The island of Sumba was probably the most challenging place I've visited on this trip. It seemed like the only time I'd meet someone who I could communicate with in English were the places I'd never expect them to be, like a deserted beach or a village far away from the main townships of Waingapu and Waikabubak. It was a rewarding experience but I quickly realised I may have bit off more than I can chew when I couldn't even check into a hotel room. Five staff members, one Indonesian phrase book, and some pretty pathetic charade moves on my part was still not enough for me to get the room I was looking for. I left after 5 days, by no means defeated...just a little exhausted.
Back to Bali I went, only this time to the place I for some reason initially tried to avoid one month prior -Kuta Beach.
It's the Nickleback of Bali I guess you could say; the place everyone loves to hate. It has its fair share of reasons to be hated this is true, but for those who say you can't experience some authentic Balinese culture here are taking it a bit too far. There's a large population of residents coming from all parts of the archipelago that simply live and breathe surfing here. The tourist dollar may have brought them but it's the waves and beach life that keep them put. This stretch of ocean is important to them as Ipanema Beach would to be a Cariocan. Like it or not, surfing is as much a part of Kuta as art and dance is to the rest of Bali.
So where does authenticity lie in one of the most visited islands in Asia? It lies in the local population, and the ones who frequent Kuta Beach selling drinks, renting surf boards, and just basically enjoying every waking moment of their lives are as authentic as they come for this part of Bali. Their uncanny ability to remember faces and names amazed me, their ability to guess nationalities and yell pick up lines to passing women in any language from Japanese to Dutch amused me, it seemed the only time a smile would leave their face is if there were no swells to surf, even then it was only momentarily. This held true for almost all locals I met, from shopkeepers to hotel staff alike, hell even a few cab drivers had a charismatic way about them. The locals here turned out to be some of the most entertaining and down right coolest dudes I've met in my travels. Sure they may not be able to perform an authentic Balinese Legong dance, or carve out a Buddha statue from solid stone with their eyes closed, but for me they are what I'll really remember Bali for.
I lazed away about 9 days all together in Kuta, and just like the rest of my longer than expected stops it was the people I met which really kept me put. My second night there while enjoying a beverage at a table alone, I was invited over to join a group of fellow Canadians; the week that followed is just a blur of hangovers, good times, and good memories. But with new friendships comes new goodbyes, and I was soon on my own again. The flip side to this whole travelling solo thing.
Lately I've been asking myself how much longer I can keep this going, the longest which I've ever been away from home was 30 days before I embarked on this adventure. It's been over 6 months and counting now.
I've also been asking myself if this trip has changed me -for better, for worse, or for neither. I can't say it has at this point, I still feel like the same dude who woke up that morning in February way back when.
'The more I try to change, the more I feel the same'
I didn't write that line by the way...it's from a song called Boondigga. Google that shit yo.
What this trip has given me is a new appreciation for just how bloody easy I have it in Canada.
It's also given me a life time worth of memories that I can bring up at will, like an endless supply of day dreams-on-demand, Netflix style. They'll prove invaluable when I go back to the daily grind of work (whenever the hell that is).
Most importantly of all it has let me see parts of this world I've always wanted to see. I left home with no expectations but to see a country or two, all the amazing people I've met and memories I've made are just a bonus as far as I'm concerned.
And what a bonus it has been.
With all that being said it's Java time, and no I don't mean coffee. Jogjakarta is my next stop located on the island of Java- the most populated island on Earth. Sounds a bit crowded when I put it that way!
