I awoke at 7:00 with a slightly kinked neck, but it barely registered. I simply did not care to pay any attention to it, and thus it did not bother me. Interesting.

Breakfast at Rumah Jelita begins at 7:00 but since it was so early I allowed myself to lay in bed and look at Facebook and Instagram for an hour.

I went out to the table at 8:00 and chatted with Jeff and Janet. Upon my recommendation, they were doing the same bike tour today. Yay! I think they’ll love it.

After the move from Amed to Ubud and Tirta Gangga two days ago and the bike ride yesterday with tons of sun, I was ready for a rest day like the two I’d had in Amed.

I knew I wanted to have laundry done at some point in Ubud. I was really limited in appropriate garments I’d brought to wear on Bali. Some of the lighter clothing was still too heavy. I had exactly two flowy sundresses, both of which I’d worn in Amed, and I wanted to wash everything that I’d worn. Whether I would get my clothes back this evening or tomorrow would depend on what time I dropped them off, and the morning was getting on. I chose a T-shirt and leggings to wear for today — too much clothing but I couldn’t be choosy — and had an as-yet-unworn sleeveless dress, still a heavy piece, for tomorrow if I didn’t get my clothes back tonight.

There are a few laundries nearby the listing but I chose one that was mostly well-reviewed on Google, to maximize the chance my clothes would not be shrunk or stained, as some reviews indicated at all the laundries. Arya Laundry, besides sharing its name with a Game of Thrones character, is near a cafe recommended by my step-brother Zeke and also near Mac Dewata, where I would be picking up my charger.

I once again made the 20-minute trek north on Jl. Monkey Forest and dropped off my laundry at Arya at 10:15. They said I could pick it up at 7:00. Yes!

And with that, the skies opened up and dumped rain. Thankfully, just a few doors down was Seniman Coffee, a self-proclaimed 4th Wave coffee roaster and exporter. Their slogan is, “Imagine you know what you’re doing,” which felt appropriate for my trip. I’ve never done this kind of travel before, and despite all my anxiety before I left, all my planning has come to fruition nicely.

I took a covered seat outside facing the street and watched the rain come down, perfect weather for a rest day. I ordered a latte and a smoothie bowl with dragonfruit, a very Ubud menu item that I had not yet partaken of.

After killing some time, I thought I would go see if my charger cable was ready. They said they’d text me but I had a feeling it might be done without them letting me know. Sure enough, it was all fixed and they showed me it was working. I paid IDR 300,000 or about $21 USD. Continuing to have the use of my laptop for the rest of my trip is a relief!

I walked back home for some veranda laptop time and chatted with my neighbors upon their return from the bike tour, which they loved for the same reasons I did, mostly the window into Balinese culture and the opportunity to ask questions to learn as much they wanted.

I checked in with Wajan as to whether he still planned to be in Ubud this afternoon. He was a half hour away, so I decided I’d get ready and meet him out front on my way to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. It would be about 16:45 and the forest closes at 18:00, but I didn’t think I’d need a lot of time there. I knew it would be people-y, for one thing, and for another, monkeys are fun to watch but there are some strict rules about how to be in their space. I got out that utility belt because they quite commonly snatch people’s bags or what’s in them and will bite if you try to stop them. Really, my motivation for going was it was nearby, a classic Ubud experience, and I would have done something other than laptop time today (full rest days feel like a waste of time! balance is hard!).

I went out to the street to meet Wajan. He gave me the battery pouch and I gave him another IDR 100,000. He was already holding cash, maybe to give me change?, but I didn’t want any. He shook my hand, and I put my other hand on top, which somehow turned into an awkward hug. I’m not sure which of us leaned in, and it felt somewhat unearned, like neither of us was feeling any warmth behind it, but I guess I can’t complain about too many hugs in this world.

It was after 17:00 when I got to the Monkey Forest entrance at the south end of the road, and they ask folks to start making their way toward exits at 17:45. I kinda figured I would go one direction until it was time to turn around and then amble slowly back to the entrance, but the staff is on to that trick. They post people up along the paths after the closing announcement is made and usher visitors out multiple exit points.

That was fine. I’d seen plenty of monkeys; tried unsuccessfully to get some good photos, with or without me in them; and it was dusk in a forest, so… skeeters.

Facing the 20-minute walk to Arya Laundry again, I treated myself to a gelato to enjoy on the way. I arrived at 6:15, 45 minutes early but my clothes were ready for pick-up. Yes! I paid the IDR 50,000, or $3.50 USD, for my ~20 pieces. Awesome.

Despite the accidental more-than-doubling of the cash I’d requested from the ATM in Amed, I’d spent just about all of it and stopped to withdraw some more, calculating how much I needed based on how much I’d spent already (another purpose of “laptop time” is money logging.. I keep track in regular life and I make no exception for travel). It would be IDR 300,000 for my Airbnb host to drive me the 1-1.5 hours from Ubud to the airport, and another 700,000 should be just about right for the next 48 hours. I’m a millionaire again! For a minute.

The round trip walk from the forest north and back south to my listing was about an hour and made me quite cranky. Not only was I sticky sweaty and carrying my fairly heavy laundry on the way back, but by this point, I was over this walk. Mornings are manageable, but afternoons and evenings are just crawling with people that don’t fit on the sidewalks, which are broken so you have to look down while you’re walking. I often feel I’m the only one paying attention all the way around me and thus yielding when needed, which is often. The men looking to sell tours and rides in taxis and on motorbikes are relentless in their pursuit of business, parked at nearly every storefront and doorframe and shouting for the attention of any and all passersby. I would be completely focused ahead and have someone shout “TAXI?!” at me from across the other side of the road, getting my attention in a disorienting way. The women selling spa services were not as aggressive but were just as plentiful and relentless. It all wore me down.

Additionally, I was feeling an unfamiliar pain in my back.. maybe in the tailbone? This was a reminder that not only had I not done a full set of both stabilizing and strengthening exercises since I’d left New Zealand, I hadn’t done any press-ups in two days because I’d been feeling better. Prevention is the best medicine!

Per my comment above, I spent some time doing a thorough accounting of my money, both abroad and at home (monthly expenses go on, don’t they) before heading out to dinner. I will not eat pizza, pasta, tacos, burgers, or sandwiches; however, earth vibe Asian is acceptable, so I ended up at Soma Cafe at a table on an elevated platform that had not any chairs but rather a long lengthwise cushion and which was illuminated by lanterns. I had pumpkin with tempeh, rice, and peanut sauce, and some greens on the side, plus some green juice.

Back at the listing, I wanted to catch up on blogging but I was knackered. I made some notes instead, put the laundry away, and did a full set of my PT stretches. As has become my custom, I showered off the sweat, sunscreen, and bug spray before bed.

Somehow, it was nearly 1:45 when I turned the lights out — what happened to my Amed schedule?? (I suppose an uncomfortable bed with a mosquito net didn’t invite staying up on my devices, and I have a comfy situation here. 🙂 )