Day 31: Central Bali

The first month of my journey has already passed and it feels so good to finally be here, enjoying life, knowing that there is still so much excitement to experience and every day is a new adventure. Today was a very special day as I went through a lot and gained many new impressions, getting to know Bali's life properly.

But from the beginning: The day started with an early swim in the pool, shortly after seven o'clock the sun was already in the sky and the pool was uncomfortably heated from the previous day. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to enjoy the calm, peaceful landscape in the morning light. After finishing my book by the pool, I set out to find a scooter to rent. By chance, I met another German who was also renting a scooter at the hostel, he recommended the service to me and a few minutes later, my scooter was also waiting at the hostel's door.

After that, it was time for breakfast and the day could begin. The rice terraces in the center of the island were on the itinerary. According to Google Maps, the 36-kilometer journey should take 1 hour and 15 minutes. As soon as I reached the main road, I understood how this calculation came about. The traffic was completely congested, hundreds of scooter riders were squeezing past the slow-moving cars on the left and right. The center line was interpreted depending on use, when there were parked cars on the side of the road, the vehicles swerved out into the oncoming lane and sometimes it was really only a hair's breadth away from the oncoming scooter. Suddenly, there was a big traffic jam in the middle of the road, it turned out that a ceremony was blocking the road. It was a tall cart accompanied by yellow-green dressed women as well as two men with long bamboo poles to hold up the telephone and power lines so that the procession could pass underneath. After that, the traffic dissipated and I finally arrived at my destination.

The rice terraces are very popular in Bali and have become a landmark of the island due to the great interest of tourists. Therefore, a large industry has settled around the place. To reach the terraces, you have to go through one of the many restaurants that form the entrance. The beauty of the green oasis can already be seen from the street, and this view is enhanced when you descend the steps into the valley. I quickly came across one of the many providers of the famous Bali swing, on which you can swing high above the rice fields. I also passed stalls where you can donate for the maintenance and expansion of the paths through the terraces. Whether the money is actually used for this, I realized later, is of course questionable, as I encountered many more such stalls. So I walked through the fields, looked at the lush green rice seedlings and the traditional gardeners with pointed bamboo hats tending to their plots. Away from the tourist crowds, I found a nice little restaurant with cozy beanbags and a fantastic view over the vast rice terraces. In the shade of palms and bananas, I enjoyed a smoothie bowl around noon and took a rest.

To appreciate the long journey, I looked for more sights near me and came across a coffee plantation where you could taste 20 different coffee and tea varieties for free. A waiter joined me at my table and explained the peculiarities of the coffee in detail, especially the expensive Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee. We also exchanged cultural experiences during the delicious coffee and tea tasting, and time flew by until the rain ended. In the end, he helped me get a raincoat so I was prepared for the long journey back.

The return journey was going to be a real adventure. It started with another heavy rain shower that caught me off guard, fortunately it ended after a few minutes. Next, a long traffic jam caught my attention, as scooters could easily pass by, it was not a problem, the real problem revealed itself after the next curve, where a fallen tree blocked the road. There was no way for cars to get through, but luckily there was a gap for scooters to pass under the tree with some skill. I had to keep stopping to check the route on my phone. Somewhere along the way, I made a mistake and got lost, so I ended up on a small country road that also led to the destination, but after a few kilometers, it tested the amphibious quality of vehicles. An overflowing river had flooded the entire road. But for me, there was only straight ahead because going back would have meant taking a detour. And so I rode my scooter through the small waterway, against the waves of the other cars. Except for my foot, I managed to stay dry on the other side.

Shortly before my hostel, I discovered a restaurant where I stopped for Nasi Goreng and got a good dinner for only one euro. I am glad to have safely arrived at the hostel.

Tomorrow, I'll conquer the local bouldering hall and then visit a temple since I didn't manage to do it today. I would also like to improve my surfing skills at the beach.