On Wednesday, I learned how to play Mahjong with a bunch of friends. Considering how I grew up watching people play it in movies and in the real world, It was a great experience to finally learn it! I also found it to be a very fun and tactical game, I also give it extra points since I won most of the games that I played. My grandma always told me I was a quick study, and I’m glad to see she wasn’t wrong when it comes to Mahjong.
On Friday, I went to one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations. Bali, Indonesia! A land of golden beaches and glittering temples, both of which I would see a lot of during the single full day I had here!
At the break of dawn on Saturday, we began to tour Bali with our trusty driver, Wayan. He was very knowledgeable about the area, bringing us first to a beautiful Hindu shrine on the water. As a Hindu himself, he gave us a lot of insight into the temples and it’s unique architecture.
After that, we went to a beach that wasn’t too crowded. The water was clear, incredibly so. We were also asked for multiple photos by the locals, which was very unexpected. Although it was nice to feel like a celebrity for a moment…
For our final tourist destination of the day, we went to the Uluwatu Temple. For us to get in, we had to put on sarongs to cover up and show respect towards the Hindu culture. After walking in, we were immediately met with stunning vistas and mischievous monkeys. I actually saw a woman’s glasses being taken right in front of my eyes, after which the guards could only get the monkey to drop it after giving her two eggs.
Despite how short my time was there, Bali was an incredible experience that I will never forget. It was amazing how Bali had such a different cultural identity compared to the rest of Indonesia, largely owing to it’s tourist culture and the large Hindu influence. It’s an interesting case study in how diversity has become a big driver in the explosion of Bali as a tourist destination.
Also if you ever happen to go to Bali, make sure to call Wayan as your driver. He made this trip a blast! (Plus he’s pictured above!)
Just after returning home, we decided to take a stop at the “Jewel” in Changdi Airport, which is home to an indoor waterfall! To me, It’s really amazing how many places in Singapore I believe to be incredible feats of architecture. The Jewel is certainly one of those places to fit such a title.
