Adventures in Bali: coffee brewing, hospital and earthquake

Picture: view of Mount Batur (volcano)

Traveling alone offers the freedom to indulge in spontaneous decisions, but it also comes with moments of quiet solitude. During one of these moments, I found myself watching the slow rotation of the ceiling fan and came up with an idea: why not travel to Vietnam? Within minutes, I had arranged everything - a flight ticket for 100 GBP and affordable accommodations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. With no set plans, I figured, why not explore another Southeast Asian country while I'm already in the region?

Traveling alone intensifies both impulsive and introspective moments. The experiences and sights I encounter often remain within my own thoughts, as there is no one to share them with. This leads to endless monologues with myself, which I have grown accustomed to during my sailing adventures. Writing these blogs helps me process these moments, even if it means my articles become more personal at times.

Currently, I find myself in Ubud, Bali, staying in a delightful Airbnb with a stunning view of the rice fields and a beautiful pool. It's conveniently located just minutes away from the bustling centre of Ubud. The room itself is gorgeous, complete with a spacious balcony where the host serves breakfast every morning.

Picture: breakfast with view

Despite a minor accident on my first day involving a scooter and a forgotten stand, resulting in a lost toenail and a badly bruised toe, I am not deterred from exploring. I quickly brushed off the pain, hopped back on the motorbike, and went about my day, only realizing later that my toe was bleeding and the nail was broken in half. It was a painful experience, and I felt like a lost, injured child unable to make decisions when the doctor suggested removing the entire nail. In my moment of panic, I even called my mom for guidance. Fortunately, everything turned out fine, and I'm grateful it was only the nail that needed to be removed, not the entire toe.

Following this incident, and the doctor's advice - rest for a week -I had to re-evaluate my plans for Bali. Instead of surfing, I found myself exploring the island on my scooter.

Video: riding the bike north of Ubud

Yoga was replaced with meditation, and I spent my time reading, journaling, and catching up on sleep. I had to slow down and surrender to the situation, reflecting and letting go. More monologues filled my head to the point where I started to annoy myself. I even contemplated cutting my travels short and returning home due to sheer boredom. However, I'm glad I persevered because after a few days, I began to feel better and decided it was time to get my next sailing tattoo - three more swallows to commemorate the voyage I had undertaken in the past year, with each swallow representing five thousand nautical miles.

Picture: at the tattoo salon, Ubud

To add some excitement to my time in Bali, Mother Nature decided to shake things up a bit. I experienced my first earthquake. It felt as if my heart was pounding so hard that it rocked the bed. I'm not joking; that's genuinely what I thought. It was almost four am when I woke up with this strange feeling and opened my eyes. Usually, the sensation fades away, but this time it persisted. I felt the bed shaking beneath me, and confusion washed over me as I had never experienced an earthquake before. I touched the mattress with my hands, looking around for any signs of movement in the surrounding buildings, but everything seemed still. Only one light went off in a nearby garden. I returned to the room from the balcony and prepared a grab bag with my passport, water, food, and cash - a habit I picked up from sailing. If something dangerous happens, don't panic; just be prepared. Gradually, I accepted that there was no immediate danger and went back to sleep.

In search of more memorable experiences, I attended a coffee brewing workshop. It taught me how to savor my favourite drink without milk and sugar. Did you know that if you bring water to a boil and let it sit for ninety seconds, it will be the perfect temperature (92°C) for most manually brewed coffees? Also, rinsing the paper filters with hot water before using them makes a significant difference.

Bali truly lives up to its reputation as the Island of Gods, where karma holds strong belief. The locals trust one another, and when someone asks where I'm going, it's merely to ensure I won't get lost.

Picture: Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu (temple)

Before bidding farewell to this beautiful place and heading to Singapore, I plan to spend some time at the beach, resting and hopefully catching some waves. I'll see how my feet hold up. Wish me strength and luck, and don't forget to read Shaun's latest blog about his travels in his neighbourhood. You don't need to venture far to find beauty in life if you're as content as he is.