May 2012
Bali smells nice
First impressions: it’s okay.
Going through customs in Bali is very easy though - I’ll give them that. You get into one line to purchase your visa (they even take Canadian cash!), and then you move onto the next where buddy basically places the sticker on your passport and stamps it. Everyone here seems to be able to pronounce my name correctly, I haven’t introduced myself as Karolina in years! That feels nice.
After paying the taxi booth people, we get into a cab and drive for just over an hour to our hotel. The drive is mostly uneventful, without too much scenery. The drive over was pretty expensive at $22. Granted… it was quite far away. (set price)
We arrived at our hotel, and it’s great. Very simple, but comfortable and clean. Pool, terrace, nice garden, and A/C. Thank GOD. The name is Dewa Bungalows and at the time of writing, we’ve been here 2 nights already. I highly recommend the place, and if you stay here, have the french toast for breakfast - it’s totally awesome.
After settling down a bit, we ventured out (into the very dead streets) at 6.30pm for dinner. Most places were completely shut down, it was really dark, and just not lively at all. We ate at a place called Ibu Rai, and it too, was very nice.
We went back to to the room after that…
We didn’t get to see much first day, but what I did see was… a lot of shops. Just really boutique after boutique, taxi driver after taxi driver (everyone, to their credit was very kind after a quick no thank you from me, no one pestered), and nothing really unique or peaceful. That was the first day anyway…
