At around 9 am, I woke up but decided to sleep in until 10 am. Today, I was planning to move to a budget hostel, the Rumah Kayu Hostel in Kuta. Helmi was preparing to leave as well; he had plans to meet up with friends. His intention was to spend one more day in Bali and then head to Kuala Lumpur for a job interview (as he is a flight attendant). We said our goodbyes around 10.30 am, and I invited Helmi to visit me in the Netherlands someday.
Chores
Today, I had some errands to run. The upload went smoothly, so no more concerns on that front. My first stop was the post office, conveniently situated next to the Maxone Hotel, to send some postcards to colleagues and family. Following that, I needed to sell my laptop. There was a laptop shop just across the street, about 50 meters from the hotel. I had spotted it the day before, but it was closed at that time.
Unfortunately, the laptop shop was closed again today, which frustrated me. To add to my annoyance, a downpour started at that moment. Determined to turn things around, I crossed the street in search of some food. At my favorite warung in Indonesia, I ordered Kang Kung for breakfast and finally managed to capture some pictures of this incredible dish. While it may not look very appealing, looks can be deceiving. This dish is superb and remains my favorite on this global journey so far.
Following breakfast, at approximately 11:45 am, I completed the check-out process. I requested the reception to arrange a Bluebird taxi for 12:30 pm. Swiftly, I packed my backpack, which now carried an absurd weight due to the inclusion of two laptops. It was imperative for me to dispose of my old laptop as soon as possible.
A Relaxed Hostel Managed by a Youthful and Cheerful Team.
I directed the taxi driver to head towards Kuta, displaying the address for guidance. My chosen accommodation was a budget-friendly hostel, priced at 125,000 IDR (equivalent to 7.50 euros, with an exchange rate of 16,500 IDR – 1 euro at that time) per night, conveniently situated just 5 minutes away from Kuta beach. Within half an hour, I reached the hostel, completed the check-in process, and entered the dormitory, finding it nearly deserted.
The establishment was well-maintained, and I observed a modern ambiance throughout. Each bed capsule featured its own curtains, offering a degree of privacy. Additionally, there were power sockets and small lockers, sufficiently spacious for my day backpack. I appreciated the well-appointed facilities and the welcoming and hospitable staff at Rumah Kayu, who greeted me with smiles.
Upon settling into my room, I organized my belongings, secured my valuables in the locker, and started up my laptop with the intention of getting some work done. To my dismay, Windows 7 refused to boot, leaving me feeling frustrated and disoriented once again. This time, the laptop seemed completely non-functional. Fortunately, I still had my trusty old laptop, which was operational. I promptly sent an email to Kadek, the helpful individual I had met earlier. Grateful for my stay at his guesthouse a week ago, I requested him to contact the girl from the laptop shop and explain my challenging situation.
Kuta Beach
Frustrated, I decided to take a stroll and explore the area in an attempt to shift my mood. Locating Kuta Beach was a quick task, and within 5 minutes, I reached the sandy shoreline. Although my initial plan was to enjoy an extended walk, the constant hassle from locals attempting to sell their low-quality tourist items became overwhelming. Eventually, I chose to head back towards the boulevard after spending just 10 minutes at the beach.
I walked past the Hard Rock Cafe and the Hard Rock Hotel. This area had numerous recognizable landmarks, and I made an effort to memorize as many as possible so I could easily return to Rumah Kayu later on. Later today, I intended to rent a moped. However, navigating without GPS or mobile internet (Google Maps) proved challenging, especially in a bustling place like Bali. The crowded streets, high buildings, and similar appearances made it more difficult compared to islands like Pulau Weh or Pulau Langkawi. I would have to rely on my own navigation skills and that didn’t work out a few days ago looking for the water palace near Amed. After a ten-minute walk, I found myself at the Beachwalk Shopping Center, an artistic and luxurious mall.
I spotted a Haagen-Dazs shop and opted to indulge in some ice cream. My selection included blueberry and macadamia flavors, with the latter being particularly delightful. Taking a moment to unwind, I enjoyed observing the tourists and shoppers strolling past. After 10 minutes, I resumed my exploration of the mall.
After thoroughly exploring the entire mall, I departed after 30 minutes and headed back to my hostel, Rumah Kayu. Despite checking the movie theater for a good film, I was disappointed to find only subpar options available. Recalling the unpleasant movie experience I had with Danny in Solo, I was not inclined to endure a similar one.
Given the touristy nature of Kuta, familiar fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC lined the same street. The neighborhood was bustling with shops and crowded with tourists. I found it less appealing as I had become accustomed to quieter and more serene places.
Navigating the Bali Maze
In my hostel Rumah Kayu, I checked my email. Fortunately, Kadek is a man who responds quickly. He had already contacted the girl and provided me with instructions. In Denpasar, there was an Acer point shop located on the main road. Although the route appeared straightforward on the map, I still had to search for directions on Google.
Kuta was like a big maze to me at that moment, and I had no idea how to navigate it with so many one-way roads. I decided to take my laptop to Denpasar the next morning and emailed Kadek, informing him that I would arrive at 10 am. They agreed to change the hard drive of the laptop. I felt relieved that they had come up with such a quick and easy solution for my situation. All day, I nervously thought I would have to go back all the way to Amed again.
Negotiating Moped Prices in Kuta: Standing Firm on Fair Rates
Later, I rented a moped from a local in the area of my hostel. I paid 50,000 IDR per day. Initially, the man wanted to rent the moped for 75,000 IDR per day, but I asserted that I was not his typical tourist. Having rented many mopeds in Indonesia, I was familiar with the standard price and refused to pay more just because I was in Kuta, Bali. I stood my ground, saying, “If you won’t rent it for 50,000 IDR, my friend, then I’ll look somewhere else.”
I strolled away about 20 meters, and to my surprise, he called out behind me, ‘Okay, okay, okay, 50,000 IDR!’ The man seemed annoyed as I filled in the form, clearly expecting a higher tourist price for the moped. Despite being the most inferior one I had rented so far, I kept my thoughts to myself, thinking, ‘I should’ve negotiated down to 30,000 IDR for this moped wreck.
I had planned to visit Tanah Lot, but it didn’t work out. By 5 o’clock, the staff at Rumah Kuya informed me that reaching it in time for sunset would be challenging due to heavy traffic at this hour. I decided to postpone my visit until tomorrow.
Socializing
In the evening, I got acquainted with some new faces at Rumah Kayu – Paula from Germany, Alessandra from Italy, and Jannik, a fellow German. I shared a wealth of information with Jannik about exciting places in Indonesia, directing him to my website for more details. Grateful, he thanked me and mentioned his plans to meet friends on the Gili Islands tomorrow, expressing a keen interest in exploring Indonesia’s natural wonders and perhaps conquering a mountain. Paula, who had just embarked on her journey today, shared in the excitement. It marked her first day on the itinerary, and like me, it was her inaugural solo backpacking adventure. Her enthusiasm reminded me of my early days in Singapore.
Later, I delved into Lotus and Tom’s travel blog, reliving our initial encounter and their amusing quotes about our meeting in Singapore. The evening unfolded with casual conversations, and by around 10/11 pm, I retired for the night. The looming agenda for tomorrow involved addressing laptop issues to ensure the continued vitality of my blog.
