5 Things that might take a little "getting used to" in Bali
Bali. The beaches. The sun. The food. The people. For good reason, people flock from all over the world to visit this magical island.
BUT, there are a few things that might take a little getting used to:
Scooter Life. Yep, there are cars and you definitely can find taxis to get around in but most everyone takes a scooter. They zip in and out of traffic, exhaust fumes everywhere. Super efficient means of transportation. For people and animals alike!
2. Poop Coffee. Yep, it’s a thing. Official name is kapi luwak and comes from the partially digested coffee cherries that the Asian palm civet eats. They are fermented in the intestines and then collected once eliminated. Shockingly, it is one of the most expensive coffees in the world at $700 per kg. (Folks say the original process in which the beans are fermented improve the coffee's flavor!)
3. Bugs inside- oh my! Of course it is tropical. Of course there are bugs. BUT, they really are everywhere. Many of the homes (Air BnBs) we stayed in were not sealed homes so often times throughout the day you would have a lizard scamper by, an ant cross the dining room table or a dragonfly pass by. At night it is a symphony of noise! One caretaker we met said the guests before us called her and asked if she could turn off the "jungle sound machine." Nope, no sound machine there.
3.5. Animals too- oh my! Of course there are wild animals. But never thought I would need to close the blinds at night, lock my purse in a drawer and hide my cell phone because of the wild monkeys. Yep. And they know just what to take. (At night we would have to draw the curtains down to try to "secure" everything.)
4. Everyone has the same names. It is cultural! Children in Bali are generally named depending on the order they are born, whether male or female. So, if you are a first born your name is either Wayan or Gede. The second is Made or Kadek, the third child goes by Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth is named Ketut.
One of the many Made's we met. He gave the boys surf lessons on the black sand beaches of Balian each morning.
5. Questionable means of locking a door. We checked in to the Air Bnb and couldn't find the key. Called to chat with the owner and they just don't have one. "Just latch the door when you come and go," she says. No biggie. Okay, when in Bali.......
Rahajeng Memargi Bali!
xoxo- Jess
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