Day 6-12 - Thank you Bali!

After my last entries, you probably noticed that I experienced a lot. So I wanted to relax by the pool. I walked there, enjoyed the day even though it was cloudy, and thought the afternoon/evening would continue the same way.

(Plot twist alert!)

Then I decided to have a drink and noticed a bar right across the street that I had been eyeing for the past few days. I was greeted friendly and directed to the bar upstairs - of course to the individual seats. Before I even had a chance to sit down, a young man two seats away turned to me and greeted me. His name was Quinn, he was 25 years old and originally from New Zealand. Not only was I thrown off by his appearance and the fact that I looked like a potato, but also by the fact that his English was incredibly perfect and fast, so I could only stutter on my own. We talked for about 40 minutes when he asked me if I would wait in the bar because he had to quickly go to his accommodation and eat something. Since I had nothing else planned, I grabbed my ebook reader, ordered myself a cocktail, and waited. After about 1 hour, the gentleman - fresh showered, teeth brushed, new shirt, arrived by scooter, and greeted me again - while I still looked like a potato... just with one more cocktail in me. It slowly became dark outside and a bar staff member brought out his DJ set. While listening to Ed Sheeran and Beyonce vibes, we continued talking about everything, about my and his family, wishes, goals, and dreams - and while we sat there, talking and laughing, drinking cocktails, a car with the loading area full of pigs passed by on the street - yes, something like that only happens here in Bali. Later, someone played the guitar and some brave guests even stood in front of the microphone - we didn't, because it turned out that we both have a similar taste in music but prefer to leave our singing skills in the shower. When we were the last ones in the bar, we bought another beer to go and sat on the roadside. Even though the streets in Ubud never sleep, it was still beautiful. It started to rain and we both looked up at the sky and realized how beautiful it is to simply have good company. Just like a gentleman, he drove me back to the hostel and we promised to see each other again in a few days. Because he was returning to Kuta while I was traveling to Canggu, which was only 30 minutes away. It turned out that he was soon going back to Melbourne - where he wanted to work for a few months to earn money for traveling. So we also promised to see each other again when I am in Melbourne. And of course, that I would show him Berlin and he would show me a piece of New Zealand, if it ever happens. If that's not a nice side effect of solo traveling!

It's incredible what unbelievably great moments arise. With a new friendship, a cheap beer from the supermarket, and the tropical rain in Bali.

Arriving in Canggu, I checked into my super cool and clean hostel. I was really glad to be there because the previous hostel unfortunately had bed bugs and I was quite plagued by them in the past few days. But I learned that you definitely should not skimp on hostels, otherwise, you will experience things like that. Unfortunately, due to the change from the scorching heat outside to the air-conditioned rooms, I also caught a cold. But that didn't stop me from enjoying my last few days. On the first day in Canggu, all I did was lie on the beach, then I had the company of an older guy who had emigrated to the USA and just longed for a conversation. He invited me to lunch and later I went back to the hostel. At first, I felt a bit strange because 80% of the residents there were male surfers - and I was neither of those. But I quickly got to know Carlos (from Spain) and Hannes (from the USA, but his mom is German). They took me on the scooter to the beach to see the 'golden hour' - the sunset, and for the first time in Bali, I was able to truly enjoy it - without weird people trying to sell cheap bracelets or asking if I needed a taxi.

Since the three of us got along so well, we went out for drinks that evening, and again, it was the first time I was out in the dark - because I didn't want to be alone on the dark, bumpy streets of Bali. The evening was not comparable to a typical party night in Berlin. We started at 10 pm and went to get something to eat. After our stomachs were full, we sat at a taxi stand for hours, just watching drunk people, until we decided to go to a bar right across the street.. but the music was turned off shortly after midnight - so after dancing for only 30 minutes because then there was only one beach party in town. But since the weather didn't look so good and unfortunately dear Carlos had a little 'accident' (he stumbled into a hole in the sidewalk, which was only covered with a bit of wood), we made our way back to the hostel. So that was my first 'party night' in Bali - but I thought it was just right. We then sat in the pool at our hostel with a few beers and our feet in the water, enjoying the cool night air. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to Carlos, but Hannes decided to stay another night in Canggu instead of going to Uluwatu, so we enjoyed the day together, each of us got a tattoo (I now have a small arrow on my arm for an incredible 17 euros), ate burgers, and rode around on the scooter. We even ended up in a small Indonesian neighborhood where hardly any scooters were driving, the children were playing soccer on the streets, and everything was decorated in red/white due to a ceremony. That was the real Indonesia! With these images in my mind and many new acquaintances in my heart, on my last day, I went to Kuta one more time to see Quinn (the guy from New Zealand), we had a meal together, did some shopping until I made my way to the airport.

And now... I'm sitting here, completely astonished that 2 weeks have already passed. My conclusion about Bali? It is a magical island full of colorful colors, different smells, and friendly people. Time seems to run completely differently here, on the one hand, you sit in a super trendy café that was built especially for tourists, and on the other hand, right next to it is a homeless woman with 3 children on the street... you meet a nice guy, have a cocktail while a car with pigs in the loading area drives by. The country has unwritten laws, where many things still work with a handshake and you are super close to the daily events. The country that desperately needs tourism to grow, sacrifices entire cities for it, and tourists simply throw their garbage into the water. Nevertheless, the people live in the moment and take the day as it comes, they smile even though they are bitterly poor.

As Eka said to me... the only wish of the locals here is to make others happy because only then are they happy themselves. We should all take a piece of that.

And yes, I'm super sad to leave, but Hannes also had a good saying on his mind that I will remember:

'This is the life of a traveler, a lot of hellos and a lot of goodbyes.'