After an epic journey from Ijen Volcano to Denpasar in Bali, Alberto and I were absolutely exhausted. Waking up at 1am, hiking in the condition I explained in the last article for more than 8 hours, taking the van, the boat and a public bus was like living the longest day of my life. And it was not over yet.

The bus driver dropped us before the terminus because he probably had some agreements with the taxis drivers staying around. In the middle of the street, they trew our bags on the pavement and left us while they were driving the rest of the people to the bus station. We argued for a bit with them but what can you say… If they want you to stop here, you stop here. That’s it. Unfair right?

We started to be hassled by a group of taxi drivers who thought that intimidation was the best way to deal with tired backpackers. One more time, I think we just got unlucky but it was not the welcome I was expecting from Bali. I was really disappointed and tears where not far.

Alberto knew his destination. Mine was blurry… Like always? I wanted to stay in Denpasar for two nights to extend my visa but this big city was not warm in the end and the taxi drivers start to be more and more aggressive with us. Changement of plans. Alberto suggested me to go to this place “Kelly’s Warung”, somewhere in the south. He was staying at Seminyak that night and booked already a private car driver to go there via an app. Why not!

 I still had to find a taxi to go on my way. No public transport anymore. It started to rain. I was tired. And these bloody taxi drivers followed me everywhere to mess up my chances to speak with any other taxi drivers who wanted to put the meter on. When they realized my friend was using the app, they started to be really aggressive and insulting. I’ve been threatened to have the worst luck ever in Bali and they assured I will have big problems from now on. What kind of men these people were? Harassing a lady who wanted a fair price for a ride, under the cold rain at sunset? I was shivering because of fear and rage and came back to Alberto to beg him to take me with him when his driver will arrive. I just wanted to escape as soon as I could this horrible situation. 

Because he was an amazing travel buddy, he agreed and here we go, direction South. Alberto, I will never be enough thankful for what you did for me that day. 

After warm goodbyes, I continue with the same car driver to Padang Padang. There, we drove in circle at night to find the place but he had to drop me at the end of a street, wishing me good luck to find the place. We were at the top of a cliff, no people around I could ask the direction, I had no internet so no map, my torch battery was down and I was about to collapse cause I realized I had eaten nothing the entire day. I thought if rolling in ball over my 20kg backpack and sleep like a dog on the ground was a good idea but I took my last bit of energy and gave luck another try. I start to climb down massive stairs of rocks to go to what I thought could be the direction of the  the beach. The jungle around was not that reassuring. Nobody was expecting me, nobody knew where I was, I could see no light and no sound expect  the song of the waves crashing on the shore. 

I might have been guided by a protecting star but in bumped into the owner of Kelly’s Warung just when I was about to reach the sand. I was lucky, they were not closed and the four bedrooms were all empty. He opened a door and I knew the nightmare was over. A bedroom princess with balcony facing the sea was expecting me and I found a little paradise.

After a shower well deserved and the best barbecue I ever had, I crashed and fell asleep before my head reached the pillow.