Hitchhiking in Indonesia: Guest House for FREE in Bali
20th of February, 2025.
I drop off my backpack at the guest house (I was here yesterday, asking if I could camp somewhere inside for the night, but they said there’s no space), and go to buy food for today, tomorrow (as I will be between airports the whole day), and next morning in Manila Airport. I have a hard time at an AlfaMart. For whatever stupid reason, they do not accept debit card here. I used my card at this branch before, and I guess that’s why I’m so surprised. And also because I only got to know that after I had spent already 20 minutes shopping for groceries. I tell the lady in the cashier that they must take off the signs which show that they accept debit cards.
I ask a grab guy and he tells me about a supermarket not far from here. I am so glad he told me to go there, because it happens to be near a mall, so I can stay a few hours there, under AC, just killing time until my check-in.
By the mall, there’s another AlfaMart and here they take debit cards. Yay! Plus, the staff here are super nice, not like in the previous one. I buy three instant noodles (two regulars once, because they are cheaper, and I can ask for bowls in the guest house; and one pot noodles, to eat tomorrow night, at Manila Airport); a box with five instant coffees, which is way cheaper than buying them individually, circa of 2.5 times cheaper); a big bottle of water (even though I ask to fill up my big bottle in a hotel, I still need water for the whole day today, to prepare the noodles and to drink, as I don’t intend to leave the guest house at all); a cheese bun to eat in the airplane tomorrow morning; a package of cream crackers, as I don’t know when I will be hungry / need food again; a deodorant, as mine is almost finished; and then I “spoil” myself with a package of coconut and chocolate cookies, the cheapest one available. Yes, travelling almost without money requires a lot of planning and patience.
I ask for some hot water in a coffee shop, make one of my instant coffees, and have breakfast. Then I go to the mall.
At the mall, I just sit by a place where I can charge my phone, and spend some time just working on my photos, and writing emails on Pages, just to send them later to my friends. Time passes fast and soon enough I can check-in in the guest-house.
Bahana Guest House it really fine by me. There’s a big pool, and if I had enough time I would’ve enjoy it. The room is spacious, with a door to separate the “kitchen” / laundry area and the bathroom from the bedroom. Everything seems clean enough. The AC is very good and the man working at the time I am here is very kind. He gives me a bowl as I required. Yay!
It takes me some time to wash all the clothes I need. They are not a lot, but washing by hand can take some time. After I’m done with that, I can finally take a deserved and needed shower.
I still have plenty of things to do and organize before I can actually just relax. I still don’t have a volunteer work in the Philippines and that’s a bit annoying.
I book a hostel in Manila for my second night there. The flight is to arrive around 19.00 hours in the capital of the Philippines, so I’m saving money by spending the first night in the airport. I get directions and made some plans. Then I can finally watch a film. Ah! I have my instant noodle for lunch and dinner, and they are quite good!
There’s a breakfast included in the room, so I get some fried rice for take away next morning, and leave the guest house before 7.30 a.m. I walk to the main road and get a lift to the airport soon enough.
10 Years Around the World 