So I’ll be backpacking around southeast asia for six months, staying in guesthouses and traveling by myself most of the time.
But for the first 2 nights I’m with friends(JJ, Grum, Courtney and Tim) in a hotel in Kuta, Bali. Feels like I’m cheating! Or shall we just say, easing into it… Gradually I’ll go to cheaper and less touristy places (Ubud, then maybe Lovina, then Lombok).
The last two days have been easy, I took a taxi to the hotel in Kuta where my friends were waiting by the pool. I didn’t have to check in, I’m just crashing in a friend’s room for the 2 nights (spare bed). Went for a swim, then Grum organised some massages just down the lane. Then we went out for dinner.
Yesterday (Saturday) we started the morning wandering around lanes, Courtney wanted to buy some things and I needed shorts (only ended up bringing long cargo pants and a sarong). In the afternoon we decided the Water Bomb park was too expensive (23USD), so we went swimming in Tim’s pool (his hotel is slightly more upmarket) instead and had a cocktail by the pool.
After a nap back at our hotel late afternoon we headed out to a sportsbar where the guys watched the footy and I enjoyed free wifi on my itouch. Then we had dinner at Bubba Gump (Shrimp restaurant to the theme of Forrest Gump), it was very nice and a funny place dedicated to the movie, but bit more expensive than usual around here).
So today(Sunday) the others leave, and I plan to catch a bus to Ubud and find accomodation there. I believe this is the first time in my life I’ve not known where I’m sleeping tonight, and I’m on my own! Woohoo! (yes, I am a little nervous, but there’s heaps of places in Ubud, I’ll be fine). :D
Oh, some other things… Left Perth Airport 1.5hrs late due to an air conditioner problem, but arrived in Bali only an hour late.
Our hotel is 500m from the Bali Bombings (2002) site, and there’s a big memorial there. I’m generally feeling quite safe though, until you go to places where there’s lots of westerners (the sports bar and the Bubba Gumps restuarant) and there’s security screening bags. Oh, and the at the Water Bomb park they were checking underneath cars and in the boot for bombs.
Kuta is super busy and just little shops *everywhere*, lots of Australian tourists. Generally not my scene, especially since I’m not buying anything. Looking forward to going to more rural areas.
T
ype your comment here.
Welterusten voor straks , We hopen dat je een goede slaapplaats hebt
Groetjes Papa en Mama
If you go to Lombok, head up to Gilli Trawagen.
If you really adventurous, I recommend Flores.
Yep, planning one of the Gilli’s at least. And Flores and Komodo. Then Java and Sumatra. But might run out of time, only have 30 day visa for Indonesia!