Bali – Day 4 (15 November 2013)

From my previous post I already mentioned that I only planned on getting a tour guide for a day which lead to two haha, originally I planned on spending Day 3 and Day 4 going to yoga class and exploring Seminyak on my own. And so the 2 days went down to 1, nung umaga I wasn’t sure if I could go to class because 1\ my attempt at finding the studio during day 1 miserably failed and 2\ I was afraid that my tummy wasn’t feeling well because I didn’t have lunch yesterday. But I said to myself I wouldn’t leave Bali without meeting Olop and attending his class.

Morning went well, I was able to have breakfast without throwing up, which usually happens when a get a case of the acidic stomach. I put on some sunscreen and headed to the beach just to chill. I saw some lounge chairs with umbrellas but they were for rent and not free for everyone to use, they charge IDR 50,000 I don’t know how long you could sit there for that fee. I was tempted but decided against it and just walked the long stretch of beach.  Before heading back I wanted to see the St Michael’s church because I wanted to hear mass, adventure na naman ito dahil away from the major streets yung church. It was easy enough to find problem is hindi pala catholic church yung St Michael but it was gorgeous nonetheless.

The road leading to St Michael's Church (left), St Michael's Church (right)

For lunch I went to Skooby Doo, I had Indonesian food for 3 days already and wanted something familiar that’s why I decided on Skooby Doo. It’s near Bintang Supermarket, you won’t get lost. They offer burgers and hotdogs with fries and the usual drinks. I ordered a Bratwurst, a side order of fries and Milkshake!!!! Total damage was something like IDR 75,000. It’s not a proper restaurant where there are servers, it’s more along the line of soshal na street food haha parang yung mga lumang burger joints here where you just sit on stools where you could see them cooking.

So after a half day of doing nothing I went home and watched some TV, class was supposed to start at 4:15 PM so I still had time. Before I left I felt a headache coming so inunahan ko na with an Advil. I headed out to where I believe the studio should be along Jalan Drupardi. I was standing outside No 7 Jalan Drupardi, this time the same iron gate was open but wala akong lakas ng loob to just enter. Buti na lang an elder couple came and so I asked if this was the yoga place, the woman asked me in turn “Olop’s? Yes this is it” jackpot!

No 7 Jalan Drupardi, the gate to Olop's Studio right across the elementary school

I followed them inside and I was transported to my lolo’s farm back in the day. Puro halaman at puno and I could cocks cooing. I was lead to an open air wooden studio just like what I saw on the internet. I was in awe of the place, it was the perfect country side studio.

I changed and soon a lot of people were coming, I was seated next to some Australian kids, and there were some people speaking Russian and then there were French and Japanese students. Most of the people in class were newbies and were experiencing yoga for the first time. Puno kaya yung studio but we all fit. Weird lang they had a dog roaming around the studio sniffing people as we practiced haha, katakot kaya takot ako sa aso so I was always on the look out. I must say I was at home the whole time, I have a strong Iyengar background so the class was nothing new to me.

Before class started Olop went around asking new people’s names and where we came from, when he came over I told him my name, which he couldn’t figure out he kept on saying Eric so in the end I just conceded and became Eric, the story of my life! I told him that I was from Manila and that I studied with Rina whom he knows. I guess Manila came out as Malaysia so at the end of class he was asking me directions to the Iyengar Yoga studio in Kuala Lumpur.

Ang bilis ng oras, after some time we were winding down until he finally asked us to go into savanasa. Nakakatawa so I was in Savasana, remember that this is an open air studio I almost screamed when I felt something fall on my arms, akala ko yung aso na yun pala Butiki.

I forgot how much I paid for the class, something like IDR 700,000 or 800,000. I was so happy to have attended that class, there’s nothing like practicing outdoors close to nature, there’s nothing like studying yoga in Bali and I told myself that I’d have to do that again. I stepped out with a smile on my face.

Next I headed back to the beach, madilim na and I decided to have dinner there on one of the beach side restaurants. I decided on eating at the Juice Bar, ordered Fish Curry (masarap!) with rice. Also, I noted that when they say fruit juice it usually means fruit shakes to us pinoys, this I learned on my last day haha.

Last night in Bali! From top left going clockwise juice bar, dhyana pura street, seminyak beach at night

Malamok sa Bali, so I never head out without mosquito repellent. For this trip I relied on my favourite Human Nature Citronella bug spray which smells really nice, I had friends tell me amoy spa daw ako haha.

And so that ends my wonderful time in this island, I went back to the hotel to pack. 

Hayyy dreaming of my next vacation!