Finding Zen

Dear Readers,

It is confession time.  Mom you might want to sit down for this.  After yesterday’s post I had my first ever scooter lesson.  In the dark.  On an Indonesian back road.  Following which I was TERRIFIED of my trip today.  And of course terrified to face you guys when I said “Hey guys, guess what! I’m an enormous chicken who can’t ride a Vespa.”  Josh Cheek, I owe you an apology.  While I still fully believe that Vespa’s are the sorority girl version of motorcycles, that is still saying a lot.  Matt Smith, I owe you an apology for not giving you enough credit for riding that motorcycle in LA, every day.

And now for a big fat “thank you” to: Chris Kennedy, Mike Durst, Jason Horton, Tim J. Lord and the 2 or 3 other dude friends of mine that I told to mock me into submission.  Also thank you to: Marisa Ferrey and Sara Collier-Byrd for professing to love me anyway even if I chickened out, stayed in Kerobakan and returned the bike this morning.  Chris Corrado you didn’t respond to my email so you get nothing.  Nothing but shame. [Editor’s note: Chris did in fact email.  An email I received after completing my scooter ride.  Shame upgraded to Honorable Mention]

One more confession, until today I didn’t love Bali.  I felt really bad about it in fact.  I tried to skirt the issue every chance I got but I just couldn’t shake those “I’m just not that into you” blues.  So, when you add in the terror, I was pretty sure booking two weeks in Bali was one of the bigger mistakes I have ever made.  That may be a little overdramatic.  Big mistakes, you know who you are, and I know you are secretly reading this blog. 

So when did I fall in love with Bali?  Sometime after pulling out of the little café where I had been hiding out, playing on facebook and just in general stalling.  Not quite when the waitresses and the laundry ladies nearby waved me off with looks of pity and worry on their faces.  Not even when I managed to get going in a straight line and not freak out with every bit of oncoming traffic.  I fell in love with Bali when I got on that road and decided to follow it wherever it went.  Bali fell in love with me back when it heard me sing the Jungle Book song every time I got tense.  Which is good because I needed all of Bali’s good vibes when I hit the “freeway” at rush hour.  And for that right hand turn.  And maybe that one back road. 

Now then, as I am writing this post right now it is obvious that I made it out of Kerobakan alive.  I even managed to stop at Pura Tanah Lot and do a little sightseeing and shopping on the way.  I am staying in Medewi for the next 5 days.  I’m in a true dive.  The bathroom door is hanging by one hinge.  The fan is from 1978.  Also, I really want a sleeping bag or another sheet to go on top of the bed.  But I am 25 meters off the beach and there are at least 3 massage tents in that area where I can get an hour for $7.  After the 5 hour scooter ride today you can bet your boots I got me one of those.  And a big heaping helping of satisfaction.

Hindu temples are a bit more welcoming. At least to the parts that civilians can see.

Souvenir stalls and tourists buses at the temple.

Me at the temple.  Love the windswept helmet hair?

The temple on it's own. 

My first view of the ocean from the coast road.

And now for info on the next day...