We are in the outskirts of Ubud. Not because we chose Ubud but because we chose an Arnb in Bali that happen to be in Ubud.
We had no idea what Ubud was except that it was not a crazy beach town over run with tourists and more laid back.
After three days we have mixed feelings about Ubud and Bali.
Could it be that it's rainy season so they say. There has only been a little rain so far however all the signs of rainy season are there, such as flies of all kinds, dampness in the air and.....well.....flies.
Store Window
Perhaps I have been slightly irritated by the morning routine of cleaning the fruit scraps from the fruit bat's nightly feeding over top of our porch. Not to mention the fact that they spit out the chewed fruit and poop as well.
What kind of fruit?
Well let's just say that it seems clear that it is Rambutan season. I just don't know where they get there supply from. I have seen trees down the road but are they really flying with a bunch of Rambutan and taking it to our porch?
Ok I will give them another week than perhaps I will have no choice but to be extra pissed off. I know they are doing what comes naturally and I certainly don't wish it upon them to become, an apparently popular dish, in Indonesia.....fruit bat soup.
Fruit Bat scraps and poo are actually not as annoying as the insane traffic on narrow roads.
We are on the outskirts of Ubud, so in order to get there, or to the nearest supermarket to get supplies, we have to walk at least 5 kilometers.
We have options to rent a scooter or take a scooter taxi, but we are probably the only people visiting this country that think this mode of transportation is much too daring. Ok we're scared.
There are online taxis that you can call but we can't because we stupidly bought a sim card at the airport and it stopped working almost right away. Fifty bucks down the tubes.
You can't hail a vehicle cab like we did in Bangkok. Anyway if there was one, stopping it would most likely be a death trap around these parts.
Our wonderful host has a vehicle and has offered to drive us where we want for a lesser fee than others. Of course it is offered with a potential tour in mind. We just want to go a fifteen minute drive away. We won't knock on his door for that. Eventually we will go on some kind of tour.
We love walking long distances but walking these roads produces crazy high anxieties as there are no sidewalks until you get to the town center.
The tropical paradise that I had imagined all these years isn't presenting itself quite that way. Do I say "yet"?
If I were to look at all the positives of Bali, I would be saying that warm weather (very very warm) is what I prefer over the brisk frosty chill of Montreal winters.
I would also say that having a well manicured garden full of flowers, trees including tropical fruit trees in my yard such as soursop, lime and guava are just lovely, along with an offer to pick as we wish is an absolute treat for a Canadian.
I would also say that waking up to a shiny Hindu God statue and others around the yard is a nice switch as well.
Not to mention the view of the large birds in the rice field in front of us, eating rice as the workers do their job.
I especially love the resident little dog Mochi who apparently was born to be adored. He's well behaved and makes me smile each day.
Having an outdoor kitchen and living room dining room is a real treat as well. I need to cook most of the time since restaurants with vegan options are too far to go everyday.
I probably shouldn't complain about anything. I could be back home in Montreal trying to feed hungry guests at the restaurant as fast as possible.
I never thought in my wildest dreams that I could be in Bali and have anything to say but great things.
It's only been a few days so we'll see....we'll see.
