Community Study Week in Bali

The Grade 7 CSW started at 21 April 2014 to Bali. CSW stands for Community Study Week, in which we will leave our homes and our parents for a week and go with our friends and teachers out of city.  We went to the airport at 4.30 a.m., we were very sleepy. When we wanted to check in, we can’t check in yet because we had to wait for Visyka. It sucks a lot to wait just for one single person. Finally, at around 5.30 she came and we were made because we were so late, but she didn't even felt that she is late and act like she’s not late. As Ms. Vilma’s group we have to behave or else we will be scold. I am the leader so, I had the responsibility to count my entire member and it’s confusing.

As soon as we arrived at Bali, we didn't go directly to our hotel; instead we went to Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a famous temple in the middle of the sea. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to climb the temple because of the tide. After we were finished, we went to get lunch in a restaurant called “Renon Restaurant.” For me they got the best food in our whole trip. At around 2.00 p.m., we went to our hotel at Sanur Paradise Hotel. I’m in the same room with Angelica, in room number 270, we got the pool view. We rested at our hotel until around 5.30 p.m. and we went to Kemangi Restaurant. It was where we have our dinner. Along the way our tour guide, Pak Dwi, who is a very nice, kind guy, told us stories about the dance. In Kemangi, they showcased 5 Balinese dance. One of them required our volunteer. It's interesting to see how the dance is very easy, although it look hard. After we finished eating and watching we went back to the hotel and took a rest.

We was awake early in the morning to go to Ubud, in one of the river. We wanted to do water rafting. The company that held the water rafting activity is called "Sobek". The track was 12 km long and around 2 hours. Before the raft we have to climb down 500 stairs and our foot was trembling. In the middle of the raft we stopped and took a break to drink because the raft was very tiring. The finishing point was at a restaurant, which we had our lunch. After we ate, not very delicious food, we then had to climb up around 200 stairs. We were dirty that time because of the water we raft in, so we took a bath, change our clothes and left.Our next destination was Laka Leke, there we paint eggs and kite. Aside from that we also had our dinner and perform Kecak dance with the real dancers. We then went back to the hotel and rest.

The third day we went to Sawah Indah, where we learned how to plant, plot and process rice, we also plow the rice paddy. It's a memorable experience and it made me respect those farmers who work on the rice field every day. After lunch, fishing and lounging we head to our next stop, Pura Gunung Kawi, it's a temple which they build in memorial of their king, queen, prince and the concubines. We take a walk there, up and down stairs until it's time to go, before we go of course we do a little shopping then went down from northern to the southern part of Bali. The famous Garuda Wishnu Kencana is where we were heading. They said that around 2015 a statue will be presented to the world, the highest statue that will be the new Guinness World Record. Professional Kecak dance ended our activities for the day.

Biking in Bali? Why not? We went to the "Bali Bird Park" for a bike. I know it sounds weird? Bird Park? Bike? But they have this program for a tour around using bike. we were then separated into two groups. Boys and girls, the boys paddle first while the girls are still gearing up. Our first stop was the rice field, Coffee shop and a traditional Balinese house. Those biking make us tired but didn't broke our spirits to see the birds and reptile in the Bird Park. In the middle of a Bird show suddenly the rain shower so we decided to eat since we were starving. We have tour around Bali, eat Balinese food, saw Kecak dance, did the kecak dance and paint but we haven't learned the instrument and dance the famous dance, that's why we went to Balerung. After Balerung we went to the Sanur beach, not far from the hotel. It was our last night so we swim in the sea and have our "BBQ PARTY" in the beach and it was a lot of fun.

Bali was a lot of fun, money can't buy this experience and happiness I and all my friends have here. I never wanted leave, I never wanted go home but every beginning will have an end and this is our ending, our last day without our parents.In the early morning, 5.30 a.m to be exact Pak Hari, myself and a few of my friends went to the beach to see the sunrise and it is so beautiful. We then went back to the hotel, pack, shower then went to the airport. Before we leave for the airport we shop again in Kresna, we can't bargain there which make it a bit easier for me. Pack one last time then off we go to the airport. We board the airplane waited for so long and guess WHAT??!! there's a plane reporting that it's being Hijacked so we have to went leave the plane and wait. It's the Virgin air and we were panicking that we can't go home, but luckily a few moments later we were informed that we can board the airplane. We arrived home sound and safely and happy.

 This activity told me a lot and it's useful for my future so, I do thank my parents for letting me join and for the teachers who took care of me while I'm there.

( By: T-rex - Vianca)