Bali Hai

I arrived in Ubud, Bali today. From reading "Lonely Planet" and "Eat, Pray, Love", I have pretty high expectations for Ubud. I should know better by now....

I have been e-mailing back and forth with the Teba House. They didn't get back to me about arranging a pick-up from Kuta, but I decided to just relax about it and figure out my own taxi. I should preface this by letting readers know that I am planning to stay in Ubud for twenty days and, if I like it, may come back in mid-July for another few weeks. So I had confirmed a twenty day reservation with Teba House...only to get there and for them to have no recollection of my reservation. Apparently, the person doing the e-mails does not talk to the person doing the reservations. Of course, the person that I e-mailed wasn't anywhere to be found.

Beginning tomorrow, they will have a standard room available for me so I am staying next door in a neighbour's guesthouse. The problem with the standard is that it only has a fan and I am afraid I am just too much of a princess to go without A/C for sleeping. We'll see. I will give it a try tonight and tomorrow. I spent the rest of the day scoping out other hotels. I found one for $30 per night next to the place I will start yoga, but I am hesitating. It is nearly double the price I had budgeted myself.

Other than that, my first impression is to really like Ubud. The yoga place, Yoga Barn, looks great - intimidating, but great. It runs classes basically all day and on so many different kinds of yoga, it is impossible to get bored. That is what I am here for...to get back to yoga. I have decided that is my main goal for my time in Bali - to get back in-touch with my body. It sounds air fairy, I know, but it is pretty easy to put one's body on the proverbial shelf while travelling. Trying to go for the cheaper options - whether accommodations, food, or transportation - usually isn't that friendly on the back or rest of the body. I am not complaining, don't get me wrong.

Yoga will have to wait until tomorrow, though. I knocked the edge off my disappointment and off my thirst after walking for a few hours with a large bottle of Bali Hai beer. Here is a picture of my plate of Mie Goreng and beer. It was delicious! I am quite the cheap date these days with regards to drinking so one large bottle of beer and I am set for the night pretty much. That means no yoga. Could you imagine drunk yoga?