Visa extension time - Anturan, Lovina

October 29th we left Munduk, and for the first time we left a place with the feeling that we could have stayed there longer. If Munduk were located by the coast we would have stayed there for a loooong time. But we knew that it was time to extend our Visa so we had to move.

Since I started reading about Bali I had an idea that Lovina would be the perfect place; not too many people, peace and quiet. We decided to go to Anturan, outside of Lovina centre. The homestay - Gede Homestay - is simple, but really nice. The people here are so nice and helpful and the service is brilliant. But when we went to explore Anturan we were so disappointed. The main road, which is really busy, is the only road to go anywhere here, or you can walk for a while on the beach, but there's rivers running into the ocean that forces you to go back on the main road again (and there's no sidewalks). On the beach there are some hotels, but there are more abandoned hotels and resorts making it more like a ghost town. It makes me wonder what happened... It looks like Armageddon happened and we're the only people left in the world. After a few days trying to find something to see or do around here, we decided to just stay at the homestay and enjoy the beach right in front (from this perspective this place looks vibrant). The next day Nico started vomiting, and so we were locked in our room for three days; Nico being sick and JT also getting a fever the third day. I started getting crazy being inside all the time, so it was such a happy day when Nico felt better, and we could take a walk all the way to Lovina (it's about 3 or 4 km). Lovina centre is more alive, and we now realize that we that was the place to go (see pictures below).

Nico's stomach has been acting up a bit so we got some medicine the other day and now everybody is healthy :) 

The whole Visa extension process was more of a hassle than we thought. We have to have an Indonesian sponsor to apply for an extension, so we ended up going to the Immigration office several times just to get information and application forms, before we got the owner of the homestay to be our sponsor. We are so grateful for all his help with the application and getting transport back and forth to the Immigration office.

After handing in the filled out application, we had to wait two days before going back for picture taking and fingerprinting. And finally; today we can pick up our passports with our renewed Visa :)

But unfortunately this only last 30 more days, so that means that every month we need to spend one week extending the Visa. But life is overall pretty relaxed here, so I guess we can't complaint :) 

After over one week in Anturan, Lovina we are ready to continue our journey. Tomorrow we'll go to Pemuteran! It's about one hour drive from here and is supposed to be a nice place with good places for snorkeling :)

 Met some kids while walking on the beach. "Take my photo!" one of the kids sayd, and when I got my phone out all the kids started posing :) Nico joined them in the back.

 There's ducks, gees, chickens and, of course, dogs on the beaches here :)

Nico lost his tooth, and the tooth fairy delivers :)

Live life and love it <3

Lotte