Bali, and beginning thoughts of home

Pretty Bali

Well, I've had about a week now in Bali, and I think it's probably time for an update!

This entire trip has had a real mix of time on the beaten path with other tourists, and of course, a lot of time spent in cities where tourists are a lot more rare, where people don't speak English, and where negotiation, thinking on your feet and constantly feeling like a fish out of water have been common parts of life. And honestly, some of the "off the beaten path" parts of my trip have been some of the best. There's no better way to get to know what a country is actually like than to stay in cities where people look at you like you've gotten lost just for being there. Discovering local culture and how people outside of Canada really live is one of the main reasons why I travel. However, that being said, it can also be exhausting at times.

When I first told people that I was coming to Bali, I was warned by most other backpackers who had been here. "It's verrrrry touristy" some warned. "Don't get sucked in by the Eat Pray Love phenomenon" others cautioned. "Kuta beach is just like Miami or Ibiza. Not the real Indonesia at all", I was told.

And they were right.

Bali doesn't really feel like the "real" Indonesia in many ways. Restaurants and bars are slick, decorative touches are everywhere, and designer stores line the streets. Everything is clean, and sometimes it seems like Westerners outnumber the locals. The busy dusty chaos, local markets, and cheap food stalls seem a lifetime away in some areas in Bali, and in a way I'm glad I didn't start here -it would have driven me crazy to feel like I had just moved from one Westernized country to another. However, after four months of travel, I'm finding some of the touristy things... not so bad. I don't mind that there are Balinese dance performances every night and for tourists to see (as opposed to just on special occasions, for the locals) when it means that the culture continues on and I can see them as well. I don't mind finding restaurants with servers that pay attention to you when you walk in, with menus with prices on them (in Vietnam they often just tell you the price, and this varies dramatically based on whether the "tourist tax" is applied). I don't mind the large amounts of yoga in Ubud, the cheap spas, and the amount of beautiful little bungalows and hostels. I also certainly don't mind the perfect sunny, dry weather, cool nights, and perfect beaches that has attracted this huge amount of tourism in the first place.

Cute bungalow in Ubud

Now, that being said, I have also avoided some of the REALLY touristy stuff -the designer stores and pulsing nightlife of Kuta don't do a lot for me. Instead I have preferred to rent motorbikes with friends and explore the countryside. I stayed in a hostel recommended to me by a fellow traveler way back in Malaysia, and was thrilled to find a cute little spot with a lounge area, pool, and many friendly faces. I got in the almost obligatory (for me) scuba dives where I saw my first sea snake, as well as numerous Manta Rays -definitely a highlight of the trip for me! I also connected with a bunch of other backpackers and we went to a pub with live music, hung around the pool, and later rented motorbikes to explore Ubud. I ended up staying in Ubud for three nights with a lovely Italian girl I had met at the hostel, and we enjoyed going to the monkey forest, seeing some close by volcanos and enjoying the resulting hot springs, seeing a traditional dance performance, and going to the spa. We also enjoyed breakfast on the private terrace of one of the cutest bungalows I think I've stayed in yet, all for the high high price of $7.50 each.

Surfing in Seminyak

We then packed all of our bags back onto the motorbike, and made our way across the island to Seminyak where all the beaches and surfing spots are. It was definitely a bit busier there, but we enjoyed the sun, and I was able to check surfing off of my "to-do" list in Bali. I'm not terribly good and two days later I'm still a bit sore, but definitely a good time!

I now only have a week left on my trip (plus a 22hr layover in Bangkok, in which I'll prob get a hostel) before I had back to Canada. It's blowing my mind a bit that my trip is almost over, and I keep thinking about it during random parts of the day -how it will be to adjust to life back home, how it will be so see friends and family and slide back into the life that I had before, and how to share my excitement without being a person who can only ever talk about my trip. I don't want to leave, but I'm definitely excited to see everyone, and to experience simple pleasures like clean laundry hung up in a closet, or soft carpet under the feet. Soon enough I suppose! In the meantime I will enjoy the next 7 days I have booked on the Gili Islands, and I will be home soon enough....

Volcanos in the background!

 

 

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