I’m travelling to Indonesia with my friend Freddy, Indonesian born and bred but now an Australian living in Cairns. He’s visiting his family in East Java and I’m tagging along. What a great opportunity for me to experience Indonesia with a local. We’re over-nighting in Bali, on the way to Surabaya.
We’re greeted at the airport by a couple of Freddy’s friends and because of Freddy’s love of food, taken straight to a genuine eatery. “The food here will be ‘a bit spicey'”. Great, I love spicey! Three bottles of water and 12 hours later my mouth is still on fire! The thought of hiring a bike as suggested by Lonely Planet crossed my mind but after a short taxiride on these roads, self preservation and the fact I haven’t updated my will changed my mind. We’re staying at Kuta, tourist central, and before no time at all we’re sitting outside a shop drinking tallies of Bintang and smoking Gudang Garam (Indonesian cigarettes) … when in Rome!
What a curious mix this part of Bali is. American culture has of course made it’s way here, evidenced by McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe, etc. They’re expensive compared to other options but the locals flock to these places on their meagre incomes just to be seen out front! Free wifi has the smart phones flocking like moths to a light, going flatout!
Midnight and we made our way back to the motel via the location of the ‘Bali Bombing’, now a carpark and shrine. Either side of this are the loudest nightclubs I have ever heard – drunken gyrating Aussies everywhere! Life goes on it seems!
Flying to Surabaya this afternoon.
angusmccoll 
oh, that pic is priceless!! as is the after effects of the spicey food!! hang on to your daks when it makes its way south.
I have found a hole in the wall indonesion food joint here-Indonesian Tucker-its cheap and ever so delicious…so i already envy your gastronomic journey….
keep on postin!!!
Ha, you are right, the food is great. I will be more careful!
Hi Angus. Glad to hear you’re enjoying clubbing in Kuta. ha ha. We decided to support the local economy and holidaying in Kurramine beach. The beer is probably not as cheap but the pizza is yummy (once we’d driven to Innisfail to find something to eat.) Don’t worry we’ve brought Tick Tock along just in case he hatches while we’re away… Hope you’re having a lovely time. Love Jacquie, Dan, Flynt and Brigalow
Great to hear from you Jacquie and fully respect that you and the team have chosen a very different style of holiday to mine- though wish you all were here! I met the Mayoress of Surabaya today, her motorcade nearly ran me over! Surabaya is amazing so far and tourists are rare, nice change to Bali.