Just arrived
at my first Airbnb stay, in Bali.
I’m no alien
to Airbnb, I have spent an unhealthy amount of time virtual travelling through
some of the most gorgeous and unique stays offered by actual home owners around
the globe. I almost broke my Airbnb virginity last year during my Eastern
Europe trip till I broke my ankle. Then that was the end of it.
Now I’m
staying in a random stranger’s home, situated in the most awkward alley in some
unknown area close to the Sanur beach; which house a beautiful small pool
surrounded by luscious greens and a pool deck where I foresee myself spending a
hideous amount of time catching up on my readings, and of course, painting.
To those of
you who don’t know this, I have fully jumped into the art scene and this is my
first trip away from homeland to do some inspiration drawings. A work trip, if
you may, or a soul-searching trip; or both. It’s hard to tell when your income
is based on a relaxing activity that requires you to be at your most peaceful
self, it is when inspirations hit fastest.
Speaking of
which, I almost had an infuriating moment with my taxi driver. Even though
hired through the airport counter, and I know I’m paying slightly more
expensive than the usual rates stated on many forums online, this taxi driver
was doing everything he can to cut cost.
I arrived in
Bali in the heat of the mid-afternoon and after spending too much time in the
comfort of my air-conditioned home back in Malaysia, I almost melted under the
intense heat and very close to being blinded by the blazing sun. And he did
nothing to help but to try to switch on the air-conditioning in his car
whenever he thinks I’m not looking. WTF? Dude, it’s fucking hot in here. Of
course I bloody hell notice, even if you switch it on for like 1 minute!
When I got
onto the car, he didn’t want to switch it on, so I asked him to, considering I
have paid 50% more of what I should have paid, and if I didn’t want the comfort
of an air-conditioned taxi, I could have taken a more localized means of
transport. He did reluctantly switch on to the weakest power, power 1.
After 5
minutes, I couldn’t take the building up heat in the car and the pollution on
the road was so heavy I don’t want to risk breathing in traffic fumes so I
asked him to turn it up. He flicked slowly to power 2. Wtf.
I’m
beginning to think he’s never going to switch it on to power 3 or even 4.
Nevermind. Fine. Power 2 is fine.
Then some
8-10 minutes later, he switched it off!
I was
annoyed but said nothing and asked him to turn it up. He said okok then switch
it on, to power 1. -.-
Then he
switch it off 10 minutes later, again!
This
ping-pong action between us occurred for like 3-4 times when he decided to get
lost! WTF?!
Then to make
matters worse, he left the car to ask for direction, with the engine on, but
the aircond OFF!
OMFG.
I decided to
give in and wind down the window. But then the nearby kids that were playing
football stopped what they were doing and started crowding the car, and few
even purposely kicked the ball in the direction of the car as a tease. I was
worried they kick the ball through the window and hit my face, so I wound up
the window. It was still too hot. This time I decided to take matters into my
own hands. So I leaned in to switch on the aircond to power 2, in case I pissed
him off for switching it to power 3.
1 minute
later he came back to the car. And the first thing he did was to switch off the
aircond! And then reverse the car to get into the right land.
I was
finally so pissed I told him it’s too hot and if he doesn’t want to switch on
the aircond, I wasn’t going to pay him.
That did the
trick.
Even though
the remaining ride was just one minute. T_T
He only
missed a turn that led to my stay for the next one week.
Anyway, the
biggest surprise arriving at my stay was to discover that the house doesn’t
have any internet connection. But also surprisingly, I didn’t mind it as much
as I thought I would.
It was a
great opportunity for me to stop playing my iPad, iPhone and surf the net for a
while and really do catch up on myself.
Perhaps this
was a blessing in disguise, and I need this break from all this technological
“stress” I have every day.
Oh, and mom
called.
I haven’t
told her I’m here.
Shit.
Sorry mom.
It was kind
of a last minute decision. I love you.
Wrote by Nicole
