My birthday in Pangandaran.

****UPDATED****

My birthday was great - amazing in fact. I woke up at 5:30 am to watch the sunrise over the white sand beach where the fisherman fish (and then went back to bed of course!). I was next woken up by my mom, my dad, and my sister Victoria calling to wish me a happy birthday. (i'd given them the information the night before). It was great to hear their voices and added a much needed element of fmaily to the day. Wish Alex had been there too, and Coco, and Buddy.....lol. We then woke up to an amazing breakfast - banana waffles, fresh fruit and deliciious omellettes where only a small portion of the menu. After breakfast we did an hour of yoga with Tayna (a lady on our trip who is a yoga and sociology teacher).

It's a birthday to remember, that's for sure!

We then headed on a trek through the jungle and saw all sorts of animals with a guy who is referred to as Dr. Doolittle - we can talk to the animals. He called the Deer and they came towards  us and we got to feed them, it was remarkable how they responded to him. The monkeys would also come running when he talked to them. I even got to feed the monkeys. They are uite funny, and Carolien got some great photos and a video of me feeding a monkey. The monkeys would freak (i.e. bare their teet)h when you showed them a monkey skull the guide was carrying. We also saw mouse deer (mouse sized deer like creatures,which were super cool. We also saw an iguana, porpupines, and bats. We also saw a flying squirrel sleeping with it's baby tucked under neath it....so cool!

After we watched the sunset over a white sand beach (A different one from the morning) we headed back. After getting back I promptly had an hour massage, then headed to dinner. After a seafood buffet at a local restaurant we headed to a black sand beach for a giant bonfire. We had beers and black forest cake while people played the guitar (we even started writing a song about our travels). There was a full moon overhead and waves crashing on the beach......just like something from a movie! Overall it was a spectacular (but exhausting) day, I just wish most friends and family were there to experience it. It's a birthday to remember, that's for sure!

Our leader, Yude, who is from Indonesia arranged it all. Without him it I don't think it would have been as elaborate. Day two Caroline and I just chilled. Brekkie then headed to the black sand beach to suntan, swim, and read. We were the only white faces on the beach (and we were also the only people in swimsuits, let alone bikinis!) It was great. While on the beach we ran into one of Yude's friends from the previous night who is a lifeguard at the beach and who said he'd watch us swim etc. After we headed back (on the way back we ran into 3 local people we knew in town....such a small and great place), napped and went to dinner.Howver, on the walk back from the beach Caroline stumbled and mangled her toe and knee. Hopefully it will heal soon!