Early Exit EXPLORER

My time in Bali has been nothing short of incredible. This place truly feels like paradise. Every day has been a new adventure, and I can honestly say this has been one of the most memorable parts of my journey so far.

My birthday was on the 23rd, and of course I had to celebrate it the right way. I decided to do something I had always wanted to try but never had the chance to driving dune buggies through the mud. I thought I knew what to expect, but I was completely wrong.

If you know me, you know I’m a need for speed kind of guy. Naturally, I was pushing that buggy as fast as I could. And what comes with speed? Mud. Lots of it. At one point, it got so bad that I could barely see where I was going because my goggles and face were completely covered. I was soaked from head to toe, caked in mud, and laughing the entire time. It was one of those experiences where you don’t care how dirty you get because you’re having too much fun. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, especially with a group of friends. The best part was how affordable it was. I can only imagine how much an experience like that would cost back home in the United States.

I’ve also continued working on something that’s been important to me throughout this trip stepping outside of my introverted comfort zone. It’s still not something that comes naturally, but every day gets a little easier. I’ve met even more amazing people, had deep conversations with complete strangers, and found myself saying “yes” to experiences I probably would’ve passed on before.

One day I’m relaxing on the beach, watching the sunset without a care in the world. The next day I’m riding on the back of a scooter in the middle of the night, in the rain, heading to random places I never planned to visit. One night, I ended up at a sandbar where we played pool and a group of strangers taught me how to play the card game Rummy. After that, we went to a local restaurant where I tried authentic Balinese food, and I didn’t make it back home until the early morning. A few months ago, I probably would’ve said no to something like that. Now, it’s becoming part of the adventure, and I’m loving every minute of it.

As the days go by, I can honestly say I’m feeling more at peace. There’s something about slowing down, meeting new people, and living without such a strict routine that has helped me appreciate the present moment so much more.

Another experience I can finally cross off my bucket list was taking a surf lesson. Wow… surfing is way harder than it looks! I love a challenge, and surfing definitely gave me one. You spend more time falling off the board than actually standing on it, but that’s all part of the learning process. The entire time I was out there, all I could think about was the Rocket Power theme song, and somehow that made the experience even more fun. I’ll definitely need a few more lessons before I can say I’m any good, but I’m already looking forward to getting back out there.

My friend, who I met here in Bali, is probably going to become a professional surfer before I do, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I guess I’ll have to step my game up.

As my Bali adventure continues, there’s one more thing I absolutely have to do before I leave I need to go see the new Spider-Man movie. So now my mission is to find a movie theater out here and make it happen.

Wish me luck, and until the next adventure…

Side Note:

I don’t know if you guys knew this, but people constantly walk up and down the beaches trying to sell things. One of the most common items is a large piece of fabric called a sarong.

When I first saw them, I thought they were just meant to cover beach chairs so you wouldn’t burn yourself sitting on a hot seat. Turns out… I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Sarongs are traditionally worn as clothing and are also used to cover yourself appropriately when visiting temples. Let’s just say I learned that after a friend told me what they were really used for. I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed but hey, that’s all part of traveling. Sometimes the funniest memories come from not knowing what you don’t know.