Ubud and Sanur – 17/18 August

Monday 17 August – Ubud

• Had a good nights sleep, despite hearing strange noises while going to bed(rats or large geckos in the roof I think), and then someone very, very angry shouting in Indonesian and banging stuff close to my room at 5am! It scared me a bit, as generally the Indonesian people aren’t aggressive, and there isn’t road rage for example. I was expecting/hoping the police would come, but after 30mins everything went quiet and I fell asleep again
• Wandered around town in the morning, bumped into the people from last night’s dinner separately and made plans to meet  the German girl (Elke) at 6 for dinner and maybe a dance performance. She hired a scooter for the day and went exploring. I’m not brave enough to drive a scooter around here, I’m not ready to die (though I haven’t seen any accidents, I just don’t think I’d do very well!!).
• Did the ‘Rice Paddy’ walk to the north of Ubud and had brunch at Sari Organik, which is halfway. Beautiful, beautiful area, green rice paddies and valleys with rainforest type plants.

• Walked back through town and bought some things(book, clothes, water) and went back to room for a nap.
• It’s very hot and humid (not sure if this is the normal weather for now though, probably), and I’m getting headaches throughout the day, I assume I’m not drinking enough water, even though I am going through a few litres a day. And the walking is tiring me out, but hopefully I’m building my fitness levels, as there’s a few volcanoes I want to climb in the near future!
• Late afternoon I went to the Monkey Forest south of town and as well as monkeys, saw the temples there.

• On the way there and back I passed the football field, where there was all sorts of things going on for Independence Day, but mostly for children, and then formalities which were in Indonesian, so generally I didn’t know what was going on.
• Met up with Elke and went to see the Lekong dance at Ubud Palace, then had a late dinner at Dewa Warung, which is great value.

Tuesday 18 August – Ubud to Sanur

• Decided to head to Sanur as I want to visit Seeds of Hope Children’s Home (orphanage where my friend Amy from Perth spent several months working), which is in Denpasar.
• Walked back to the Perama office (Perama is a reputed transport company who I travelled with from Kuta to Ubud too), and a bus to Sanur was just leaving
• Walked along the beach in Sanur till I finally found a map, then walked the backstreets but the places LP recommended for accommodation were further, so when a guy asked if I was interested in home stay (yes, that’s what I had the last two nights as well), I went and had a look. Really nice new room with a big fan and a nearly ‘normal’ bathroom (just missing a sink, which is good, as I then don’t accidentally drink the water while brushing my teeth!), hot water, towels, some mineral water and hot water for tea or coffee, for 120000. So I said yes for one night.

• Washed some of my clothes under the shower, then headed out for food and internet, which I found together (there’s occasionally restaurants with free wifi here).
• Walked along the beach again until I found a spot with no hotels and no tourists (I walked for quite a while ;) ) sat in the shade for a while, nice cool breeze, watching Balinese fishermen and kids playing with kites.
• Back in my room writing this, reading my book (To Kill a Mockingbird) and again trying to decide my next plans. I’m quickly running out of time in Indonesia. I might have to skip Java or Sumatra and just resolve to come back later. Or do both, but rushed. But I think my next steps will include Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinco and Flores, probably a organised 5 day trip with Perama, as that’s just the easiest and I trust them and it’s not crazy expensive.

Other stuff:

I haven’t been too bothered with the ‘hassle’, there’s lots of ‘Transport? Taxi? Look, Look’, but nothing too annoying and nobody pulling on my arms like JJ had in Kuta, or following me. I just smile, shake my head no, say no thanks, and keep moving. I’ve figured out how to say good morning and good evening, next I need to remember good afternoon and no thanks!

So how am I feeling?
Mostly just ‘ok’, same as in Perth, content I guess you’d call it? Generally just walking along with a smile on my face, accepting.
Sometimes I get a huge grin on my face, I’m in a different country/culture, I’m finally doing what I’ve wanted to do for a long time, yay! The freedom of it, crazy!
And sometimes slightly stressed, needing to work on enjoyperth, and already running out of time to do all I wanted to do in Indonesia (my own fault for not planning more and realising I won’t be able to see it all, so just need to accept that now), and needing to plan my next move. I guess the planning and figuring out of transport and accommodation will become easier, as I get more experienced. I’ll just look for a room quickly, instead of walking around with my slightly heavy bag for half an hour getting hot and sweaty.
And tomorrow I plan to figure out bemos, the public transport(to get part way to the orphanage). This morning I talked to the swiss guy in the room next to me in Ubud, who said it should roughly be 10000 per hour of travel, but it’s hard to get that price in Bali due to all the tourists and you get ripped off.

I haven’t really had the ‘what the hell am I doing, I’m very alone’, though I guess it’s early days. I had it in Perth at times, but usually only lasts a few seconds or an hour or two at most, luckily. This is my alone time, this is what I wanted, needed, right here, right now. It’ll be different in the future, I’m sure.
I know I will want company occasionally, but I think I’ll generally just carry on, on my own, until I meet Raf in December obviously.
But once again I say: who knows, plans can change!

Woo!