Day three in Bali. I guess that’s already enough time to start making some early conclusions, as if I’ve lived here half my life.

First of all, I’m doing well. Actually, so well that it turned out some of my acquaintances live here. I posted an Instagram story, and not long after that it appeared that I suddenly had a house, a room, and a roof over my head. Now I’m staying with them. In my own room. I’m not paying anything. Living like a proper leech. But an honest leech. I help with cleaning and whatever else I can, just so my conscience doesn’t suffer too much.

I rented a bike. And that’s where the real adventure began. The traffic here is… let’s say if chaos decided to open a branch office on Earth, it would probably choose the roads of Bali. Riding is scary. Very. The left-side traffic adds another layer of confusion to a brain that is already trying to understand who in this stream is going straight and who is about to appear under your wheel from another dimension.

I also managed to get badly sunburned. So badly that lying on my back has become a special kind of suffering. Apparently my body decided to experience Bali in full intensity right away.

Food here is not really my favorite, to be honest. So I try not to experiment too much with local dishes, just in case my stomach decides to start an international scandal. I mostly eat fruits and vegetables. I wash my face and brush my teeth only with bottled water. My level of caution - a tourist who would really like to survive the trip.

Sometimes I see things that make me a bit sad. For example, locals throwing trash right on the street and tossing cigarette butts into the ocean. It’s not very pleasant to watch.

Another local feature: here they ask for money for almost everything. Especially in tourist areas.

Sometimes it feels like if you stand still for too long someone might come up and tell you that standing there is also a paid service. Even sitting on a bench or taking a photo can sometimes cost money.

But I already visited the monkey forest and walked through the jungle. The flora and fauna are fascinating. The funniest thing is seeing plants that at my home live in pots like delicate aristocrats, while here they grow wildly everywhere, huge, happy, and clearly enjoying life.

The humidity here is very high. It’s hot and stuffy. But that wasn’t a surprise. I knew where I was going.

Overall, though, it’s beautiful here. Very beautiful temples, lots of jungle. For someone who loves experiencing the world with their eyes, it’s a real feast.

Today I’m staying home though. My shoulders and legs hurt from the sun, so I’m trying not to go outside too much.

This morning I made a collage. Every morning I stand on my head. And by the way, lizards sometimes crawl into my room.

I actually like it.

At least these neighbors don’t charge money just for sitting on the wall.