Workshop: Tours & activities in Bali (3)

My girlfriend had been trying to talk me into going somewhere to watch the sunrise for ages. But getting up at four in the morning just to drink some coffee and watch the sun come up was the last thing I wanted to do. In the end we found the perfect compromise: she got her sunrise, I got quad bikes. We took a tandem one, but ended up swapping places constantly. At first I did most of the driving, and then my girlfriend gave it a try herself. She got the hang of it right away and liked it so much that I literally had to beg to get back behind the handlebars. The feeling was incredible. You ride along volcanic roads, it gradually gets lighter around you, views of the mountains open up, and then the sunrise begins. In the end it was beautiful for her and fun for me, though in reality we both enjoyed it equally. In my opinion, it's the perfect way to watch the sunrise in Bali.

In Bali there isn't all that much choice when it comes to activities for kids, so my daughter and I go to various workshops from time to time. So far batik has been her favorite. She loves to draw, and here she could pick out the design herself, color it in, and generally take part in the whole process. My daughter was absolutely delighted and did almost everything herself — I only helped a little. Of course, the instructors gave tips too, especially when something wasn't working out. In the end the batik turned out really beautiful, it was almost a shame to roll it up. Now my daughter shows her work to everyone and says that she made it herself in Bali. For children who love to draw, it's a really great activity.

We went to a workshop with my friends — I wanted to bring back some unusual, handmade souvenir from Bali. It turned out to be really interesting, although a bit difficult in places. I think it would be easy for anyone who draws well, but I draw about as well as a chicken scratching with its foot, and I still managed just fine. I chose a design with fish. Of course, it didn't come out perfect, but in the end it was even better than I expected. The instructors helped out wherever I really couldn't manage, so I'm very happy with the result. Now I'll have a real Balinese batik at home that I made myself, and that's far more interesting than yet another souvenir from a shop.

We spent the day cruising around Nusa Penida with a big group of friends. The yacht is beautiful, modern, and you can tell it's practically brand new. There was plenty of space for everyone, so you could sunbathe, relax in the shade, or just enjoy the views without feeling crowded. During the day we visited so many beautiful places, went snorkeling, saw lots of colorful fish, and the water was an unreal shade of blue. The crew was fantastic as well. Everyone was friendly, always checking that everything was okay, helping with the snorkeling equipment, and creating such a relaxed atmosphere. It was simply a wonderful day. I'd happily do this trip again.