I arrived to Denpasar airport at 12 am on a Friday, the 22nd of September. That’s when the journey began anyway. Despite customsthe late hours the airport was crazy busy, in between custums and immigration I was out by 1.30 am. Turist’s visa on Bali is free for your first 30 days and then you pay month by month, up to 6 – without leaving a country. There was million of people trying to convince me into getting a ride with them. Official and unofficial taxi drivers!
I choose the guy who was nice and polite, helped me with my heavy bags without saying much – just like I like it. I was way too tired for the small talk. My first stop was Ubud. Coool, cultury area with lots of yoga and rice terraces. By 4 in the morning, we arrived to my hostel and I slept like a baby. The ride itself cost me 100K, which is less than $10!!
Waking up to the rain in UBUD was a blast, but beacuse of a time difference I was up before 7.
But my house mates weren’t. And I had no idea where to go or what to do – I was extremy hungry, with no wifi password! And that was also the first one of those moments. WTF Alenka. What did you think? Flying over the world to some foreign country to do who know what, completely without a plan. Right, it was maybe the hunger talking, or the weather. But after talking to this really nice guy, Craig from the USA and Suki from Japan (who were my house mates), I calmed down a bit. The sun also came out so it was gorgeous.
When i started seeing the amazing landscape, surrounding our house, (the tropics can truly do the magic) my mindset turned more positive.
One of the really sweet local guys, showed me around on his scooter a bit. Yes, traffic is a shit show here, it’s either scooters or cars or ’75 convertibles. Random! But is fun. Bought myself some Nasi Goreng, this typical breakfast food. Which basically all it is, is stir fried rice with veggies, with the sunny side up egg on top and some fresh veggies. For less than a $1.5.
At night, Suki’s friend invited us for some dinner in his restaurant, he owns a chain of Gaya restaurants and ice cream shops in Ubud, definitely worth checking out. The locals here are so friendly and they smile constantly. I asked on older man, if he’d ever left the island. He told me : “What do you think is missing in this beautiful island that I could find somewhere else”. They are so happy with what they have – that they don’t bother with what they don’t have. Lots to learn from these simple people.
Next couple days went by fast. Hanging out on rice terraces and hiking to waterfalls, drinking coconuts with Craig and going to Yoga classes and cooking courses with Suki. They say that Ubud area is a place to go and work on yourself. Many healers and spiritual workshops take place in the centre, as well as the spa wellness, massage rooms and temples.
I prayed. And took time to meditate every day. I did yoga in the morning and before going to bed. Treated myself to the best spa visit I had ever had in my life. I visited temples and listened to live music in funky coffee shops at night. Pushed my boundaries and actually rented a scooter and rode it for the first time. Ate raw, vegan food most of the time. I’m in Bali for only 4 days and I already feel amazing.
xx
