Bali Bugs

Josh and I were lucky we even met up. With virtually no forward planning, our last conversation several weeks prior had ended with - "okay, well, I guess I'll see you in Bali then..."

As I looked through the crowds and surfboards pouring into the Denpasar Airport, I hoped he was on the flight I was expecting. Eventually Josh emerged from the flow of passengers, looking somewhat disheveled although relieved to see that I was there waiting. It had been a good 6 months since we'd seen each other last although he didn't appear to have changed much. As he drew closer though, I could detect a faint shadow on his upper lip that gave the impression of a try hard mustache that just wouldn't grow. I inwardly groaned. Don't tell me he thought this whole mo-vember thing was actually cool!

Josh had cleared customs now and was walking towards me, bum fuzz lip grinning wide. I just had to exercise my elder-sister-power-of-veto-over-younger-sibling-fashion.
"Don't you have a razor?" I said with a quick hug.
"Nice to see you again too Joy," came the reply.

We stayed in Bali for 4 or 5 days. Its been nice to spend some time with Josh again and he did shave the mo. There have been so many strange and funny little things that have happened that this blog is dedicated to a brief listing of the highlights. So, here goes...

> Probably what stands out most about our entire time in Indonesia so far has been the rather consistent insect/rodent guest house infestation problem. Cockroaches top the list, I've woken up to them running up and down my legs. They hang out all over the bathrooms, pour into the rooms, live in shoes, under and on the beds. Josh has taken on the role of bug exterminator and is doing a very good job but they just keep on comin'! Others that have made the top 5 have been an ant nest inside one room, bee hive in another, not to mention the regular rat sightings too.

> Everywhere we go, all the locals seem to think we are on our honeymoon or married. Josh is my little brother so of course that is a bit weird. But the funniest was when we purchased a bus ticket and the guy asked for my name. From that point on, he referred to Josh as Mr. Joy.

> All the guys love Josh. They love talking to him and everyone wants to know where he’s going, does he need transport, would he like a sarong, and what is his name. When they hear his name is 'Josh', they burst out laughing. "Josh Bush!" they say which in their accent sounds like "George Bush". Nice one.

> Going to the temples here has been quite a interesting experience. Outside they have a stack of sarongs to ensure guest modesty so my immediate assumption was that my bare arms and legs would be offensive and require some form of cover. At the first one in Ubud, I reached to get a sarong but was shooed away.
"Not for you, for maaan!!" I was told.
And so Josh had to wear a skirt much to my amusement.

> We attended a Balinese Fire Dance in Ubud that really gave me the creeps. Lots of chanting and some very creepy looking masks. At the end, this guy ran through the fire barefoot and kicked hot coals out into the audience. It was bizarre and he was clearly completely possessed.

> We have had quite a problem here with being ripped off (more in Java than Bali though). On one occasion, we were shortchanged on the bus for the 5th time in as many days. I turned to the bus boy and asked for the full amount of change. He laughed and gave it over willingly. The driver turned to me, intrigued.
"Do you speak Indonesian?" he asked.
"No," I replied, "I just know when I'm being ripped off!"

> In Lovina we stayed in a completely empty guest house. It looked almost brand new, as though construction had just been completed. The manager thanked us profusely for choosing to stay. He explained that the guest house had only been open for a very short time. I had guessed as much, and figured it had only been a matter of weeks or months, maybe we were among the first people to stay there. He went on to say that they have only been in business for 8 years. ??

> In Ubud we came across a brochure amongst the list of "to dos" in the area. It explained that tourists, for a fee, can attend a local cremation ceremony provided that 24 hours notice is given.

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