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Have you ever walked into a Bed, Bath, and Beyond and been completely blown away by how much…well, shit there is all over the store. I’ve never been so overwhelmed while shopping until I saw the hectic aisles, cramped spaces, and merchandise from floor to ceiling of the American chain. While this experience will always stand out to me, one place that nearly matches the spectacle of BB&B are the streets of Ubud.
While Flores hasn't become as popular as better known islands like Bali or Java, it has started to become a favorite of the backpacker crowd. With endless places to dive and snorkel, as well as some amazing inland scenery, Flores is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself heading to Indonesia. With that being said, one must-stop destination should be the town of Moni to visit Kelimutu Volcano.
Earlier this week, I wrote an article about walking down the streets of Ende on the island of Flores in Indonesia. Ende, though not spectacularly beautiful, gave me a very interesting experience while being the only westerner in town. Though I enjoyed this experience, and felt I did a good job living it, Ende wasn't done teaching me lessons. After feeling so much love from a town and the people who inhabit it, I realized that not everyone was being respectful.
We've all heard the horror stories of “that” bus ride that each traveler has. The stories can come from all over the world, but regardless of which country said bus ride was endured, the trip is normally jam packed with, well, jam packed buses. Be it loads of luggage or people, crazy, miserable and messy bus rides are something all travelers will experience at some point while they are abroad.
Indonesia is very beautiful. This is no secret to anyone who has traveled to the gorgeous island nation. Known for its breathtaking beaches, as well as its myriad of volcanic hikes, Indonesia boasts more beauty than most travelers know what to do with. While you do have to decide on a daily basis whether to hit the sand or the trails, any traveler can find something to love in Indonesia.
There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs when you travel alone in a country where you look completely different from the local population. While in nations that are used to tourists, this doesn't seem to have any effect. In places where the sight of you is still quite foreign, though, interesting things can happen. While visiting the port city of Ende on the island of Flores in Indonesia, I found myself in an interesting situation as the only non-Indonesia on the main street.
While traveling Indonesia, I've been in awe of the beautiful island nation. From the beautiful people, to the breath-taking landscapes, I've been introduced to some amazing things while spending time in a few of the over 20,000 small islands. From beautiful, immaculate beaches, to vast rolling hills and even to the tops of volcanoes, Indonesia is a place everyone should take the chance to visit. While it would take a huge incident for me to backtrack on this statement, I did find myself in a bit of a Indo-funk after a visit to Senggigi in Lombok.
For the past, I don’t know, say, 300 days I've watched backpackers sleep until the late afternoon, imbibe in horrible diets and, drink, smoke and do drugs. While this may not be the most healthy diet, the fact is, a lot of travelers and backpackers are pretty far from actually being healthy, or caring about things such as health (or personal hygiene). While some people backpack to broaden their perspectives, many travel to get fucked up. The strange thing about this, though, is sometimes they try and do ridiculous feats of physical strength, in the midst of being drunken sloths.
Having now had the chance to experience both Kutas tourists go to in Indonesia, it is blatantly obvious to me that Kuta Lombok is in an entirely different spectrum than Kuta Bali. While my time on Kuta Bali didn’t leave me with the best taste in my mouth, Kuta on the beautiful island of Lombok was the exact opposite. In fact, visiting Lombok was one of the best surprises I’ve had while traveling.
For those who have traveled Asia, it isn't a secret that markets are a great part of your trip. Be it an excursion into the deep, cavernous markets of Cambodia or to the tourist night markets in Laos, the fact is, this is where you will spend a lot of your time. While choosing the right market for the right occasion is necessary, one thing is for sure: The night market in Gili Trawangan is amazing.
