1/ March / 2011

There was a guy riding on the top of a truck. There was another on a motor bike carrying five of the gallon jugs of water. A woman rode by on another motor bike with three children clinging on for dear life. A white guy weaved in and out of the already chaotic traffic with a surfboard somehow rigged to stay on. One man rode a bicycle with straw-hats, dust brushes, and some form of plant piled on his back. There were countless other scenes that we absorbed during our short hour journey from Denpasar airport to our residence at Jati Home Stay in Ubud, but I doubt it would ever get close to the mess and excitement that we witnessed on our arrival to Bali. Welcome to Indonesia!

We’ve only been in Bali for one night and one full day, but already we’ve acclimatized to the lifestyle. We’ve managed to master the art of crossing the street with a constant flow of motor-bikes and honking cars. (We watched the dogs to discover how to overcome the traffic here!).  We’ve perfected the response of “no thank, not today” down to a tee as we’ve encountered a taxi stand or a massage spa every ten feet. We’ve begun the arduous task of haggling and we even have “favourites’” we look for on menus! Yes, we like Bali.

 

Our first day in Bali went like this:

We were up at 8:30 for a delicious breakfast consisting of fresh papaya, banana, pineapple, and a tomato & egg on toast sandwich. Then our little adventure began as we walked down the road to Monkey Forest. Before we even entered the tourist part, a monkey went after Andrew’s water bottle! Once inside, Andrew, with bananas held close to chest, managed to feed several of the alpha males, the mamas, and even the little tykes that were brave enough to approach. One little guy was especially courageous as he jumped onto Andrew’s leg and clung to him as if he was an alternative parent.  

After Monkey Forest, we wandered up a steep hill and ate lunch at a little café. There were only two other people there at the time.  I know what you’re thinking… “never eat at a place that isn’t crowded…especially in Bali!”, but you’d be so very wrong. The food was delicious, inexpensive ($8 for the entire bill!), and the atmosphere was perfect. After lunch, we then managed to find our way to the rice fields.

At first, we thought we were lost. We passed construction sites, old buildings, and a beaten-up road with shattered cement. Then, after much walking, we landed smack in the middle of Balinese paradise. The rice fields were in all directions. Every way you looked there was a beautiful green that seemed to give off a sweet, but tangy scent. Dewa, a local farmer, was kind enough to stop his work and show us how it’s done. With very little English from him, and no Indonesian from us, we discovered that rice takes about 3 months to “make babies” and then you can cut it when it’s about hip-high. The rest of our walk around dirt tracks, cement walls, and mud steps resulted in us being offered coconuts from eight different individuals! We don’t really know for sure, but it seems offering a coconut is similar to asking someone to come in for a cup of tea or a cold beer.

Towards the end of our walk around the rice fields we stumbled on a restaurant! Yes, in the middle of nowhere, there was this beautiful restaurant with bamboo lounges, a full bar, and several other western tourists reading and relaxing. Andrew and I, sweating like beasts, decided that a drink was in order. We both had cocktails and took in the cool breeze from the storm forming over the distant volcanoes. While saddened to leave this sanctuary, we had to get back to Ubud before dark, which happens around 6:30 here at the moment. After responding to another twenty calls of “transport? How about taxi tomorrow?” we eventually decided to find dinner. We enjoyed a spicy chicken and rice combination dish, a fruity drink, and a “different” tasting coca-cola.

It’s now just after 9:00 PM. We’ve discovered our soap was eaten by a lizard. Our bones and muscles are achy, and the crickets have started their songs. We are headed to bed as yet another great adventure begins tomorrow that involves volcanoes, bicycles, and a lot of coffee…

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