Bali & the Uknown

by shayla hess (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Indonesia

One sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, my best friend and I were catching rays by the pool as we both spoke about our desires to travel more. I curiously pulled out my laptop to see what kind of travel deals we were working with. Then a pop up on Justfly.com said "Bali Roundtrip $600".. and you better believe I hit that purchase button. But Life can get busy, and my best friend is a TV host so last minute she had to make the decision not to go which also meant I would be back packing Bali as a 27year old single Canadian female by myself. And I was stoked! Three flights and thirty two hours later with swollen ankles and greasy hair - I was beyond electric to be there. Even standing in the airport there was an energy about Bali. One that must be experienced. There was a sense of trust. So I flagged down a cab and told him the address to these zen huts just 2 hours away into the jungle in Ubud. The cab ride maybe cost me $20-$30 and with wide eyes viewing the chaotic but functioning roads and transportation system. I took in the vibrant jungle, nature and culture. As we approached a random tree with a sign nailed to it that read "Bali Jungle Huts" - I grabbed my one and only back pack and watched the cab fade away into the distance and hoped I was in the right place. I was greeted by a sweet local worker and welcomed into my sweet hut in the jungle. After 3 nights of mediation, yoga, visiting elephants and rice fields.. I was ready for some fun. I yelped the the best tourist hostels in the party / younger areas in Bali Canguu & Seminyak. The beauty of backpacking is going with your own flow, letting life lead you, meeting incredibly diverse people and creating your experiences. Trusting my intuition I booked 2 nights in Seminyak and off I went for another 2 hour cab ride. I met a sweet girl from England named Natasha and little did I know, we would hit it off and become Travel buddies. We enjoyed the day clubs, shopping, art, food, Lauvavella night club was like being in the "Jungle Book", and all the incredible beaches. Bali shortly started to feel like a magical home. We formed a solid crew of backpackers that hung out for a few nights and attended some of Bali's hottest parties. Single Finns "Sunday Session" party in Uluwatu was on the cliff over looking the surfers and waves and the pink and orange sunset took our breath away. It was like living in a dream. Our next stop was Canguu to see the monkey forest, temples and top party places. I spent 5 nights there and had the most fun by far! Each night locals and tourists would go to certain spots to dance the night away and play some competition beer pong. It was in Canguu that I had the courage to rent a moped bike and gained the courage to take myself around town. One day at breakfast another backpacker and I had ran out of cash, and it was "cash only". So I had to trust a local German surfer, jumped on the back of his moped and he took me to a working ATM. You never know which ones do and don't work sometimes. As I finished typing in my pin I waited for my bank card to come out and nothing happened. I started to tear up and the German man caught me crying. You passed me a mangosteen and told me not to worry, to embrace the Bali vibes and that he would help me. He did, paid for my dinner and took me to the main bank. I waited 5 days to realize I wouldn't be getting my card back, after I had then had to cab an hour away to find the closest western union and thank god mom had my back. I trusted the unknown & universe, it delivered the most life changing trip & experience I could have ever asked for. Forever grateful. Shayla J