Bali

November 20 2023

G’day from Exmouth

The first two weeks in Australia have already passed, and we almost missed to send out our Bali adventures! Western Australia is an amazing place, with its serene countryside and remote camping grounds. We will update you about our Western Australia adventures in our next blog post. But now 2,5 weeks back to the Indonesian island of Bali. Before our Australian Off-road adventure, we took a week off from road trips and big cities in a nice little hotel on Bali. Have fun reading!

Cheers
Alicia & Marco

Warm Weather, a little Culture Shock, and a place to relax

On Monday, the 30th of November, we arrived in Denpasar, a bustling city on Bali in Indonesia at around 2:00 PM. Coming from the clean and organized country of Japan, the city of Denpasar was a big culture shock with its unfamiliar smells, heavy traffic, and countless motorcycles. Despite feeling overwhelmed, we were fortunate to have found a hotel in the calm part of Eastern Bali. As soon as we checked in, we were welcomed by the hotel staff with two refreshing fruit drinks. The delicious food, relaxing pool, and serene location of our hotel made it easy for us to unwind and enjoy our stay.

Stumbled upon a Balinese Party

Because our hotel only had 25er sunscreen we wanted to go to the next city and buy some better. While walking towards the next city, we quickly realized it was more dangerous to walk than to ride a little motorcycle. All these fast trucks, cars, and bikes pass very close. It’s quite dangerous, and you don’t even have a broad walk. Right in the city, we stumbled upon a yearly Hindu Temple ceremony. We quickly made friends with Nengah who explained everything to us, gave Marco his number, and organized a cheap motorcycle taxi home to the hotel. The driver was his cousin Karek 27, living with his wife and two kids in the little city of Manggis where our hotel was located.

Exploring East Bali

Next, we explored Eastern Bali on our little scooter. We saw temples, monkeys, beaches, waterfalls, and crazy jungle roads only for scooters. As socius you must always be prepared to jump if it gets too steep, and the little Honda Scoopy won’t make it 😉

Sunset Dinner and a Night Ceremony

We had the most stunning sunset on Thursday at Candidasa in a local restaurant. While enjoying our meals of spring rolls, bami goreng, nasi goreng, and unsweetened iced tea, we had a breathtaking view of the ocean. The best part? It only cost €6 for all the delicious food we had. We even got to try the baked banana, which was a delight. During the dessert Nengah, who arranged the scooter taxi three days prior, sent Marco a message via Whatsapp about a closing ceremony happening at the temple, which he said was massive. Since the temple was on our way, we decided to stop by and see it. We met Nengah again and witnessed an incredible night ceremony at the Hindu Temple.

Balinese Power Grid Expansions

While at the indoor market, we were hoping to grab an iced coffee, but unfortunately, the coffee machine wasn’t working due to the generators running on diesel. Instead, we went for the iced Matcha latte. It was a pleasant surprise to witness the expansion of the Balinese power grid and see workers installing new cables. The construction sites had a unique appearance compared to those in Germany. Sending my regards to all Netze BW colleagues at this point!

Dark Sides of Paradise

Bali offers an incredible natural beauty with its lush green jungles, breathtaking waterfalls, stunning beaches, and majestic volcanoes. However, it also faces a significant rubbish problem. Waste can be seen on the streets, beaches, jungles, and even in small water streams, which are now filled with garbage. The sight of chickens scavenging for food amidst the waste can be quite unpleasant. Another issue that plagues Bali is the traffic. The roads are not very scooter-friendly, and inexperienced riders are advised not to venture out. Cars and trucks drive fast and close by, requiring riders to remain extra cautious at all times.