A Journey Through Bali

I thought some of you might be interested to know that, as I’m drafting this post, I’m actually typing away in a mini van travelling though the streets of Bali listening and humming to Jim Brickman love songs. I feel like one of those “I’m a journalist and someone broke my heart so I’m going travelling to forget about her” kind of scene from some drama.

A few things I realised about Bali:

- The mosquitoes here are deadly. An average bite mark on me is about the size of a long ngan! I guess that’s the price to pay for being a sweet guy, having sweet blood. =P
- It’s dark. Very dark. Either they have a power shortage or it seems light bulbs must be quite expensive here in Bali. Having dinner with oil lamps = I’m not sure what I’m actually eating.
- Highways haven’t been invented yet. However, even with one lane, there is never traffic jam – as there is always a volunteer out in the streets with nothing else to do directing traffic. How convenient.
- Though run down, but toilets are always clean – unlike Malaysia.
- Buildings are not allowed to be built higher than 3 storeys. Eye sore perhaps?
- Bali coffees are perfect drinks for university students because they taste as good as drain water – one sip will keep you awake for a few hours.
- It’s a pain to spend money here. Things cost more than a few hundred thousand Rupiahs. Hence everyone here is a millionaire. Example: a bag of kacang costs 2000 Rupiahs.
- Sunrise is around 5.12am – miss it and its “try again tomorrow”.
- Students here carry a bucket of sand each to school everyday to plant their own flowers; or they bring a broom each to clean the school everyday.
- Food is served extremely slow here, prepared to have a 3 hour meal anytime. Perhaps it has something to do with cooking with charcoal fire.
- None of the hotels in Bali has wireless internet connection yet.

Ironically, whilst in this heavenly place – I realise that my heart still lies within the gates of my beloved school. I’d willingly switch flight tickets to remain back in school, marking my PE workbooks, watch my students smile and laugh, eating RM2.50 mixed rice and play piano duets during recess.

Call it dedication; call it simplicity or call it childishness.