Bali

Bali, Curtis

Bali was a great way to ease back into backpack travel mode and out of
car travel mode.

Off the plane and into a small airport, simple customs process and
lots of people asking where you'd like to go.

After a bit of effort trying, and failing, to get a local SIM card to
work with our Internet device, one of the shop keepers was kind enough
to give us the password to the airport WiFi, which was normally
reserved for airport staff and shops only, nor for travelers. (People
in Bali were very friendly and helpful in general, not the police so
much but we'll discuss that later). Language was sometimes an
challenge but often we found people who spoke some English.

Side Note: Language barriers can be frustrating or very funny, usually
it's your perspective that makes the difference. More than once while
traveling we've run into a situation where we need to figure something
out, no English is spoken, and charades just isn't cutting it so all
everyone can do is just share a good laugh about it together.

After looking up a few things online we decided to head inland a bit
and stay in the town of Ubud, near the Monkey Forest. Many of the
coastal areas are overcrowded and overrun with tourists at this stage
in Bali's tourism evolution so we opted to make Ubud our home base and
take day trips to other locations.

This turned out great for us because after the world wind tour of New
Zealand we were really looking for some rest and relaxation. We
negotiated a taxi ride and a short hour later were in Ubud.

We drove by the Monkey Forest on the way to find a hotel and monkeys
were running around everywhere. It was really cool and we were excited
to explore it later. Our driver took us to a couple of hotels near the
Monkey Forest so we could find what worked best for us. He was really
kind and didn't want to just drop us somewhere until we found what we
needed.

We found a nice place called
It was about $30 a night, included breakfast, air conditioning, a pool
and walking distance to the Monkey Forest. In fact monkeys were often
just hanging around the hotel.
The monkeys are brazen and mischievous. If you've got food and they
are around, watch out, there is a good chance they'll jump on you and
grab your food. One morning while eating breakfast in the open air
covered dining area some monkeys were up in the coconut trees next to
us actually throwing coconuts down at people until they were chased
off by the hotel staff. (Silly monkeys).

After spending an arm and a leg traveling around Australia and New
Zealand it was nice to be back in a wallet friendly zone. A nice meal
cost about $3. There are more expensive places but they are over
priced and unnecessary.

We spent a couple days just lounging around and catching up on the
needed R&R. Then we rented a motor scooter for a few days to explore
the island. It was only $5 a day to rent/hire a gas powered scooter
and it only cost $1 to fill up the gas tank. We drove all over about
half of the island and spent maybe $7 on gas.

Bali is full of motor scooters. Inexpensive, easy to maintain and
quick through traffic, they are the transportation method of choice
for the locals.

We love taking things in via motor scooter while traveling wherever
it's a big mode of transportation for the locals. We really feel much
more a part of everything and closer to the culture around us on a
scooter. Weaving in and out of traffic with the locals. Bunching up
with dozens of other scooters at a stop light. Seeing the countryside
all around us. Feeling the wind and smelling the distinct local
scents. Hearing all the different sounds and listening to the differed
language and interactions of the people. Exploring side streets, dirt
roads, small paths, etc. However, driving in another country,
especially on a scooter, can be very hazardous and should never be
taken lightly. Very loose or non-existent traffic rules and crazy
drivers, poor road conditions, livestock and other animals in the
road, etc. Driving a scooter in these conditions is not for the faint
hearted and you definitely do so at your own risk.

Word to the Wise: Many countries will let you do many risky things but
just because you can doesn't mean you should. Know your own limits and
follow the DBS rule...Don't Be Stupid! Your stupid limit will be
different from mine so know your limit.

I'll let pictures and Julie tell the rest.