A 3 story black and gold cow is going to die

Trip Start Jul 05, 2008

Trip End Aug 30, 2008

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Where I stayed

Bisna Inn

(Ubud hotels)

Flag of Indonesia Ubud, Indonesia
Sunday, July 13, 2008

The last 12 hours in Taiwan were full of such random kindness that it made leaving even harder. First, one of the instructors at the gym offered to drive me to the airport the next morning.. even though that meant meeting at 530am! Then I went to buy ice cream for dinner (don't tell mom!) and the guy working there remembered me from when I came weeks ago and couldn't wait because they were taking too long, and I was late. So today he gave me icecream for free! Then I was driving my scooter home and it just stopped on the highway in Niaosong... disaster! crisis! Middle of the night, no scooter shops in sight, the day before I leave Taiwan forever and have to give my scooter to someone who already purchased it. Well, some random Taiwanese guy saved me by push-driving my scooter and I like a mile down the road (basically he drives his scooter behind me, leg extended, pushing my dead scooter in front).
It was really hitting me that I'm not just going on a trip, I am really starting all over again. And it's different from when I left Toronto, that was just like saying "goodbye, see you later sometime". But leaving Taiwan... well I know I'm never going back.
I'm urrently over the ocean between Borneo and the Peninsula (writing). Apparently my flight from Kaohsiung went to borneo for a layover in Kuta Kinabulu before onwards to Kuala Lumpur. Sigh. I hate sitting down. But I've been in Malaysia for a few hours. They have bedets in public washrooms. Is that a Muslim thing, or a Malay thing? I hate being ignorant!
It was wierd to see all the Taiwanese people get off the plane in Kuta Kinabulu. I felt like all the people I understood and was familiar with were getting off and new, strange people were getting on.

Okay so now I'm finally in Bali after 12 hours of travel. And it looks like my ridiculous knack for stumbling upon religious festivals is holding true. On Tuesday they have some kind of huge festival in Ubud for the anniversary of the King of Bali's death (ages ago). There are huge, HUGE effigies and towers which apparently 200 people pick up and do... something... with. There's loads of people around in traditional dress, you can feel the excitement event though the big day isn't here yet. Everyone who attends MUST where traditional Balineses clothers, and yes that means me! More details about what this all is about once I know.

I found a place to stay, everything is pretty much full. It's $10/night, more than I wanted, but I can't complain I guess. It's absolutely gorgeous and secluded cottages, set in rice paddies with bunnies jumping around on the grass (no lie). I really hope I can figure out how to get pictures up here.

PICTURE LINK: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28950&id=512559754&l=53665bd255