Slowing down in Bali

At the end it was a one hour delay – I kind of expacted it, so it is fine. On the plane I was sitting next to a Brittish couple, living in Singapore for 7 years now. They had their 16 months old baby boy with them. He is beautiful, with amazingly long eye lashes. He is already a greater traveller than me. He’s been to Bali three times, to the UK three times, to the Maldives, to Cambodia. Amazing. And the dad not only travels a lot, but speaks many languages: Japanese, French, German and just started to study Chinese, because the litle boy will attend Chinese school, and he doesn’t want to be a father played in a language he does’t speak. By the way, it turned out, that he is the MD of airbnb in Asia. I should’ve asked for a place to stay.

Though I was told, that my family name means “smart”, I cannot be that smart, as I booked a bed in a place, where until breakfast I thought that I’m the only guest. The place was super clean and comfortable and a room of 4 was just for me. I arrived late from the airport, and I could not book anything for the next day – by anything I actually mean a transfer to one of the Gili islands. I was searching for some solution for a while, then I decided I am wiser after a good sleep. Which I had, but didn’t get any wiser. So I rebooked for another place, that is at least closer to the beach – and at all, closer to anything. Especially closer to people.

On my way – and since then during the day
– I said “no, thank you” a million times, well, OK, two million
– I understood, that all the honking on the street is from the taxis, that suspect that I’m a potentional client with my backpack
– I learned, that I need a motorcycle even if I don’t – at least all the bike rental places say this
– I got the question a lot: why are you here if not to surf?
– I figured out, that not all the buildings with temple look are actually temples, but many hotels have temple-like decorations– I undestood, that tourist information kiosks are not there to provide info, but are actually small travel agencies
– I celebrated my indian and nepali experience of walking in big cities. This comes handy here as well, as getting from A to B is not less difficult, even if A is one side of a street, while B is the other side of the same street

I arranged my travel to Gili Air for tomorrow, and had the day free. Basically a day wasted. Or from another perspective, a day for slowing down. I took it easy: hunting for small temples, walk on the beach, observing the surfer-to-bes, earting long and watching the sunset. Oh, and I did almost all the non-recommended things at one: took and ice tea, with ice, in an arguably clean glas with a plastic straw. I realised all this after the second sip, and decided not care.

And as I was slowing down a bit, a plan started to emerge in my mind, at least some ideas what I want to do once I return from the Gilis.