Winding Down in Sanur

164_6445-4.JPGOur last couple days in Indonesia were spent in Sanur, a beach town in southern Bali. I didn’t particularly care for the place, as the beach was unremarkable (except that it had huge waves) and the town was mainly a tourist trap catering to upmarket holidaymakers. But we found a nice little homestay, with an eclectic mix of guests. On one side, our neighbor was an old Belgian guy and on the other a Indian Hare-Krishna for London, with some Indonesian couples filling the other rooms. We took some walks along the beach, going north and south of town. But otherwise, I did what I usually do in places that don’t particularly appeal to me. I caught up on some writing and blog-related work, spent some time at an internet café, and read The Economist and a Newsweek.

            I reflected a little on our time in Indonesia as well. Its been a great month, which I think has exceeded both Joylani and my expectations. Its more difficult travel than we’ve had lately, especially following Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand (which would rank as the four easiest Asian countries to travel), but we did okay. We only saw a fraction of all the cool places that Indonesia has to offer, so I cannot say that I’m quite ready to leave. But since Indonesia only offers short visas, we’ll have to be on our way. But that’s not to say that I’m sad to leave, for our upcoming destinations have me salivating, literally. A few days in Kuala Lumpur, where I’m gonna totally stuff myself with roti canais, satays, cendols, and teh tarik. Then on to Ho Chi Minh City, to begin our month in Vietnam where I’ll subsist on a strict diet of pho and bo bun. But back to Indonesia, its not a perfect place, but I like it. A lot people knock it, but I’ve found not many people have actually gone there either. I’d say that the majority of people I’ve spoken to that have actually visited Indonesia have liked it. Many countries are easier to travel and nicer in general, but there’s something exceedingly appealing about Indonesia and in the past month, its become one of my favorite countries.

 

Countries, like people, are loved for their failings.

-Yeats, Bengal Lancer

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