Bali – Tuesday May 12th 2015, our last meeting with the class. We were divided into 4 groups each focusing on a different topic. My group focused on research in a cross cultural context; looking at ethics, perspectives and power. We developed questions, interviewed a member from another group, analysed, discussed, and presented our findings to each other. This was a way to share our research experiences and to reflect on what steps should be taken upon returning to the Netherlands. In Indonesia we have completed our data collection and we were ready to enjoy our well-deserved free time on Bali.
Together with 7 classmates and friends, I decided to travel to the North of Bali. One of my Balinese friends helped us to arrange transport. The driver first brought us to the Batukaru temple, which was nice to see and I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. Next he drove us to our homestay in Munduk village where we enjoyed diner and made travel plans.
Munduk – Wednesday May 13th 2015, we split up; some went to a cooking class and made several Indonesian dishes. Others – including myself – went on a hiking tour to see two waterfalls and have a swim. Along the way, our guide told us about the plants, fruits and vegetables we encountered, and how they are used for cooking or as medicine. After the hiking tour, Martijn and I decided to explored unduk village and walk to a local market. As we love fruit, we left the market with bags full. On our way back to the homestay we came across a small shop in which a man was making music instruments. Before we knew it, the man was teaching us how to play several of his handmade instruments. We were of course not as good in playing these traditional instruments as he was, but it was a lot of fun and we enjoyed making some nice music together.
That afternoon we left Munduk village and continued our round trip. First, we visited a hot spring and enjoyed the nice warm water. After this, we went to Lovina, on the north coast of Bali. As it was low season, we struck a good deal for the rooms and ended up to be the only guests at this hotel. Meaning we had a private swimming pool 😉
Written by: Simone Camps
