Bali/Denpasar, Indonesia (1)

I was sorting through my pictures and recovered a stack of which I took in Bali, Indonesia. That was December 2004. A friend of mine egged me on to the trip since I was already going to Hong Kong on an annual pilgrimage to the all-city-light-up show and the sales. So I squeezed my last-minute Bali itinerary into the Asia trip without any preparation. I didn't even have a Lonely Planet guide except for a hotel reservation at Puri Santrian Hotel. The impromptu booking with Singapore Airlines put me in a spacious Boeing 777-200 that was less than half full that landed in Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport at 7:05 pm. As in most Southeast Asian countries, predatory scams greeted me solicitously at the arrival hall offering all kinds of overpriced transportation services. A momentary taxi ride to the hotel that normally costs 40,000 rupiahs (US$1 = 9200 rupiahs) can become 200,000 rupiahs! Pretend to be confident and cogitant even if you're not sure what you're doing.

Anyway the Bali trip was quite uneventful but pleasant. Everything was spontaneous. I woke up every morning with no idea of what I was going to do. I usually sat by the pool nibbling my breakfast until noon! Then I insouciantly took a stroll around the Semiayak area and tried to meet some of the locals. Most Bali visitors probably wake up to the Kuta beach, which is no more than 5 minutes away by walking so it was very accessible. Usually I thrive to look for a more out-of-the-way, secluded spot to sit down and read in order to avoid some of the on-spot grooming service the kids so persistently taut: washing your feet, manicure and pedicure. It is flanked with shops, bars and internet cafes. I found this family eatery place in one of the meandering alleys. For lunch you have a choice of five entrees of which two are vegetarian. I opted for the chicken in green curry, potato coquette and some mixed vegetable and a glass of fresh mango freeze: all for 16,000 rupiahs (US$1.60).

to be continued...