I broke up again! Wtf it's like I have no idea how come I broke up with two guys in just a year, I used to have long lasting relationship, eh?
Hahaha, that's the only my stupid thought and (or?) question on my head in that messy day. Someone who just broke up, hurt person she ever loved by acting like "I know it's not working", left and be left by the sweet memories or whatever, CAN'T think well, right?
The best (or the worst?) part was it's not only me who just broke up! My best friend too! And we seemed like supporting each other to forget the messy day. It was a holiday. We stucked and trapped in our boredom, nothing-to-do-ness, and common family gathering in lebaran that year when we kept chitchating in the messages like ...
"I'm bored."
"Me too."
"Need to go somewhere. Bali? :("
I remembered my Dad who was in his duty traveling from Jakarta to Bali for several weeks that time.
"Let's go to Bali! We can come back home with my Dad by car."
And blablabla blablabla~
I phoned my Dad, asking his permission if only we can go to Bali or go back home together so we can arrange such an itinerary asap. My friend asked her parents permission, she said that we would go to Bali with my Dad. We also made appointment with my friend who lived in Bali. We thought that it would be a nice escape to get some new refreshments for our mind. Haha!
I don't remember what made us decided to leave only five days after the idea coming. It was almost midnight on Wednesday and we haven't got a plane or bus tickets. For we payed all the traveling cost by ourselves, we had no money to buy the plane ticket. Fortunately, our friend's relative knew someone who could booked us two bus tickets to Bali in the next day. Omg, we had not packed our stuffs. :|
On Thursday at 1 pm, we were just two little girls with two suitcases; small one and the medium one, who did the first trip without parents or holiday travel package. When my ex bf looked for me for apologize or whatever he wanted, I said "I want to move..". Now I realized that my sentence enigmatically contained two meanings, the origin of move and move on. Hahaha. Bali was my first move on trip, I guess.
*I'm smilling awkwardly when writing this story. Damn!*
My friend, Icha, woke me up in the midnight. "Look at the waves!"
I looked outside and realized that our bus were already in the basement of a ship crossing Bali strain. The waves (and its sound) was kinda terrible, it's like so close to us even when we officially trapped in the bus. When we arrived in Gilimanuk, Icha's parents called her and told that there was a hurricane in Bali strain.
Having awkwardly jet (or ship?) lag by the hurricane couldn't replace our happiness for breathing the Bali's air. I don't know whether it's only me or both of us who kept doing inhale exhale yoga breathing that time :D
We were going to our friends house in Loloan Timur, Negare. He was Fahmi, a friend from Bali who studied in Jogja. He has Bugis family who live in Bali, so they don't speak Bali language but Bugis. The folks in Loloan Timur, Negare, mostly work as a fisherman. Most of them are Muslim, not Hindus. Fahmi and his cousin escorted us to visited a pura and a quay near his house. The wooden colorful ships were beautiflly arranged in that quay. Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures.
Fahmi's family were very welcomed. His mother cooked us super delicious lunch. It's not bad to stay there actually, but then we realized something. The distance of Negare to Denpasar is about two hours driving, or three hours riding! How can we didn't check a map before decided to stay in Negare? How can we had no map before we come to Bali?! Hooooow! Hahaha, the stupidity of our sudden idea of holiday in Bali became clearer. Lol. Remember this guys..
Rule #1 : AT LEAST CHECK A MAP BEFORE TRAVELING!
***
I phoned my Mom to ask the address of my relatives in Denpasar. It's kinda difficult to convince Fahmi and his family that we'd better to stay in my relative's house, but then Fahmi and Ali agreed to escort us to Denpasar by motorcyle. It's impossible to bring all the suitcases, so we rearranged our stuffs, moved it to the small suitcase, and left the big one in Fahmi's house. We'll gonna take it when we back home.
Rule #2 : Don't bring too much stuffs when you are traveling.
The weather. The weather so sucked in September. Our trip to Denpasar was stopped by heavy rain several times. Okay, that's bad. We went at 2 pm, and just found my relative's house near Tiara Dewata mall at 8 pm. I knew it's kinda shocking, but we had no choice beside staying there, at least for a moment. Fahmi and Ali stayed in their relative's house near Denpasar before went back to Negare. Big thanks for them who had escorted us so far. I know they must be tired of that long riding trip.
***
Eyang Sri's house is in the middle of the town, in Letda Reta street. It's a family house, a multi dimentional house. Eyang Sri and her husband are Christian, one of their children is Muslim, one another is Hindus, and the rest are also Christian. I love to stay here, they show me that diffecence is not a matter. They always watch morning khotbah in one of tv shows, even they remind us to pray in the morning. They always play Christian song in the evening like haleluyah song or something, and they don't eat meat to appreciate one of family members who is not allowed to eat meat-the Hindus tradition.
We had a funny memory about the last thing. I and Icha wondered why they never serve a meat in the dining table. "Let's buy meat in the mall, we can give it to them to be cooked. They will like it!" We bought meat and proudly gave it to Eyang Sri's family. "We don't eat meat, dear. My son and his wife are Hindus. So, meat is prohibited to be eaten for all family members." Then our proud faces became our awkward faces. I will remember this ...
Rule #3 : It's better to ask first than just wonder to decide something truly matter.
***
Bali has given me so much sweetness. I love its beaches, so beautiful! The second day in Bali, I and Icha went to Kuta beach complex by taxi. It's about Rp. 50.000,00 for nine kilometres. Anw, there's almost no bus in Bali that time. People have used to get a taxi for transportation. When I asked the reason to my taxi driver, he said that it was their local policy from the government to save their income percapita. Bus is just too cheap for many foreign tourists who come to Bali. The only bus that can be used in Denpasar is called komotra. It has its own rute, from the parking area of Kuta complex to Joger and around. I didn't check the price because we didn't use it, but I'm sure that it's cheaper than using taxi. Komotra is like mini bus, but without window.
There are three beaches in Kuta complex. It's Kuta beach, Legian beach, and Seminyak beach. Kuta is full of people sunbathing. There is a Tourist Information Centre in this area that provides you an important thing; a map! Don't forget to come before you start to walk around, haha. We dropped by my taxi driver in the crossroad near Kuta beach. He said that we could start our walk through the way in front of us. "Just go down this street, and you will blablabla..." There are a lot of shops and cafes through that street. You can find also many branded shops here. I can't remember the name of the street, but you will easily find it when you come. In the right side of the street, about 400 metres from the crossroad, you can find Bali bomb monument. It's a monument to appreciate Bali bomb victims years ago.
Beside Kuta, there is Legian beach which is looked more natural than Kuta. There are also some people sunbathing but not as much as in Kuta beach. This beach is nice, even in the middle of the day. When walking through this beach, perhaps you will meet a tattoo-guy, who offer you to have temporary tattoo in your body only by paying two dollars. Or perhaps you will meet a tatto-guy who offer you extra money by accompanying a foreign tourist. Just kick this jerk! Hahaha, and for the last thing, perhaps, Bali has many things like this.
Rule #4 : Ignore everyone who want to introduce you to foreign guy. Wrong way. If you desperately want to know a foreign guy, it's better to have a healthier relationship than just a one night stand, eh? Imho.
Second day in Bali was the most tiring day! We walked around Kuta complex to Joger to buy some stuffs. Haha, Icha bought too much stuffs I guess. But it's okay! How can we skip the pleasure of shopping time? No way! :D
***
Third day in Bali. It was Sunday! Aunty Tari (Eyang Sri's daughter) and her husband wanted to back to Labuan Bajo, NTT. We sadly said goodbye and see you next time. We decided to explore Bali by motorcycle. Uncle Iwan, another Eyang Sri's son helped us to rent a red Mio Soul. You needed an identity card of Bali resident if you wan't to rent a motorcycle or car in Denpasar. Icha once reminded me that we were about in fight because of the motorcycle-thing in Bali. Both of us wanted to ride it! Hahaha! Icha was probably too scared if I rode the motorcycle, for my bad damn riding skill. And I guess, as I remember, I didn't want to let Icha riding the motorcycle all the time. She must be tired, and needed a rest! I don't remember how we solve the problem, but yes, Icha mostly rode the motorcycle but she let me rode it too in the uncrowded street. LOL.
Rule #5 : Share your thoughts to your travelmate.
We planned to go to Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Dua resort. We went to internet cafe to print the map. I know it's stupid, haha. In reality, we didin't use the map at all. We focused on reading direction planks. In Bali, there are a lot of direction planks that will keep you find the way to whatever tourism places you want to go to. Since we have no itinerary at all, we seemed like go show, riding our mio by reading direction planks that made us lost and strayed away. Hahaha! Our plan to go to Tanjung Benoa was dramatically changed to Pelabuhan Tanjung! Now I know why Dora the explorer keeps asking her MAP! :|
We finally succeed to go to Tanjung Benoa and Nusa dua resort. Those places are beautiful! I love the hot sun shines in Tanjung Benoa, and enjoying sunset in Nusa Dua. What a moment..
As an addition, we also visited a paunch (can't remember the name), Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue near Ngurah Rai airport, and hot sale planet surf event we found in By Pass street! Shopping again, lol
Rule #6 : Shopping will always be a happy-thing. Just be wise spending your money during traveling. :p
***
Fourth day, windy day we went to Sanur--the magical two colored sandy beach, Sukowati market, Ubud area, and Tapak Siring area. In Sukowati market, you will find a lot of Bali souvenirs. Better to bargain! I bought some cheap Bali shirts only for 15.000 IDR each. But if you can't bargain, don't expect to get the cheap prices there..
Frankly, beside found Goa Gajah Museum to be visited, we also found two others Museums; Rudana Museum and another Fine Art Gallery that caght our attention by its froggy statues in front. Those are worth enough perhaps. Our trip that day was fun. I still remember the way Bali folks who just prayed in Pura, in Ubud area, interacted each other. If you want to see the real Bali taste, go to Ubud!
Rule #7 : Find as much as you can.
Fifth day. We wanted to traveled farther, to Tanah Lot and Kresna-a souvenir store, and back again to Kuta complex and Joger. Last day to shop in Bali, it drove us crazy. Lol. Nothing much to be shared, we just spent our money and visited Tanah Lot to drink that magical pure plain water in the small island (or reef?) in the middle of the sea. Okay, it's not in the middle actually, just a bit farther that we need to walk crossing the sea water to get to the island (or reef?). We met two Japanese girls there. Just like us, they were traveling!
After enjoying last sunset in Bali, we went to Ubung bus station to book bus tickets for the next day. We decided not to wait my Dad till Friday, and we'll leave on Wednesday. Of course, we'll take the left suitcase in Fahmi's house first. We felt sad for saying goodbye to all people we met in Bali, but we have to. It's not (just) a move on trip. It was all fun packed in a week trip. It was our first (let's say) semi-backpaking trip. It was a trip that keeps me and definitely my friend, Icha, want to travel again, again, and again. We learnt and enjoyed many things in Bali. Experience, adventure, refreshment, even a posession. For me, it's nice to visit my relatives there and find a new way to explore places, though we skipped a lot places indeed. But that will be underlined as a reason to come back and finish my (or our) adventure there.
Rule #8 : Promise yourself to come back.
***
"Do you miss Bali? I miss Bali. :(" - a short message I recieved from my friend, today.
"It's more than two years. I miss Bali this much, then I wrote this story."
