I just chill out today and get chatting to Jessica from America. We end up going for some lunch in the same place that I went yesterday, although this time we jump on the back of her Moto instead of having to walk through the heat, which was a welcome change. I'm thinking of renting a Moto again while I am here, it really is the best way to get around as there isn't really any public transport apart from taxis. We eat our lunch and then it we head back to the hostel and pick a movie to watch. Jessica tells me about how she had her purse and flip flops stolen when she was out at a bar the other night. It sounds like a complete nightmare, with her having to phone and cancel all her stuff and then arranging for the card to be sent out to her, probably taking a week or so, and during that time she has no access to any money, What a disaster, I think about how lucky I am that I have not had any such problems during all my traveling.
-----
Watch a couple of movies this afternoon, make a proper day of it, with the snacks and everything. Jessica ends up getting some disgustingly sweet popcorn from the Lawson, I literally can't even eat the stuff, it feels as if you will have less teeth after consumption. No thanks. Today is the day! I have booked my flights for Australia. An overwhelming feeling of inevitability washes over me. My Asia tour is coming to an end and I don't think I am ready for that. It all seemed so far away, and now it has just snuck up on me. The truth is, if I didn't have the working visa date constraint, I'd have stayed in Asia longer. I try to put it out of my mind, and focus on the time I have left and how many things I can do. I've arranged to meet Troels tonight to watch some football, but with the time difference between here and home it means that kick off is at 11pm. Around the time that I have to be going I am nicely curled up in the sofa and to be honest it is the last thing that I want to do, but I can't contact him, so I get myself together and head back down to Kuta.
-----
I jump in a taxi and I am down in about 20mins with the traffic not being too bad tonight. Troels is chatting to some old English bloke in the pub, so I quick to save him. Though the guy keeps chatting to us, all football talk, which I have no input in what so ever. We have a few beers and enjoy the match. There is an Asian girl sitting beside us at the bar, ordering coffee and reading a book. Seems like a strange place to be doing this, in a sports bar, especially at midnight, Troels and I think she maybe a working girl. Even at that, it's very strange. After the match Troels fancies another beer or two, I have woken up a bit and so we head off down the street in search of a place he was 3 years ago. I'm not convinced that it will be as good as he remembers. As we walk down the street the place is a super tourist, pub and club laden mecha. Just what I love. Music blaring out all over the place. We get motioned towards a pub by a bunch of scantly clad asian girls blowing whistles and yelling at us across the street. You couldn't pay me to go in there! I end up going in to a Circle K for some water. It's amazing the difference in service when you go in to one of the shops in a tourist area vs a more rural place. Here the staff must be so used to dealing with the drunken foreigner, that there is no service. No smile, non talking and practically throwing the change back at me. I'm not a fan, though I can understand whey the mentality is different here.
-----
We get to the next destination and there is not much life about the place, only a couple of people about. This is fine with me, so we sit down and grab a couple of jars and chat for a good long time. By the end of the night Troels is well on his way, so I walk him back to his hotel, to ensure that he doesn't die. After this it's barter time with a taxi driver. I get a good rate and jump in, of course having to decline all the delights that I am offered. I end up getting back to the hostel at 4am, so much for being tired, I survived all evening, and I'm not even feeling particularly tired. There is a Japanese guy in my room who is always animated during the evening. He is always tossing and turning and moaning and shouting out in Japanese. Every night, as I get to bed tonight he is in full flow. Great.