Ah Bali, My New Love

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  Bali, Indonesia
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ok, details on Bali. Chris and I found a flight on Lion Air out of Jakarta for about $70 U.S. dollars directly from the ticket counter. Biggest lesson we have learned for flights: buy direct at the airport from the airline. WE have done this on 75% of our flights and it's half the price than online, even if you purchase direct. The other lesson is when you ask someone where to purchase a ticket, they always try to direct you to a travel agent, so they can get their referral fee. Always ask specifically for the airline counter.

On our flight over to Bali, we met this really cool Balinese kid named Eka. 6'4" and by far the biggest Indonesian we have seen. He was really helpful and we actually shared a cab to Kuta, where we planned to find a hotel. The key to having the local connections, you pay local prices, and you get real authentic Indo food. On our way to Kuta, we stopped at a small restaurant to eat lunch with Eka and it was awesome. Don't know what it was, but super spicy and the Large Bintang really complimented the taste! Total meal for 3. $11 U.S. dollars including 2 large Bintangs. Already loving Bali.

So after lunch Eka went his way and we caught the cab to Kuta, to find our hotel which we once again relied on "lonely planet", not sure why after the Jakarta episode. WE arrived out our recommended hotel, and to our surprise, it was right on the beach. Awesome, except the fact that it was torn down. We've learned to always have plan b, which is always the same, get out of the taxi and walk around till you find what you need. So we did and we found this beautiful hotel, Pesona Inn, on Poppies Lane 1, about 200 meters from the beach (yes you have to learn how to use meters when traveling, cause we are the only Country of the "standard system") $25 US dollars per night, no bed bugs, cleans sheets and A/C. The only downside is they only had 2 night avail where after,we would have to move. I guess it is "school holiday" soon (which we learned what that was later). NO worries we'll figure it out.

We dropped our luggage and then got our Balinese education. Weather here is perfect, not to hot & humid, but just right. It's south of the equator, so technically it's winter here. It' is been about 80 degrees and humid at times, but not unbearable. Coming from Manila, we were spoiled with English being such a common spoken language. We didn't realize until day 2 that people will not tell you they don't understand what you are asking. As soon and you here a "yes" answer to a question that requires a specific answer, you know they have no clue what you are saying.

Example:

Me; Where is a good place for dinner?

Driver: Yes

Me: What city is it in?

Driver: Yes

Me:What do you recommend on the menu?

Driver: Yes

It's kind of like playing handball against the curtains.

Our problem is Chris and I have way too much fun with this and have the most interesting conversations and since we know the answer is yes, we ask some pretty funny questions. Too bad the video camera broke.

The Balinese people are beautiful in every aspect of the word. Their look, their smiles, their warm energy. As holy as I may seem, not too educated in the area of religion, but the Hindu religion seems amazing. It's all based around karma, so the people are honest and helpful, because that is what they want in return. I feel extremely safe here and everyday I walk down to poppies lane, I have a new Balinese person extending their hand and asking my name and where I'm from with genuine interest. Now Chris and I are local celebreti, because we are super friendly and not "Aussie"( I'll touch on that later). So now when we walk down Poppies lane, it's hand shakes & hi 5's from men, women and children who all know our name and really share good energy with us. It's not just a HI, it's how are you, how was the surf, how was your lunch. It's so admirable to have contentment in your heart and to be so giving while working 12 hours everyday for less than a dollar or 2 per day. Humbling.

"Good Day Mate" - Upon arrival from the airport we heard this constantly from the Balinese and didn't understand why. After about 6 hours we realized Kuta is the equivalent to the Cancun spring break spot for Aussie students. I would say it's 90% Assuie, 8% European and maybe 2% American or other. (we have only met 2 other Americans here) I have only know Australians to be awesome people and I still believe that, but again as a Spring Break type area for them, it's mostly kids in their early 20's just hammered and just pillaging this beautiful island. We realized we had to separate ourselves from this quickly so we asked our favorite shop owner Danny what we can do. His advice, don't wear the Bintang tank tops here. I love the Bintang tops, but I'm ready to wear a Hawaiian mumu just to make sure I don't get mixed up with the student crown here. It's amazing how patient the Balinese are with in this atmosphere and if it were Hawaii, there would be many lickings handed out from the locals.

Motorbikes! Almost everyone rides motorbikes and the ride on the back of one of these seems as safe as sleeping one more night in our nasty Jakarta Hotel. It's scary, but they know what they are doing and I take every opportunity to ride that $1 roller coaster. Screw parachuting or bungee jumping, come to Bali and hop on the back of scooter and it will be the rush of your life!

Ah, the surf. Living in Hawaii for 6 years now, you'd think I'd be a badass surfer, but not so much. I'd say I've graduated to intermediate at this point, and give me 3 more months in Bali and it would definitely turn into a passion for me. Bali breaks can get crowded, but nowhere near Hawaii crowded. In addition, the breaks are everywhere and the sets just keep rolling in one after another. Even if there are 30 people in the water, there still plenty of waves to go around and it's not agro at all. We rented the shortest boards I've ever ridden on, a 7'2 for me and a 7'6'' for Chris. Took a couple of big spills during my first session, but I caught on quick. Bali is all about the tide with a 4ft or more change in tide from low to high. High tide consumes the beach, whereas low tide allows extra 150 yards of beach. The surf in Kuta has been about 5 to 7 foot faces which would scare the crap out of me in Hawaii with the reef bottom, but it's sand bottom in Kuta, and it's really deep at high tide. On Friday, Chris and I rented a driver for the day $40 U.S. dollars, and headed north to Canggu's (I think that's the name) and it was messy. We had a great session the prior day so we felt we were ready. It was the special Olympics of surfing for sure. If there was video of us just trying to get past the shore break, it' would have made America's funniest home videos. Total retards! But we powered through and made it out and it was big and sloppy. High tide and stormy with no channel to paddle in and no particular peak. After an hour of being molested the stormy surf and waves too big for us, we decided we were gonna just "look" at Dreamland and Ulu Watu.

When we pulled up to Dreamland, there were maybe 15 people in the water and although it was 10 to 12 foot faces, it was a slow wedge, so we charged it!. As soon as we paddled out to the point, we looked back and literally 30 people paddled out behind us, like friggin cockroaches. Never seen anything like it. I guess they thought if our retarded asses could do it they could. Holy shit was it bigger then it looked. It awesome catching the waves from the outside but as soon as you got caught inside, you are screwed. Catch one on the head, and your down underwater for the longest 15 to 30 seconds of your life. You are in a washing machine, you don't know what's up, what's down and whether or not you will get a full cavity search from the fin of your board. Scary shit, no doubt. A bit out of my league, but glad we charged it. Chris headed in just a bit before me and on the last set I was to catch in, I got caught inside and got tossed and broke the leash. Talk about panic attack! I knew the worst thing I could do is panic so I kept my cool and realized it was only about 150 yard swim. Fortunately at the same time Chris decided he wanted to check on me and as he did, my board washed up at his feet with no Bender attached. Panic attack # 2!. After a brief freak out, he saw my bobbling head getting pounded by the surf but making my way in, in which I finally did. My good karma saved my ass!

So our days now consist of breakfast at the hotel (free), a 2 or 3 hour session at Kuta beach, 1 hour Internet, lunch, afternoon nap or excursion, sunset with a Bintang and out to watch the "Aussie Circus" at the clubs.

Our Daily Budget:

$12.50 room (my share)

$6 food (1.5 per meal, great food too) It's nice to eat normal portions and not huge American portions. Between that and the surf, losing weight daily!

$2.50 (surfboard rental)

$10 (nightly happy hour/club bar tab)

$2 daily internet

$33 per day for the best quality of life I've ever experience.

Bali - Good for the Mind, Body, Spirit, and pocketbook.

Love this place!