Day 84 - 84. päivä: It's all in the numbers

Enjoying the bus ride in India

We started this trip nearly 3 months ago. Since then, we have stayed in 25 or so hotels (lost count some time ago), visited 5 countries, used public transportation for free in 3 of them (didn't have to pay for a bus in UAE, got a free taxi ride to the airport in India, and got a free bus to the right stop in Malaysia), visited an odd number of cities and towns, and eaten in countless restaurants. We have taken 10 flights. We have talked to many taxi drivers giving us an insight into the local life, tried to adjust our brain to converting Euro to 5 different currencies, while trying to compare the strange currencies with each other, too. We have taken a train once, buses and motorbike taxis weekly, even daily and taxis we can't even count anymore.

Penang National Park

We have crossed the Equator once (by plane), hiked in jungle in 2 different countries (check out Penang National Park in Malaysia), eaten vegan and vegetarian food based on local dishes in most of the places we've visited, visited a doctor zero times, been really sick once, very tired very many times and done our own laundry in just one place. We have sat down planning our next move tens of times, missed no planes and got nothing stolen. We have taken hundreds of photos, of which some were really good ones (published some but not all of them here and on Facebook). We have seen breathtaking scenery in all the countries we've been to, a ton of Russian tourists, and half of the population of Finland (Malaysia was an exception with almost no other Finns in sight). We have tried local beers in 4 countries, and liked all of them except for the sample of 2 brands here in Indonesia (sorry, Bali Hai and Bintang). We have seen one wild baby horn bill, baby cats and dogs, and a couple of very aggressive monkeys.

Our accommodation has varied from less-than 5 euro beach hut in Goa to 5 stars Sheraton Imperial in Kuala Lumpur. We have stayed in cities, towns and beaches, in really super touristy areas (Patong beach in Thailand) and a quiet paradise island (Koh Phra Tong, Thailand), far from nature (Delhi, India) and very close to it (Ubud, Indonesia). We have seen what a really modern city looks like (Abu Dhabi, UAE) and how a really old, historical town has been restored and taken care of (Georgetown, Penang island, Malaysia). We have been carrying our bags ankle-deep in mud, and been treated like royals.

Blue Manson, Georgetown, Malaysia

All this being said, it seemed like the perfect time to stay 5 nights in a small resort in Ubud, Bali. We have our own backyard, with a view over the rice field (and a small fish bond, too!). And, pretty much by accident, we found this not-mentioned-in-any-travel book-we-know-of, really cool hippie part of the town, where you can find vegan and vegetarian food, stay in old Balinese style houses and pretty much forget you're very close to the most touristy area in Indonesia, the beaches of Bali. The nature is close here, as well as any modern comfort one may need, but without all the dirt and noise of a big city. At least for now, we're happy to have left Kuta yesterday, and come here, instead. The bus ride for two was 120 000 IDR (8 Euro), booked via a travel agency. Today we'll sit down again, and decide if we'd rather book an organic cooking class, go for a bicycle tour or sunset hiking, or just book all of them. After all, here in Indonesia even a common traveler can be a millionaire.

Our backyard in Anini Raka Resort in Ubud, Indonesia

P.S. This blog has already been viewed nearly 2000 times, far more than either of us would have expected. It means not only our families are following our trip. Thousands of thanks :)

Vegetarian Fried Koay Teow and Vegetable Sweet and Sour Rice Set