Barefoot in Bali

at Soka Beach

      Of course our trip to Bali couldn’t start without anything less than a dramatic situation. We arrived at the airport an hour and a half early only to find out that our flight was at four, not eight. We thought Fiqy had booked the eight pm one, but it was the earlier one. Sighing (a huge feat due to the enormity of our backpacks), we paid the change fee and headed inside the airport.
Once we reached Bali, we walked through all the cab drivers vying for our attention. Asking the first one about our destination (Soka Beach, Tabanan), we were given a response of “So far, three hour, five hundred.” Ugh. No. It was only an hour and a half and five hundred was way too much, as a cab ride anywhere else for an hour was fifty rupiah. Walking on, we continued asking and received different time estimates and varying prices. We finally got one guy to agree to three hundred, but at that point, we thought we could just get a normal cab that would use a meter. Now it was up to us to find one.
So we did what any sane, logical person would do in our situation. We stormed off in a huff, and started walking down the street. Past the airport hotel, on the stretch of road with a (decorative, not for use) sidewalk, until we reached the only buildings before the highway. Our options were: a closed travel agency, a closed bank or the police station. Looking at each other, we laughed -we would-and headed right in.

at the police station

       “Hiiiiiiiii,” we cheerily announced our presence as we bounded in. Startled to see us (I’m sure not too many tourists stroll in), they smiled in bemusement with furrowed brows as they asked us to sit. And then we spilled our entire story. And asked them to call us a cab. Excited to have company, they chatted with us for a while, as more officers stopped in. Soon, the small office was full as everyone was chatting and joking around with the two funny American girls. Another officer came in with late night dinner and they insisted that we try everything. Taking pictures with some of them, we laughed at this ridiculous situation. Their taxi driver friend eventually showed up, and we were surprised to see an airport driver shirt. And then we ended up paying the original five hundred that we were quoted. At least a funny story came out of it.
The driver drove so quickly, even Becca felt a little ill. Erratic driving, along with the already crazy traffic and zig-zag roads led to us being extremely thankful to reach Soka Beach. Getting out of the cab, our driver asked for a picture with us, an action that was becoming quite common. As we were shown to our room, we quickly settled in and fell asleep.
The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast at our hostel before heading down to the beach. Walking first to the right, we encountered a dead pufferfish laying on the beach. Continuing down the beach, we climbed around rocks and I tried to convince Becca that we could cross the little section of ocean by holding our stuff above our heads. Nope, didn’t work. We headed back to the other side of the beach, in search of a non-rocky area where we could lie in the sun. Walking down the other side, we spotted a lump of something lying in the sand. Walking closer we immediately squealed and couldn’t get away fast enough. It was a dead baby cow. On one side of our hostel were rice paddies with grazing cows and the other side was beach. As we discussed all the ways this baby animal could have made it down the steep hill to the beach, we decided to lie in the small section between dead pufferfish and dead baby cow, where we were out of sight of both. A few minutes later, I sat up to the noise of something running. Apparently there were also wild dogs on this beach. We quickly got up and headed back to our room, as Becca not only dislikes dogs, but hates when they’re around her. We decided to go find internet and find another hostel closer to the main city.
Asking the security at the hostel where the closest internet was, he directed us right, and told us to wait by the side of the road for the next bus. Fifteen minutes later, an extremely full bus swerved around the corner and came to a jerking halt in front of us. Guess this was it. Stepping gingerly on, a seat was pulled out parallel to the open door. As we clutched onto our belongings and tried not to fall out the door, we attempted to explain what we were looking for to the bus assistant. Finally understanding “computer,” he dropped us off a few miles down.
Deposited by a field, we turned and started walking toward the town area, hoping we would get a signal somewhere. Stumbling upon a literal computer lab, we walk in and ask to use one of the dusty monitors. Smiling broadly (I’m not sure how many people come here), the owner helps set up one of them. After all of this, we didn’t find any open rooms so we sigh and get ready to head back to our hostel. The man refuses to let us pay, and then insists upon driving us back. Well, we save money and it’s much nicer. Heading back, we speak a little in broken English as he once again rejects money from us and says that he just wishes Canadian friends. We smile and thank yet another kind Indonesian.

sunset at Soka Beach

       Back at our hostel, we sot out on the beach and brainstorm ideas for a book. Until we're interrupted and distracted by a nice but overly friendly security guy that wants to practice his English. We leave after the sun sets and deicde to go to Kuta- the larger city-tomorrow.
The next morning, we walk up to security and ask if we take the same bus as yesterday to Kuta. They ask us to sit and gesture that they will stop the bus for us. As we’re waiting, one of their friends stop by and offer to drive us, if we don’t mind being in the car with his dog, as he’s dropping her off to make puppies. We stop by his house, where his grandma comes out and smiles at us within this lush, tropical garden. He continues driving, his English is much better than the guy the other day. He teaches at a hospitality school for older teens to learn how to work in a restaurant. We stop by his school and all the students peer out from over balconies, wave and tell us how pretty we are. Finally heading out, he offers to find a friend to drive us around for much cheaper than a taxi. Sure, but taxis are pretty inexpensive. We get to his friends’ and we’re pretty positive that the price his friend is quoting is way too high. Deciding to just take a cab from here, we walk across the street and ask the woman in the small store to call us a cab. Two minutes later, a cab arrives and we wave goodbye. We were right, the taxi was cheaper.
In downtown Kuta, we get smoothies and shop around the market, getting sarongs. As we walk along the cow-less beach, seeing a wedding and lots of activities to do, we decide that we need to leave the hostel we’re at. We go into Gloria Jean’s, use the internet, and book a hotel for the next two nights. As Becca hasn’t been feeling well, we get a cab to take us back and forth right then. As the traffic was really busy then, it took forever to get back. We checked out of our hostel and hopped back into the cab. Arriving at our hotel, we settle into the bug-less rooms.

one new monkey friend

The next morning, our taxi driver from the night before picked us up to go to Ubud- the art center. Getting an early start, we first stopped at the Monkey Forest, where we were surprised at how touchy the monkeys were. Wandering around, a monkey swung up onto me and had a little fiesta. Leaving the forest area, we went into town where we walked around a market. Becca still wasn’t feeling well, so we went back soon after. She slept into the afternoon, while I laid out and read by the pool. We then got massages by the pool before we headed out into the town for dinner. We walked along the beach and eventually headed back. The next morning, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before heading to the airport for Vietnam!