I wake on my second morning in Bali feeling jetlagged and homesick. I’m missing my people back home, and I’m questioning my decision to come on this trip.
My mind starts working in overdrive and I’m convinced that my life at home is moving on without me. I wonder whether there will even be a place within that life for me to return to. I lie in bed, not wanting to get up, with no enthusiasm for the day ahead or what it might have in store for me. Very overly dramatic I know, but that’s the general mood today.
Why so sad?
On every trip, I have at least one day like this, although it usually happens a lot later on. There are a number of reasons for my melancholy vibe. Obviously the jet lag has me tired. Having never suffered much from it before, it’s a whole new feeling for me.
The Wifi at the hostel here in Ubud isn’t great, so I’m finding it harder to keep in touch with home than I would like. It’s also pretty tricky uploading blog posts with almost non existent Wifi. Additionally, my ATM card has been rejected at 2 ATMs now so I’m quickly running out of money. A number of failed attempts to contact my bank later this morning do nothing to improve my mood.
I’m grumpy and tired, and I irrationally try to convince myself that the insect bite on my little toe is causing all of my woes this morning. Were it not for a chance encounter with a helpful hostel room mate, who advises me to try a few different banks before I give up hope for my ATM card, the day might be doomed altogether.
A little logic goes a long way.
“Try different banks?” I think to myself. “Why, oh why, didn’t I think of that?” Because I’m jet lagged, homesick, and grumpy as shite, that’s why. Off I go to a petrol station on the edge of Ubud, where I’m told I’ll find ATMs for 6 different banks, in search of one that likes the look of my pasty, grumpy face.
On a side note (because I’m sure you’ve had enough of me whining about my financial situation), my journey takes me past the Sacred Monkey Forest. I’ve heard of this place and expect that it is somewhere outside of Ubud. I don’t expect to turn a corner in the middle of the town and find monkeys running around the road, which is what actually happens.
Monkey Business
These monkeys make jaywalking an art form. There are no pedestrian lights or crossings in Ubud. Crossing the road is like an act of blind faith that the universe will take care of us. I see people nervously trying to cross as cars and scooters whizz past, but these monkeys have no fear and no hesitation. They simply look left, then right, then dash across the road into a shop or up a pole.
I won’t lie. I’m absolutely terrified. I’ve heard that these guys will steal stuff from people’s hands, and will even go so far as to rummage in their bags. Eye contact is considered a threat and I didn’t get my rabies shots, so I’m scared to even look in their direction. I want to take a picture but am afraid to take out my phone.
So instead, I skulk past and eventually find the petrol station with its array of ATMs. The mission is a success and I leave with money. Feeling slightly more cheerful, I head back, making it back past the monkeys without being beaten up, and on toward my hostel.
How do the vloggers do this?
I stop for food on the way back, because I haven’t eaten yet and by now I’m starving. Nasi Goreng in a pretty cafe gives me some photo ops, and I start thinking about the vlogs I’ve been following on YouTube in the run up to this trip. The girls with their perfect hair and serene faces. In contrast, I’m puce in the face from an hour of walking in the midday Bali sun, and I’m sure I must absolutely stink.
The internet has been lying to me. That’s the only explanation. There is no way on earth that these people are walking around Ubud in the afternoon without ending up looking like crap. It’s so damn hot and sticky that any pride in my appearance went out the window the moment I stepped off the plane in Denpasar.
All hope is not lost.
A visit to another cafe later in the day (after a thunder storm that seems to dampen down the heat considerably) gives me decent Wifi and chocolate cake. More importantly, it gives me a phone call home and I’m starting to feel less manic and paranoid. I’m finally ready to stop feeling sorry for myself make the most of this amazing experience.
Click here to read my Bali diary from the beginning.
Daily Spend
Another day over budget, thanks to buying some sundries and once again indulging in happy hour drinks at the rooftop bar. Hostel 120k, new flip flops (mine gave me a blister on the ATM hunt) 47k, toiletries (deodorant, baby wipes and lip balm) 75.5k, food and drink 215.3k, happy hour drinks 150k., giving a total spend of 607.8k.
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