Of keeping one’s countenance and the yes-yes thing

As Bali’s population is over 90% Hindu, there is this one phenomenon of keeping one’s and others countenance (das Gesicht wahren). This means, before some locals tell you, that they don’t have a clue where something is, they will prefer to tell you something completely wrong. But, not every Balinese is using “face-savers” but a lot of them. You will also experience the same phenomenon if you ask them yes-or-no questions. Example: Is this the right direction to Udayana Universitas?...Yes-yes this direction.! But actually it’s not.

When my friends and I were looking for the Economics building at the Udayana Campus, we asked different people (policemen, workers, shop owners, locals) and everybody, really everybody, sent us to completely different directions and buildings. It’s awkward, but one get used to it and start to ask some more people at once ^^. Not every yes, means actually yes, keep that in mind!

The Durian Experience

Well, I heard a lot about the fruit and I saw Anthony Bourdain on TV talking about this fruit and I always wanted to try it. The fruit is known to stink, but taste very good.  So, as the fruit is domestic here in Indonesia, my friends and I, we decided to try it. We went to a domestic supermarket where you can buy Durian juice, so we ordered one glass (500ml) and tried it. I had my concerns to try it, because the juice really did not smell that tasty. Julia took the first shoot and regarding her face, I started to doubt even more. But, I had to try it, and so I gave it a try, but I closed my nose with the my fingers, so that you don’t have to smell it. During drinking it, it tasted not that bad, some kind of caramel taste it was I think. I thought I can open my nose after taking a sip, but bollocks! During swallowing I got this penetrating smell into my nose and I really thought I have to throw up. Well, it didn’t happen but I think I will never try this drink again. Some people actually really like it, but not for me. It really would be a nice courage test between friends I think.

Driving on Bali

Well going by scooter on Bali is essential. It seems like the island consists only of scooters and some cars. As a German I am used to driving on the right, but here it’s driving on the left, so I had to rethink my driving skills; wasn’t that challenging! But that’s not the challenge here. The challenge is to get used to their crazy driving. It seems like there are no traffic rules or if there are some, they give a shit. Traffic lights? Where? They don’t care, at least for the first 30 seconds. Everybody tries to overtake each other, let it be from the right or left, or let it be with oncoming traffic. The only thing you have to do is, to signal and be brave and then go for it! Well as a biker, I like that style of driving and I already love it. On this picture the traffic rate is very low, I try to update a picture of the real traffic.

First contact with da Police

On my first long trip to the University in Jimbaran, I got stopped by the police. They accused me for the wrong usage of my turn signal and wanted to charge 500,000 IDR from me. But, no way, I am the Graf;). The police officers took me to their “office” (a tiny shack) and asked where I am from and told me that they want my scooter registration, because I couldn’t pay the fee. Well I could, but I hid the money. After some discussions, they asked what I am doing in Bali and I told them that I am on the way to University and that I am studying Economics here. Mentioning that, the officers asked me how much money I have with me and I showed them my “extra police wallet”; only 29,000 IDR were inside. I gave him the money and they were just sighing. BUT, it worked and they let me go without charging me and warned me not to do that again. BTW…500,000 IDR = 40 € and 30,000 IDR = 2.4€.

Getting into this situation made me think about how to come along with them without being charged and so I took my dictionary and learned the sentence: I am sorry boss, but I have no money. In Indonesian it sound cool, but Yusiu told me the Balinese style of the sentence: Maaf bos, tidak ada pis, or something like that. But it sound like: I am sorry I have no piss, so I will use this sentence anytime I get turned over, because every Balinese who hears this sentence starts to laugh, because nobody really uses Balinese and so it might work, because it’s a damn cool sentence.

Sun burned

Well, I must admit, that the sun here in Bali is fucking extreme. I am not a person, who gets an easy sun burn, and so I just used sun milk with SPF 25. Well, the result is the heaviest sun burn I ever ever had. I am looking like mister crabs on my arms and hands and it fcking hurts. Use SPF 50 for the first week; otherwise you will experience the same situation as me. I know the pic isn’t that spectacular, but I think one can see it.

La Plancha

La Plancha is a club here on Bali. It’s a beach club located in Seminyak at Double Six Beach. Yesterday 22^nd of March there was the half-moon party. It was awesome. Cool music, beer (30,000 IDR), beach and a lot of smoking hot girls. I’ve never seen so many beautiful girls in one spot. As I already said, it was a blast and I am looking forward to the next full-moon party. I knew that Bali is paradise, but it’s more than paradise; it’s everything beautiful in the world, on one island. 

The arrival at my home for some months

I’am going to stay at Villa Puri Dewata in Kerobokan/Canggu for the next few months. The owner Yusiu is a mid aged man, who speaks perfectly English and German. He is very nice and shows us every day some cool new local stuff (not the touristic ones) and tells us a lot of the Balinese culture and some other funny thing. He also lives in one part of the villa (there is one big villa, which is divided into three villas and his home) with his son. There are 3 dogs and one cock securing the property.

The rooms here are cosy and have an AC. The bathroom is open and I would say for Balinese standards very luxury, but I have to admit, that I haven’t seen a lot of bathrooms here on Bali yet. The garden with a big pool is very green and pretty and one has the opportunity for a barbecue.

Dear followers,

I proudly present my new Blog, which I will try to update as often as possible during my semester abroad on Bali.

So where to start first...

The Arrival

I arrived on Bali on the 19th of March 2013 in the afternoon. The flight took me like 15-16 h without stopover time (Stopover: Taipei). It was a quite nice flight, if there wouldn't had been mister Fatty sitting right next to me. but that's not interesting at all. If you possess a students visa, it takes you about 30min from exiting the plane till getting out of the airport and getting flashed by the weather. It's hot!!!

Jochen Bali

I was picked up by Jochen, who is a nice German man, who lives on Bali for 3,5 years. He picks up students from the airport with a yellow VW Kubelwagen and informs all the students or expats, whatever, what is important to know about life on Bali; what to do if the police wants to stop you etc.

He also arranged me and my roommates the mobile phone prepaid cards and the scooters, which are essential for “survival”. Without him, it would be quite difficult to come along the people here, for the first time; I thinkJ

Villa Serenity

After being picked up, Jochen brought me to a hostel called Villa Serenity for my first night on Bali. The Villa is in Canggu very close to the beach (good surfing point) and the location is very beautiful with pool and a lot of space to chill out. It was quite cheap, I paid 135.000 IDR for a single bedroom with breakfast (Coffee, Banana-Pancake and Juice).