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Me with a python
I couldn't resist doing this. I love the photo as well as it looks like I'm thinking 'Get this thing off my right now'. I am actually quite liking it. Honestly. Hi, probably for the last time. The end is nigh.
I now find myself in the Indonesian island of Bali. Australia suddenly seems a long way ago, as does indeed all of my previous travelling as the Bali experience is very different indeed.
I don't think I realised how different Bali would be. I imagined it to be an island paradise, white beaches, laid back locals, everyone serene. No chance. The first two days were culture shock. Granted I arrived in Denparsar, renowned for being a hustling, noisy Indonesian city. It's that and more. Cars career down narrow streets, avoiding a school of adolescent motor-cyclists. Locals on the side of the road man their market stalls, selling T-shirts, CDs, DVDs, jewellry, paintings and carvings. Most things, in this part of Bali it seems, cater for the tourist. And this sums up Bali. An island of two-halves. Tourist and, well, everyone else. And this enforces the Western trourist stereotype and all the things about it (most of which I've decided I do not like).
The relationship between local and tourist works like this. All local trade is centred on the tourists, aiming to provide them (we) with shopping, food,
drink, accommodation and transport. Walking down the main tourist strip reminded me of my trip to Israel a few years ago. Hawkers stop you in the street. "How are you ,sir?" "Where you from?" "What your name?" A bit oppressive but once you get used to it, not too bad (I have perfected my aloof/nonchalent head-turn). The flip side of the coin are the locals, often in cafes, restaurants and the hotels. Here the in-your-faceness becomes excessive, almost regal politeness. There's no inbetween. I did meet some locals I was able to have real conversations with, but by and large, it was tourists v locals. Perhaps I exaggerate but the point is made. I should say as well that all this is from the perspective of a mid-20s traveller on their own. Maybe it would have been different with permanent company. Being not a couple or a tour group, I am in the minority.
With this in mind, I fled the busy tourist centre, Kuta, and took a couple of day trips to the north coast. I've seen some nice stuff: a HUGE volcano ("still active" everyone kept telling me), rice terraces, silver making, painting, impressive wood-carving, beaches, busy
A perfect sunset
Seeing this was a highlight art markets where you can get anything as long as your prepared to haggle (my aloof/nonchalent head-turn comes in handy again here). I want to say the Bali is naturally beautiful but that would be a bare-faced lie. It is just OK, nothing special. (I fear a lynching from any locals who read this).
My trip to the north coast ended up turning into a 3-day stop-over, the highlight being an experience on busy Indonesian roads. Forget Jet-boating. Sky-diving, schmy-diving. The real extreme sport to try is hiring transport and travelling on busy roads in Bali with Padek, my woman-chasing kamikaze driver. Its fun. Oh its fun. We nearly died several times. The first few overtaking manoevres were enlightening, the thoughts inside my head running as follows:
He's not going to overtake here is he? Oh my word, he is y'know. Padek, NOOOOOOOOOOO. Blimey. On the outside I maintained my obvious daddy cool expression. Inside, I was focussing on prayer. After the shock of this wore off, I calmed down. That is until, we ran over a dog. Bang, thud, thud. Cheers Padek.
I am giving off negative vibes about Bali. Time for some positive ones. The place
is hot. Very hot. Tan coming on nicely thank you. There are some nice places I've been too. Particularly the hotels. After staying in basic dorms throughout Oz and NZ, it's nice to pay less money and stay in plush hotels with massive rooms, pools, restaurants. The food is cheap and VERY good. Wierdly, the cheaper the better. But this leaves me with my nagging feeling. The Bali-holiday is basically centred on the hotel/restaurant/bar combo. The holiday could in fact be anywhere. Bali itself just provides the hot weather.
So to sum up then, hmmm. Ok.
I am still very glad to come here and very glad that I was pushed out of my comfort zone at times. I'm not sure I'd hurry back though.
I suppose that's it. I fly back to London tomorrow, wondering who will be in power when I get there. Don't forget to vote.
I am looking forward to seeing you all when I get back.
Love A.
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