Sunday night sitting in Internet Outpost in Kuta my phone rang and it was Mick in Umalas.
“Doing anything tonight mate?” he asked. “Why?” I said. “Want to go to dinner with 2 Garuda flight attendents?” said Mick. I really did but had a previous engagement. Bill Buchina from New York was had recently arrived and was staying in Nusa Dua with his dad, also named Bill. I hate to bring Murphy’s Law into focus again but when do you ever get offers like that?
I thanked Mick and said I’d have to pass. “Okay no worries mate I’ll give Marcel a call.” Oh God, that’s just rubbing it in.
I rode home to change clothes at about 7.15pm and then hopped on the Bypass at Jl. Kunti to jet down to the roundabout at Simpang Siur. I hadn’t had anything to drink all night so downed a quick beer as I was heading out the door�so different from what I’d dare to do in the US.
Getting to Nusa Dua is no problem, it just means you have to deal with traffic for about 30 minutes. In Seminyak traffic was slightly congested so my trip to Nusa Dua took a little longer than expected. Riding down the Bypass I try to take a similar line to the bike in front of me so I can tell if potholes are coming. Locals seem fearless and zoom along at high speed even in low light.
Arriving at the main gate in Nusa Dua I took a right turn to up Tanjung Benoa. Tanjung means cape and Benoa is the small town at its tip.
The 2 Bills are staying at the Aston Bali which is a very nice place if say so myself. The narrow strip that leads to Benoa has an assortment of Balinese street vendors offering food and souvenirs. The place doesn’t look like its very modern at all and has a definite Balinese feel.
I passed the Aston, asked a security guy for directions then U-turned and found it. Parking where I was told I entered the elegant lobby and looked for the Bills, who were quietly enjoying a drink.
We got acquainted and I got a chance to hear Bill Jr’s story. The reason for my visit was to help him with some of the basic info a newcomer needs. Bill has lived in Brooklyn, New York for a few years and was all set to move to Rome in January, only to have his travel partner and connection fall through. He has been to Bali 2 years ago on a short trip and decided to return.
I asked Bill what his plans are here and he doesn’t really know, although he did tell me about a young lady he’s made contact with from the last trip. We discussed what area of Bali would give Bill the best chance of enjoying his time here. Stuck down in Nusa Dua there’s not much going on at all. I told him if I wasn’t working for Baliblog and didn’t need to have close contact with travelers / tourists I’d pack up and head off to east Bali where my vision of Bali really exists. Bill said he would like close access to the party scene but not actually live downtown. Seminyak would be the place for that and I also recommended Canggu, which is 30 minutes up the coast. He will find cheaper places to rent, its by the beach and is surrounded by lush paddy fields.
We discussed the work situation out here and I told him its going to be hard finding a job, basically because he’s not allowed to work here and secondly locals will do the job for next to nothing. We’ll keep you posted on Bill’s progress in that direction.
Bill Snr. told me he was amazed by the friendliness of the Balinese people he had met. He said he found them very warm and open to talking. I’d have to agree with that wholeheartedly. Living here for a year I’d heard the expats going on about ‘the Balinese will smile for newcomers then its all over’ or ‘they’ll smile while they’re screwing you’ etc. but I actually beg to differ. I find Balinese people and Indonesians in general open and friendly. I think the old time expats have just become a bit jaded and project their frustrations onto the locals, as I tend to do when I can’t get stuff accomplished.
I asked Bill Jr. what it was like be holed up in a fancy resort. He said it was certainly comfortable, but the routine of going to the pool and lounging around with a few other tourists, then going back to the room was getting old. His dad kindly offered to come out with him to help him get situated (nice dad!) and this gives Bill a chance to look around. They have taken a trip up north already and I agreed to meet them both in Seminyak on Tuesday morning to help them look around for a place.
Housing hunting is not my favourite thing but in this case I don’t have the stress of moving and am glad to give my assistance. We’ll meet at Caf� Moka at 9am and I’ll start off by getting Bill a cell phone. I told him that after he’s finished calling renters, he’ll need it for all the girls he’s going to meet.
Bill told me he plans to rent a motorbike though he has never ridden one before. I can relate to that and will try to offer tips where possible. The Honda Supra isn’t hard to learn on but add the Balinese driving habits and you could be in trouble if you’re not careful.
This whole process is like looking back at myself a year ago.
The powerful onshore winds that have been blasting Bali for the last couple of weeks have driven a lot of sand onto the road. I hope they figure out a plan to get it back on the beach or else it will end up in the drains.
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