Everyone’s gotta have them. We can
also call some of them ‘lessons’. I learned several this week.
Like where NOT to eat when you’re on a budget.
Also, when you get a ride somewhere and
plan on walking back, pay attention. This is a fresh lesson, hot off
the press yesterday evening.
I have heretofore been “Kuat Jalan
Kaki” - a strong walker. (this phrase is usually used to refer to
eating – it’s a compliment, like my Dad says to Natalie Z. “you
are kuat makan” - a strong eater). Being frugal, a bit scared of
public transportation, and in need of whatever exercise i can get, I
walk everywhere. My choice of an edge-of-town bungalow insures my
daily exercise. Especially because almost everything i want to
frequent is on the opposite far side of town. Life Drawing is 30min
away.
ANYway – I wanted to go to a museum
yesterday that looked very far away on the map. As it was extremely
hot, i caught a ride, for about a dollar fifty. Completely
awe-inspired by the museum, i headed out the gate, mentally
referencing the Lonely Planet map, in the direction i thought was
ubud. When the sidewalk disappeared, and there were several
intersections i didn’t remember, and my life became endangered
walking around bends with no curbs & racing cars, i stopped to
ask someone which way ubud was. The guy offered to give me a ride.
For five dollars. :(. And, yes, i had walked that far. I was
thankful, tho a little embarrassed. not the end of the world, and a
good lesson. However, as i will be walking from now on....
My all time low (or lows), and since
I'm venting i just have to tell it, were the TWO occasions that
people asked if I was Misi’s MOTHER! The first one was a guy
showing us a hotel room. He poured salt in the wound by following
with “Well, why isn’t she married yet? why does she want a room
for one? everybody comes here with their boyfriends, why did she come
with her sister?.” (not quite sure what answer he was looking for -
‘she has a disease’?) I excused it knowing how most locals
perceives whities. But the second guy was a whitie! Inexcusable!
That’s all the negativity. i know.
not so bad.
