BACK TO BALI, AGAIN

In the morning I dragged myself out of bed and got on the shuttle boat back to Lombok to catch the ferry. I only left the Gilis because I had to but I could have easily stayed another few nights on Gili Air, especially because I didn’t really get to enjoy my one night I had there. Again, the trip took about 12 hours but this time my destination was back down to Kuta, Bali (there is a Kuta, Lombok too that’s why I specify). Kuta is the loud, over built, touristy area of Bali that was the original epitome of a beach resort getaway and it is also where the Bali bombings happened. Everyone had told me to avoid the area at all costs but Richie and I had already spent a day here on our way to Java and I didn't see what was so bad about it. It was actually really beautiful the first time but after spending time in all the other places I went, especially the quiet Gili Islands, well I could have gone without it for the second time. I still wasn’t feeling well so I just spent the last couple days hanging out by my pool and doing a bit of shopping. I did get an hour long, full body massage for about $3 on my last day and it was AH-MAZING! Why did I not do that everyday of my trip???

My room at Hotel Sayung Maha Mertha. It was the most expensive place I stayed the whole trip and it was $12 a night.

Just an idea of how short the door to my room was. Even I had to duck down under the frame.

In a nutshell:

All the hotels serve breakfast and coffee every morning and it is fabulous. You can find transport ANYWHERE but rarely ever do you need it. If you are wearing a backpack and/or have white skin, you can expect to have a crowd around you within seconds. You have to bargain for EVERYTHING. It would be weird if someone DID NOT ask you “where are you going?” or “where have you been?” Time means very little to anyone and rarely does anything happen on schedule. The people are so helpful and friendly, as long as they are not trying to sell you something, in which case they will lie to your face. I would return in an instant.