It seems to take about two days for me to get settled into a new location and start enjoying it. I thought I was going to dislike Bali, but I’m growing to appreciate it and was thinking I shouldn’t have been so hasty in booking my flight out of here. At the villa, we have someone that cleans the room every day, I get my laundry done for me for an affordable price (1kg of clothes is about 70 cents), food is healthy and delicious, and the coffee is excellent too.
This morning I was still dealing with my runny nose, and I was sneezing still so I figured I’d stay in and work from home. I ordered food and coffee from a restaurant and had it delivered through Go-Jek. Food costs are starting to add up, so I’m finding ways to eat less expensively. Each meal cost about 8 dollars and coffee is roughly 2-3 dollars which aren’t far off from U.S. prices, but the food quality should be about $12-$14 dollars in the U.S.
After talking to the sisters that manage the villa, they told me there are ways to get things much cheaper. Instead of buying fruit from the supermarket, find local people selling it on the streets. They tend to be 75% cheaper. The price for durian is about 90,000 IDRs while the local stand price is 20,000. They also mentioned that the durian is fantastic and still in season, so I made it my mission to get one still in its husk because it’s much fresher that way.
I started feeling better throughout the morning, so eventually, I decided just to get out and explore some more. I was still slightly shaken up about the accident so going out didn’t seem appealing to me but I couldn’t hole myself up forever. I went out to check out other parts of Canggu.
Canggu is a fun little part of Bali that has its appeal. I rode around town and looked for the coworking space called The Dojo. It’s a favorite co-working space that many digital nomads use when they are in Canggu. I was able to find it, and it seemed like a productive place to work. There were people sprawled throughout the ample open space working on their online businesses. I popped my head around for a bit and headed out.
I walked around different parts of the main streets. I think I covered the majority of Canggu where most travelers come to do online work and surf. It’s not a big town but is very quaint. After doing some walking and exploring, I went to grab some late lunch at Betelnut. They had great reviews. I opted for the burger, fries, and fresh coconut even though I was looking for something healthy. I haven’t had one in a while and just went for it. It was subpar, and I wouldn’t get it again. I’m still comparing everything I eat to The Common. Too good.
After late lunch, I rode around and explored a bit more. Eventually, I decided to head back and find my local durian. I was fortunate to find a lady on the street near my place selling one, so I didn’t have to drive to the main road where I was told one was. I grabbed my little durian and headed straight back to devour it. I was told you need to eat the whole thing in one shot because it’s most fresh then and at its peak taste. The durian wasn’t big, and the seeds were large, so it was easy to do. It wasn’t as good as it’s been hyped. I might have gotten a not so great one because it wasn’t super creamy and fragrant as what people have described.
I was planning to do some work afterward, but I felt better from my sneezing and my bumps and bruises, so I went to the Victory gym next to my villa. It was GREAT to be back in a gym. I got a nice work out in and found out they serve protein shakes and breakfast meals. The breakfast is what I usually eat, and it’s a fair price so I’m ecstatic about it. I had one of the shakes, and it was delicious! After going to the gym, I feel like I’m able to get into a rhythm for work. Routines while traveling help me work more productively and feel more like home.
Now I’m back home and calling it a night early. I feel a lot more comfortable riding around town on the scooter. I’m still cautious and dress appropriately but I’m gaining my confidence back. I want to get up early tomorrow and do some more exploring. I heard there was an outdoor market that happens on Sunday so I’ll grab some breakfast and coffee in the morning and head over to the market. I’m going to relax and get ready to work again.
