I'm also glad to say that in almost eight years here, I have never taken a bus anywhere....so I haven't been able to write about those experiences as you have so very well.
I would think that you misspoke on that one, for how could you be “glad” to “have never taken a bus anywhere?” I realize that there are more comfortable ways to travel in Indonesia than riding public buses, but I don’t know of a better way to meet, appreciate, and understand the Indonesian people who make up this great nation. For a person such as yourself who is trying to immerse oneself in the Balinese culture, I am sure you know that there is life outside Bunutan and Naughty Nuri’s. :wink:
Personally, I enjoy immensely riding my motorcycle around Bali (I briefly tried it with a rented bike in Yogya, but soon gave up for obvious reasons), but, as in a chauffeur-driven car, I must say I don’t meet many people that way, unless I dismount my vehicle.
Some of my fondest memories of Indonesia are the times I spent on the roads, traveling in its crowded buses, rubbing elbows with the
rakyat jelata, although, at the time, I cursed it more than once. In particular, what wouldn’t I give to relive some of the long bus rides taken in Sumatra or in Central Sulawesi. I am afraid that it is out of the question for me now.
So, let me give you a friendly advice (as an old guy, I can do it: it comes with the territory)
: I would suggest that you forget for a while your chauffeur-driven limo (time permitting, of course) , and join the
massa, and
as a starter you hitch a ride on a lowly bimo from Kereneg to Karangasem. And as a bonus, along the way, you’ll even find places where you can piss for free. :lol:
