happy for her. "CONGRATULATIONS MY DEAR!".

"So, about Bali.. How about June?" June, means 3 months ahead.

"I will transit to Jakarta before Bali.... we meet there" she replied.

"Okay then send me your flights detail. I'll try to find the flight that suits your arrival"

"wait, sending it to you right now. I am so f**kin happy"

"will be waiting!"

***

"Safe flight little sist" Cindy gave me a hug, Clara did the same.

"Tell us when you arrived" Clara added. I walk towards the pink –polkadot baby stroller, bend my knees to reach my niece's tiny hand.

"Bye Bianca ! Will bought you a lot of bikinis" I winked my eyes.

I wave my hand towards my sisters and my niece, pulling my luggage and disappear from the crowds.

***

This is my second time in Bali, I first came to Bali with Rony which is about 8 years ago. So I have less clue about it, 8 years must change a lot. I walk through the crowds by saying "Excuse me" in repeat so they will stop blocking my way. Soon as I paused among the crowds where people are waiting for their transits, a woman yelled "STEFFI" waving her hands towards me.

"Lily!" I yelled back, running towards her. "I miss you!" she added, we are hugging, jumping like kids in the playground.

"Oh my god you are not gonna believe it!" Lily pulled my hand and drag me seated in an empty seat, beside her bags. She hid her hands at her back, show it slowly to me, "TADA !" surprised me with the ring on her third finger on her left hand.

"it's an engagement ring !" she exclaimed.

***

We've landed.. on this beautiful land, city of love, beaches, waves, exciting view, friendly people. It's Bali. An piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water, warm and transparent water in bluish and light greenish shades, soft golden sand, palms and other tropical plants bowing over it. A flock of birds would cross the sky. I sit back against the seat to watch. Their wings beat the air as if it took no effort at all, each movement precisely on time as it should be. I watch them until they were specks on the horizon, until that moment just before they blended into the far away sky.

Our first stop on the first day is Tanah Lot. We enjoy the strikingly beautiful temples at the shore, listening to the waves, shopping some amazing wooden carvings, paintings or handcrafted bags. Then we continue our journey to some cafes, taking pictures, well mostly Lily's picture because I don't like to take pictures that much.

It's evening 7 p.m. when we came back to W Hotel Seminyak. I sat by the beach while Lily is busy preparing herself for Potato Head Beach Club Bali. Night has fallen fast upon the land, it's the type of coldness that reaches into my bones as if my heart was a door left wide open to the icy breeze, slamming only to open again. The only thing to do is just keep moving, keep heading toward and the steady warmth of the hearth. Noah? How are you there? I remember when you kissed me on the cheek in that cold –breezy night we spent alone. I closed my eyes, inhaling the breeze.

"Steffi!" a tap on the shoulder startled me.

"Hey" Lily sat beside me, she's in red –backless top and hotpants "Is everything okay Steffi?" she asked.

"I am fine?" I lifted an eyebrow, there's something inside my chest and I think I am ready to tell her.

"Are you ready to tell me?" Yash, Lily you read my mind. Right, I haven't said anything to Lily since I left Los Angeles. Let's take a deep breath... exhales.. "Do you mind Lily?"

"As long as you are ready" she smiles.

"Yes, Lily.." another deep breath, "Um... I think I'm in love with that ....guy" I stuttered.

"I know, I can see it from your expression though"

"I don't know Lily. I miss him, really"

I imagine the smile he had, his smile is the prettiest thing I've seen, for it extends to your eyes and deep into your soul. He is the gentle touch, the smile of a pure honesty.

"Hmmm" she mumbled, "I think...He is in love with you too, from my perspective"

Is that? It's hard for me to believe it, "Why would you say that?"

"I am just guessing.. but he is showing it to you.. he brought you to the observatory, he actually rent the whole building that night, for you... he wants to bring you for a vacation. What for Steffi? He did that much to you.."

My cardiac muscle pump blood through my vascular system really quickly. Oh really? I can feel it a little bit, but I am just not sure.

"So.." Lily stood up, patting her pants as the sticky sands fell down. I stood up too, my pants are covered in sands, Lily slapped my butt hard. "You are gonna die Lily !!!" I yelled. Lily runs by the beach and I chase her, throwing the sticky sands towards her.

***

The beach stretched out alongside the water, the cool water laps at my feet, fizzing and bubbling like brine, these constant friends chattering as the water comes in my reassuring way, as if the joy is to soothe the sand. Though the sun is beating on my back, beaming in my eyes, I can't help but smile as the wind blowing into my face. The waves ahead roar and roll down, crashing onto the shore with a soft hiss. Every fibre of my being hums with adrenaline. Without hesitation, I plunge into the blue-green water, pressed up against my chest. A chill surges through me, but a small wave washes it away.

As I finished my morning –afternoon sun –bathing, Lily passes me my bag.

"Are you ready gurl?"

I nodded, "Of course"

My skin is tanned, gold and luminous as honey. Lily pokes my arm "How can you get tanned so easy?".

I shrugged my shoulders "I don't know. I wish to get back to normal soon".

Lily rolled her eyes, "Alright Let's Go"

Water Blow Nusa Dua, the beach attraction near the Waterblow areas, such as Mengiat beach Nusa Dua and Samuh beach Nusa Dua. So the notion of Water Blow Nusa Dua is not a beach in Nusa Dua. It is a rocky cliff hit by a massive wave from the south Indian ocean.

The water blows really high and got Lily soaked while she was about to pose, how ridiculous. Can't stop laughing at her.

We try a lot of pork too, recommended by our Grab –driver, but since we spent too much money for the Grab, we decided to rent a car for the whole week.

The next day, Tegenungan Waterfall the beauty and hidden waterfall in Ubud village, exactly located in Tegenungan Kemenuh town, District Sukawati, Gianyar. Typical scene around Tegenungan Waterfall is genuinely delightful, with green trees and beautiful. Near to the waterfall has been produced with a couple shower showers from normal springs. Neighborhood inhabitants frequently bathe and bring water for step by step usage at these showers, especially in the morning and night. Yaps, we played the water there.

We drive in taking turns, next we headed to Bali Bird Park in the afternoon. An amazing array of beautiful birds from around the world, many of which are tame and you can have sit on you for photos, we saw a lot of birds which only seen on the TV.

Then we continue our journey to Bali Night Zoo, luckily we arrived on time which is 5.30 p.m. located in Bali Safari and Marine Park, Gianyar. The nightlife in the zoo is wonderful and mysterious at the same time. It is hard to tell the difference between a sleeping bearcat or an active one watching us with its widen pupils, if the owl is being calm or keeping an eye to a prey. Also sometimes it is hard to spot the animals as they blend in with the environment. The expert guide will help you to unravel the mystery and spot the animals. Some night creatures, such as owls and large cats have evolved sight allows them to see easily in the dark, some have a good sense of smell, such as snakes, while some others have a special hearing ability. Their behavior is so unique. But there's a set of house rules, which are no flash photography, be calm, and not walking separately with the group are meant to be followed to keep the animals calm and make your night at the zoo the best ever. We also get a rare look at remarkable endangered Sumatran tiger. Their earthy colors striped fur blends in with the trees. Observe their marvelous beauty and vigorous muscle as they get closer to the glass wall when the keeper feeds fresh chunk meat to the Tigers. The guides are very informative. We can always find out more information about the animals from the written information on display. We have a chance to meet up and interact with an owl, phyton, pangolin and other nocturnal animals available in the evening too. We also find out the lions' diet and how the keepers feed them. We are also welcome to use this opportunity to help the keeper feeding the king of the jungle. Work alongside the keeper pulling the rope that transports the fresh meat into the enclosure.

The night at the zoo is ultimately wrapped with a night safari show featuring a group of talented fire dancers to experience the thrilling art of fire dancing. Okay so, 4th day is done.

In the next day, we spent our time in Kintamani. We first visit the restaurant for a lunch, for the afternoon view, and selfies like thousands of them, my camera is about to explode. Kintamani is a village on the western edge of the larger caldera wall of Gunung Batur in Bali, Indonesia Kintamani can make your vacation very interesting and fun and will totally be worth every penny spent. The view and atmosphere is simply splendid. From watching the sun paint the sky gold to witnessing the beauty of Kintamani, Bali tour on a helicopter, there's so much one can do while exploring the gorgeous village. So bad we were too late, we supposed to depart by 3 a.m. so we could watch the sunrise.

"HEY STEFFI ! LET'S HAVE A NIGHT HERE !"

Okay Lily is crazy, but sorry I am crazy too..

We soaked ourselves in Hot Springs. We visit the Luwak Farm, since Lily is curious, then canoeing in Kintamani, last but no least before we head back to the hotel, we did cycling tour and stop by for the beautiful evening sunset. We came back at 4 a.m. for a sunset. Pictures are taken too.

Next, we headed to Singaraja. First stop is Gitgit Waterfall, there are paved steps all the way and it's completely family friendly. The hike to the waterfall take around 15 minutes. The grounds are well maintained and since tourism has boomed in Bali, the whole journey to the waterfall is a trail in between markets. The waterfall situated high up in the mountains and surrounded by stunning rice paddies, is definitely a rising hotspot for tourism. It's a jungle heaven for all photographers and day to day tourists.

The parking area is situated on a main road, with a few shops nearby so there's plenty of food and refreshments available. We swim right up to the intensity of the falls.

Then we continue our journey to Lovina Beach, which is a laid back 12 km stretch of coast to the West of Singaraja in North Bali. The two streets forming the centre of Lovina are connected by a walking boulevard, on one side you find the beach while on the other side you walk past many shops offering all kinds of goods like sarongs, T-shirts, bracelets, necklaces, paintings and souvenirs. Walking towards the dolphin statue you will find local warungs and restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes.

We are not in hurry so we stop at a temple like Pura Ulun Danu, twin lakes and rice paddies in Munduk and make a day of it.

We stayed in Lovina since we're planning to do some sightseeing trips in the morning. We woke up at 4 in the morning waiting for the boat, we watched dolphins jumping in groups. Then at 10, we did some snorkeling.

Well, we have made our 12 days vacation amazing.

"Hey Steffi, I will send the invitation to you through email" she said.

"Okay, noted" I give her a smile.

"Safe flight Lily" waves my hand towards her.

"You too"

Will meet her next year on her wedding day.