Wonderlust: Bali: Kuta

We arrived in Bali very early in the morning. so we stayed at the airport for a few hours to us the free WiFi and get breakfast. Then we bargained with a taxi for a ride to our home stay. We stayed at Waringin guest house, on Poppies 1 Kuta. It was suggested suggested by our friend Johnny who we meet in Byron Bay. He put us in contact with Ketut via facebook. We ended up paying $8 a night each. We got a private room, view of the pool, our own bathroom/shower, free Wifi and breakfast in the am. Such a great deal the only down side was no AC, but we managed. Johnny told us not to pay more than 100,000 rupiah for a taxi ride there. Of course at first the driver tried to get 400,000, then went down to 200,000 when we said no way! We still got him to go down to 100,000, thank god Johnny told us how much to pay, otherwise they get yeah.

Free breakfast: banana "pancakes", fruit and tea

Our driver didnt bring us right to the home stay because the roads were so small and he was worried about his car... however much bigger cars were able to get through. I think he was just annoyed we didnt give him as much as he wanted. We had like a 10 minute walk to our home stay.

once we checked in we walked around the markets, everyone is selling the same things and literally beg you to walk into there store normally for "good luck". I really didnt like that part at all, but hey its how they make a living. Honestly i bought a fan from a lady just because i felt so bad for her, she begged so much she must have been desperate and the fan was 2,000 rupiah which is 20 cents so I got one.

Jess shopping at the market

Chloe

Gateway to heaven on kuta beach

After we got dinner/lunch at a bar. The food was so bad, but we ate it anyways. However we did try Bintang, the local beer. It was ok it just tasted like a light beer. After we walked around a little more, for some reason we turned down a $12 package for a pedicure, mani and 1 hour message haha. We were so tired and i was just tired of being bombarded by the merchants.

The next day we booked a tour though this couple, they ended up being really nice and we went through them for rides to get around Bali. The tour was to GWK, dedicated to the Hindu god Wisnu. It is made out of limestone. Garuda is a mythical bird and Wisnu's cccompanion.

Up by the statue a man asked me to follow him to the holy spring, so Jess and I did. I really had no idea what it was all about. This guy made us kneel in front of a shrine kinda thing. Then he moved some rocks revealing a hole in the ground. he said a prayer and blessed us with holy water, then stuck rice on our foreheads.

After he asked for a donation, half of me felt like it was a scam and the other half felt like it was real. So I donated a little money. Then it got weird, he asked if we had boy friends. When I said no he asked if i like Balinese guys... it got weirder from there when he asked if i wanted him to be my boyfriend and asked where i was staying so he could come to the room later. We just laughed and walked away, i cant believe he said all that in such a holy place even if it wasnt at the holy spring it would still creep me out.

After we walked to the next statue Garuda Mythical bird.

Then we went to a show that was being put on, we only caught the end of it. After we grabbed a few pics with the performers. Once we walked away a group like 8 older men from india maybe asked if they could get pictures with Jess and I. This wasn't the first time on our trip guys have asked to get photos with us. I am not sure why, it is kindaa strange. However of course we didn't say no, and each of them needed to get a photo with us. I was laughing like Jess I didn't know we were in the show, because I felt like the girls dressed up who were in the show. Then we left, it wasn't my favorite place we went plus entry was kinda expensive (100,000 rupiah/$10).

From there we went to Dreamland Beach. It wasn't what I expected. Of course again being bombarded with street merchants and old ladys pestering you on the beach to give you a message for money. The beach was also right next to this smelly swamp. The water was pretty nice, but other than that I wouldn't go again.

From there we went to a coffee plantation which i loved. A girl showed us around and walked us through the different stages of a coffee bean cycle. she also showed us the mongoos they collect the poop of these mongoos and make coffee from it. It is a deliciously and very expensive called luwak coffee. Apparently it has healing properties for the human stomach and digestive track.

after the tour we were able to try all the teas and coffees they sell. there were so many good teas and coffees, i wanted to buy them all but they were a little pricy. I ended up getting 2 different kinds.

Our next stop was uluwatu. It is a temple on the top of a cliff. When we got there we had to put on sarongs (if your legs were showing). on our walk to the temple there were monkeys everywhere. there was even an announcement on the loud speakers telling people to contact the police if a monkey takes there stuff.... not sure what the police can do about it haha. Jess keep having to take her glasses on and off haha. The view from the temple was so pretty and it was sunset which made it even better.

After the temple we attended a traditional fire dance/show. The stadium was packed with people and even though it was outside it was still so hot. The show itself was ok it was pretty cool to see traditional costumes and such, however it was an hour long of chanting.