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A Local Encounter that Changed my Perspective - I LEARNT MORE THAN ART IN UBUD

INDONESIA | Monday, 11 March 2013 | Views [217] | Scholarship Entry

Curiosity made me traveled to Ubud, Bali, to prove what people told about its beautiful art and nature.
From Kuta, I took Sarbagita, transportation operated by local government. It took about thirty minutes to get the final stop, Batu Bulan Station.
Based on the information I got, from here I should continue with a public transportation to Ubud.
I looked around. This bus station was not like one I imagined. It was so quiet. I could even see dogs running around freely. Just couple meters a head, there lined up some mini buses with only one or two passengers waiting inside.
“Ubud?” A man asked. I answered him nodding and he leaded me to red mini bus of his in the line.
“Go head.” he said.
I got inside the bus where were waiting two mothers.
“One more passenger.” said the one in blue dress, smiling at me.
“Still we should wait!” the other replied. Not so happy.
“Drivers care only for money!”
Later I knew they had been waiting there for hours and no sign that the bus would depart. The driver kept telling them to wait for more passengers or he would earn nothing and that turned her crazy!
“Here we have different situation.”
We looked for the voice coming. That was the driver! Have not got idea, since when he was there!
“Probably you don’t know, Miss.” He looked at me. “But drivers hate waiting too. After spending many hours, we get only four passengers and that surely impact to our income.”
I saw two mothers looked outside the window. Feeling awful for being caught talking behind his back. Hopefully, he did not get angry or we were in a big trouble!
The car moved, finally, with only three of us. I sat right behind him and smelled his cigarettes blended with fresh flowers in Banten (small box made of coconut leaves to pray). We were among private vehicles to same place, Ubud. Government suggestion to take public transportations for preserving the nature seemed have not been done well here. People preferred private more than public vehicles.
“I am thinking to sell this car.” he said as our eyes met in the mirror. Yet, he knew what to do then.
I looked at villas along the street. There used to be so shady there with big trees everywhere. Now we saw only a few and they could not resist pollution of hundreds cars every day.
From now on, I would always choose public transportation. No matter what!

Tags: Travel Writing Scholarship 2013

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