Ubud: Day 1

Before you frantically search the map of New Zealand for a place called 'Ubud' - you won't find it.

I am in Bali.

Tadaa.

Yes, the skydive was the grand finale of my New Zealand trip, on Thursday I flew to Bali.

Why?

I was simply fed up. Why should I work in a packing house for over a month just to pass the time, when I could just as well go home and organize my life there. With a single room. Privacy. Clean bathrooms.

At some point, one (me) just doesn't want the backpacker life anymore, so I changed my flights and arrived in Bali a month earlier.
Not so bad.
Actually, a very very good decision.

However, my first hours in Bali didn't necessarily speak for the island:
I arrived early in the evening, stood in unnecessary lines for a long time, my luggage didn't arrive, then I had to drive for almost 2 hours through this crazy traffic to Ubud, I was hungry, the accommodation was not as expected,...

Today Bali was able to win my heart:
The accommodation is perfectly fine, especially when considering the price. For one night in a single room with bathroom and breakfast, I pay the same amount as for one night in an 8-bed room in New Zealand.
I just have to be careful not to accidentally drink tap water. The hospital is not really on my list.

But since I had absolutely no idea what I actually want to do in Bali, today I explored the city on foot.
First point: the traffic. You often hear funny stories about traffic in Southeast Asia, and Bali is no exception. They drive on the left, but no one really follows that. Communication is through honking, and otherwise the motto is: the one behind me will surely see me.
I'm not sure yet if I really want to rent a scooter...
Then: the temperature. It was already hot and stuffy in the morning, and I was constantly covered in sweat. And when the sun came out...overkill. Fluffy 30 degrees Celsius and a humidity level that is probably higher than in the shower. In the afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore and had to retreat to my room for 3 hours (never book a room without a fan!).

Throughout the day, I consumed over 4 liters of liquid and went to the toilet very little. That will be fun in the coming days...

But: I immediately fell in love with coconuts. You can buy a young coconut practically everywhere on the street (20,000-30,000 rupiah, about €2) and then you slurp it on the way, preferably chilled. Amazing. I already bought 3 today :D
Overall, everything in Bali is cheap. I spend about €5 per meal, which includes a drink, the dish, and a small dessert. It's so cheap that even backpackers eat out every day.

Accommodation is comparable, nowhere else can you get luxury for so little money.
In the coming days, I will treat Emir to a massage or two (probably more), but today I contented myself with taking a stroll through the green side of Ubud and the center.
I must say that this jungle has something adventurous about it. It makes you realize where you actually are. In the tropics.

On the way, I also passed a few small rice terraces, but the truly impressive ones are outside of Bali.
The center of Bali consists of restaurants, cafes, and many small stands with clothing, jewelry, accessories, and knick-knacks. It's fun to stroll around, but not for more than an hour in this sun, please.

At lunchtime, I retreated to the Monkey Forest in Ubud. It's a forest area where nearly 900 monkeys live.
They may look cute, but they are mischievous! Of course, they have realized that tourists are easy prey, and they not only steal food, but also jewelry, bags, and happily pee on people's backs. And these little rascals know exactly what they are doing ;)

So I kept a respectful distance and amused myself with the other tourists.
For the rest of the day, I buried myself in digital travel guides and tried to come up with a good travel itinerary. It didn't work out so well, but at least I have a rough plan for the coming days.

Like everything, this Bali trip is somewhat spontaneous, but that also has its advantages. Somehow, I believe that for Bali, you shouldn't plan too much but rather live in the moment ;)

PS: The title will be changed, I just can't think of anything creative at the moment...