Life has been so chaotic lately that I didn’t get a chance to write anything. The only thing I could post about is WordCamp Asia and ATM Charges in Nepal.
But yah today I am in a mood of resuming what I started though memory is heavily faded now and I have to go through the what I wrote before hahaha.
I reached Denpasar Airport
It was midnight when I got off the flight.
It was a smaller plane comparing to what I had on first leg from India to Malaysia. It was of similar size I had when I went to Thailand.
After being landed since I didn’t had any check in it was easier for me to get out of the airport quick but the struggle started when I came out and wanted to book a grab bike. I was not sure where bike parking is and there were too many taxi drivers telling me Bike won’t arrive at the airport. I booked a bike which got cancelled but after few attempts I finally got the bike assigned and had to use the translator to talk with the rider. He didn’t knew english but did his best to help me understand where he is standing. I found the parking and this whole process took around 30 minutes. But it was totally worth it cause I paid only IDR5000 (Approx 25INR) from Airport to Da Housetel Kuta.
After reaching the hostel, I checked in and went to sleep. I was tired badly from the whole day trip in Malaysia.
Next morning I got up and the first thing I did is booked a breakfast which was really delicious
Well since tummy was full it was the time to start roam around in Bali.
Oh I forgot, I needed a sim card too. Earlier I was thinking I will grab one from the hostel as they sell it there but upon reaching there I got to know they didn’t had any stock. So they told me I can get one at the nearby mall. So I headed there first.
The process to get the Sim card was super easy and I have to say it was much better than India. I got in there, told the guard about my need, he booked a slot for me. The lady at the counter called me and not just handed over me the sim, she completed the setup for me and also gave me a pin so I can easily swap sim card whenever I want. Loved this facility.
Cost of Sim card was cheaper than what Hostel quoted me, So it was a win-win for me.
While getting out of the mall I saw a wagon-R but Indonesian
After roaming around randomly in the city, I went to the Kuta beach. While people said it’s nothing special. But for someone who lives in flat terrain it was a beautiful beach with sunset.
The surrounding of the beach was fine as for some reason I feel like all touristic places are just becoming common and they lack the soul of the country. Same bar, western restaurant, music clubs. After exploring the area for a while I went back for the hostel cause I got to knew the Dinner is included in that price.
My expectations from the dinner was not very high but when I reached the hostel, served myself and started eating….it was definitely something I still miss.
The taste of rice was different than what I always had….the chutney was delicious and while I am not big fan of veggies…I went there to get more. This meal was perfectly balanced for carbs, protein, fiber and lots of flavours.
Around after midnight I again had the craving to eat something, probably cause my stomach was still in Indian timezone. I ordered Nasi Goreng and went back to sleep, lol. I person from the hostel came to get me up and ask me if I have ordered food and I was like damn I forgot and then checked the phone it had many missed calls from Grab driver. I rushed to the gate and collected my order. Left the tip for the driver for delivering this late and waiting for me.
Unwrapped the parcel and it was smelling really good
I don’t remember from where I ordered it, but it was really the authentic one. The green chilies I never saw after this night in any nasi goreng hahaha. It was perfectly warm, wrapped in banana leave and If I am can remember correctly it was really cheap. Kudos to the person whoever prepared it.
After having my second dinner I again went to sleep.
Next morning I left for the Banyuwangi via bus I got from the local bus stand. The ticket price was around 300INR if I could remember correctly. It was an AC bus with very little leg space. But overall journey was really good.
I got to see some really beautiful scenic view where our bus was driving beside the sea.
A beutiful view from the bus window.
The bus dropped me at Gilimanuk Port from there I took a ferry to Banyuwangi
I reached the Banyuwangi when it was dark and the trip to Ijen crater was starting from midnight. So I quickly grabbed something to eat at Indomart and then left for a local picnic spot.
Pantai Boom loket
Here the air felt different. No tourist only locals. No crowd, I saw family having dinner while sitting on the side of the lake. It was beautiful and this place truly stole my soul.
While I was there I decided to have dinner as well. While I had crab in my mind to try but when they asked me to choose it felt like too much for me. So I went ahead with Squid and Black coffee.
Post having my amazing dinner, I went back to the pickup point where I was picked up by the Guide of the Ijen Crater.
It was really crowded that night, the buses, tracks, cars were queued for getting boarded on ship causing the congestion on the road.
Soon we left from the area and reached a medical center where they checked our blood pressure and asked if we have any disease based on that they were deciding if someone can go further or not.
After getting my certificate, I handed it over to the guide and we continued our trip in shared car to Ijen Crater starting point.
After reaching the starting point, we were given Head lamps, Safety Mask, Water bottle. I kept a pocket rain coat with me as well.
I was super excited to start my first hike.
Around 3:30AM I got to witness a really beautiful sky which felt like a roof filled with the stars
This was the point where we took rest for sometime and observed how far we came and can’t see where we are heading towards. I was happy and tired. And I was wishing to have a house here.
Soon after declining for an hour we reached the point where I witnessed the bluefire. The smoke was so high that my tears were not stopping but still managed to get a nice photo. Thanks to my trip guide.
After witnessing this we started hiking up towards the sunrise view point while we were about to reach the morning was beggining to dawn.
I got some really nice timelapse shot here while our guide prepare a nice black coffee. And to be honest in that freezing temperature that coffee was nothing less than divine drink. While having a coffee we finally talked with other members of our groups. One of them was from Japan another one from Thailand, there was a guy who was from Indonesia but have worked in India in past. Soon we wrapped everything up and started our journey back to start point.
While getting back, I got to know about the interest of our guide in Bollywood and that he is a fan of several Bollywood actresses. We had fun chat while walking back. It was raining and my shoes was getting slippery.
Since it was my first hike, I learnt few things.
1. Carry a light weight back with energy bar, water bottle, raincoat and bandages.
2. Always get trekking shoes, I was wearing running shoes.
3. If it’s your first time then get a trekking pole on rent, it’s going to really help while declining. It reduces stress from the knees.
4. Do not be in hurry, move slowly. No need to chase anyone, take as many breaks as you need.
Well there is still more to write but this one is already very long. Will write again with faded memory hahahhaa.
