Sunday: Bittersweet goodbyes to Amed

Leaving this place is pulling at my heart strings. As much as I try to not compare, I can't help think of the time I left Pai for a week in the Thai islands, only to return two days later. Amed, like Pai, is a must return spot.

I started my morning waking at 5 am. This is definitely not typical for me! That massage did me good! The power flickered a bit which spurred me to check the weather...no rain! I threw on a dress and ran out the door without brushing my hair or my teeth! 

I scooted around several bends before finding the perfect sunrise spot. It happened to be right at the Japanese shipwreck sight. Sunday's are quiet days since there is no school and it is considered a holy day. I was alone on the beach with only the crabs and these little blue-black tadpole like things. 

Some of you may remember I take my dad (who passed 9 years ago this last November) with me on my travels. This morning a bit of him joined the Amed Sea! I couldn't think of a better spot.  

No matter how often I do this, it is always a special moment.

 I savored my time then headed back up to my beloved scooter.

I found myself at another beach, enjoying the morning solitude. The roosters were just now starting to crow.

I encountered a dog gang on the beach, reminding me of the gangs of Thailand. The dogs here are more the "lone wolf" type than pack like, so this was rare.

Back to my little home sweet home to pack up and have a big breaky. Not sure when I'll have another real meal today. While I was having breaky the local yoga teacher I had asked about 2 days ago showed up to talk yoga. Bali time! This wasn't happening after a big beaky and an hour left before departure. He was a sweet soul, dying to share his love of yoga in this community.

Another sight while having breaky. This happens so much, women carrying huge loads on their heads. (I see men too, but more women)

The ants were packing up and moving out also.

Side note:

This happened this morning, thank goodness I looked as he was hiding between the plys!!

Oh jungle life! Thankfully it wasn't raining, so there was only one obstacle in the loo.

Bidding farewell

The owner of the hotel drove me to Sanur where the best harbor is. I wish I was tired so I could have fallen asleep as his driving was wretched. Incessant accelerating with quick stops and slow downs as he attempted to dodge through traffic on narrow jungle roads. I finally grew tired once we reached straight roads with flowing traffic, which was only about 20 minutes from my destination. 

There was a roadside grove filled with monkeys! They all had the grumpy grandpa face with Mohawks. See the baby?!

Forget the minivan, Southeast Asia does scooters. This baby could not have been more than 2 months old. Some parents will wear helmets, but leave their children's heads bare. This makes me so nervous with the way they drive.

Feeling like a kindergartner again waiting for my boat. In case I forget, I'm going to the Dafish Accommodation and I have one pack.

My boat is on the left, with Nusa Lebongan in the background. You take your shoes off before getting in the boat and put them in the green crate, which is then brought to shore for you when time to get off. You have to wade into the water to hop on, which came just under my knees.

Storms were brewing back on Bali, complete with lightening.

First glimpse of Nusa Lebongan!Oh these clouds make me swoon!

I took the more expensive of the boat options for its safety ratings and long standing reputation. Also for the fact it takes you to your accommodation on the island. When booking my hotel I did not know I was actually booking on the smaller, neighboring island, Nusa Ceningan. (They labeled It as Lebongan on the site, I'm not a complete airhead. Just a smidge.) The driver told me he could not drive there, so he would leave me at the bridge. This left me a little perplexed.

I am the blue dot. You can see the size difference between the islands and Bali (and I'm on the teensiest one). Amed was on the east coast, just above the direction arrow in the search bar.

These roads are worse than some of the trails I have run! And just about as wide! I sat in the front and saw so much more as well as talked to the driver a bit. Spotted my first Komodo dragon...in a trash pile!

And now I know why he could not drive me there, this bridge is narrower than the roads! The scooters crossing had to stop while we walked past. My head was racing with ideas of what this place would be like on the other side!

View from the bridge. Ceningan to the left and Lebongan to the right.

Once on the other side thankfully there were men on scooters offering "transport". Little did I know my home for the next two days would be so far back! I got quite the ab workout attempting to hold myself upright and ON the scooter with my huge bag pulling on my back as most of it was uphill on these torn up roads. Finally he stopped and put my bag where his feet rest. Thank goodness! I kept having visions of falling backwards into the road, then rolling downhill. 

I arrived at Dafish and was handed a welcome drink, which tasted like Tang (flashbacks!). I was then informed the Internet was not working and there was no food today. I got a bit nervous as there doesn't seem to be much here. The young man assured me there would be food tomorrow when his staff returned from the main land. He also pointed to a couple restaurants, one within sight. Phew! (And the Internet is working, even though it is a good break while on vacay)

My bungalow, complete with towel art!

Open air bathroom. The bathroom water and pool are all salt water. 

View from my terrace, ocean in the distance and the Palms restaurant roof.

The road...er sidewalk...er treacherous trail to palms. People ride scooters up and down this. No thanks!

I set out to get a lay of the land. The man at the hotel said there was a beach at secret point called "secret beach", so I headed that direction! I only walked about 5 minutes until the sound of the waves grew louder. Straying from the road, I followed a little dirt path to the source...

Blue Lagoon. I was completely jaw dropped, speechless. This ain't Pinterest either!

I can't get over this and have been revisiting my photos since leaving this spot. Surreal is an understatement.

After taking who knows how many photos I crossed the street to Secret Point.

One of the many diving platforms, waves, Lembongan, clouds and surfers. I  am not missing Amed!

I really am afraid of heights. Another platform

I sat on a wall of this dive point where they sell cold beverages and optimal views. Crabs were all over this cliff (if I remember right here was one to the right in this photo)

The waves would crash into the cliff providing a much needed cool down.

I headed to Secret Point Huts and Restaurant which you could see from the previous point.

Enjoyed me a banana Rama (banana, Kahlua, Bailey's)

Then to the pool for a late afternoon cocktail and reading sesh. You can hear the waves crash here, such heaven!

Dinner time came around and the young man offered to take me to a local warung on the back of his scooter. It is owned by his aunt and uncle who prepared a delicious seafood soup (veggies, fish, prawns and calamari in fish stock). They have an absolutely darling 9 month old boy who reached his arms to me upon seeing me. Oh Bali baby loves!! He was too stinking cute! 

The view from dinner was pretty awesome as well. I'm thinking anywhere you go in this island will be magically beautiful. You can see the lights of Bali on the horizon while candles flicker, Balinese instrumental music plays and waves crash. And then instantly there is the random firework that could not have been more than 20' away. Back to reality from that beautiful daydream! Know if I die of a heart attack, I will die in paradise. 😉

A different family member brought me back to Dafish as the roads are windy and narrow with zero street lights.

Having been up at 5am without my regularly scheduled nap has me zleeeeeepy!  I shall fall asleep listening to the waves.... 

This spoke to me after writing about attachment to Pai and Amed:

Saturday: I could run 100 miles

Waking up before the sun has some perks! Up at 5:30 and out the door for a sunrise run and my first long training run of the season!

Getting up before the majority of the villages feels so sacred. 

No better truth!

Even puppies and chickens enjoy the beauty on the beach. (Or so I'd like to think)

The only traffic I encountered was that of children headed to school. They start riding scooters so very young around here. I swear some of these kids are only 7 or so, just cruising along! The children start school at 6am and get out between 12-1 depending on their grade level. And that is six days a week! 

I also passed what appeared to be a school bus, which was more a fenced truck bed with children packed in liked sardines.

I had one little girl start running alongside me, trying to race. We laughed and I let her win. Twice.

Croaked. This guy is actually dead. I see so many smashed frogs, crabs and even a baby mouse on my early morning adventures. 

These here are some excellent training hills! Perfect Way Too Cool practice!

Typical roadside gas station. I stopped yesterday at one of these that was positioned next to a platform filled with women and children. One mom sat topless while her babe feasted away. The little girl who poured my gas (I'm guessing 8 or so years old) found herself so funny saying "welcome!" As in "you're welcome". It was quite comical. 

This intrigues me. I may have to venture here for lunch, Good Karma bungalows and restaurant. 

Adore these signs. Especially "sun, free flow everyday" and "love: 0k"

The things you see! I adore being here as I feel truly in the Balinese life. Reminds me of my trips to Africa and Mexico with mission work. The children put a constant smile on my face, yelling "halow!" with such excitement to talk to a foreigner. I can't stop smiling when running or riding my scooter, but I need to be more careful of the bugs that make their way into my mouth! 

Local carving studio.

The artist was playing this beautiful instrument my first time by around 6am. The beauty of early Bali mornings!

Running through these hills inspires me for my upcoming races, which I desperately needed. It also makes me pretty darn hungry. My breaky with a view; vegetable omelet and papaya, pineapple, banana smoothie. If only every run could go this good!

I went to a local Organic café for a little snack and this lil momma was sooo lovey. Crazy cat lady finally got some animal loves!

Soaking it up!

And of course, a picture of my food! Papaya, banana, watermelon and pineapple topped with yogurt and cinnamon chia seeds. I've been craving this. 

I found myself back at the pool enjoying being lazy. The other guest here is a Brazilian who has been traveling for 9 years. We had raw cacao and banana smoothies while sharing stories poolside. And as if two breakies and a smoothie wasn't enough, we headed to lunch. I love getting other people's suggestions of where to eat. We went to Warung Anak, a local place and had baracuda in the same spicey sauce of the soup I had the other night with chili and coconut milk. Had a taste of some delicious pumpkin soup along with a refreshing tumeric/ginger/honey drink. Soooo good! And all for about $4. I love this life. 

Across the street was a salt farm. This area is well known for it's sea salt. We were inundated with salt being literally pushed upon us by 5 or 6 people. Two had babies and said "for the baby!", this was the pushy sales I did not miss! Due to this I didn't snap any pics, but it is quite the primitive process. 

We also ended up at the local Bali version of Home Depot. I'm a sucker for DIY and love a good hardware store!

I would have loved to bring home some of the ornately carved wood pieces.

The view across the street from Home Depot. This place is magic.

I quickly scooted over to visit Kyoko and baby Leo as my day of nothing flew by! Antonio was out fishing, so we chatted about diving. She is an avid diver and encouraged me to try it at my next destination as it has a reputation for the marine life. I may just have to give in and dive! 

As I hopped upon my scooter it finally started to rain. The forecast called for 50-60% rain my entire time here in Amed, yet it did only one night. I was craving rain this morning (which isn't my style whatsoever) and it came! Maybe I knew it would enforce me to sit still since I obviously can not do so.

The water was a movin down there! Was fun to see as it had been so calm these last few days.

I had a massage in my room at 6 with Wayan, one of the staff members here. Just like Thailand, they need no formal training. Although unlike Thailand, this was the kind of massage I enjoy with muscle work and oils. I was felling pretty good after despite my new red skin tone from today's pool time. 

I showered under the rain (open roofed bathroom! And yes, even potty in the rain!) and had dinner delivered in. 

My life in Amed is running short, but I am excited for tomorrow's adventures to Nusa Lebongan. Imma gonna be on a boat!