Saturday 3rd January 2015, Bali

Strictly speaking, I’m in Kuta. Staying at the CX Hostel Legian Kelod, no. 195 on the Raya Legian. But that makes for a slightly less catchy blog title. And Facebook seems to think I’m still in Denpasar (I flew into Denpasar airport yesterday. Read about my first impressions of Bali here.)

It was incredibly humid yesterday. But today, it’s just simply pissing it down. So I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up on writing some blog posts.

The CX Hostel Legian Kelod is my home for four nights. It is basic but clean, and at a total cost for my stay of 590,000 Rp (the equivalent of about £30) including tea and toast breakfasts, there’s nothing to complain about.

It took me a while to find, though. There were some horrendous reviews online, awash with tales of bedbugs and bedlam.

(Don’t get me wrong, Trip Advisor should often be taken with a pinch of salt. Not least in respect of the Blue Sky Hostel in Glasgow, which I stayed in just a week after this online furore. It turned out to be one of the most welcoming (and entertaining) hostels I’ve ever stayed in. The owner was outspoken, sure: a journalist’s dream but a PR Manager’s nightmare! But he turned out to be a bit of a local hero, helping kids out with work and a place to stay when they needed.)

I’m in a two girl dorm with one bunk bed. With just enough space for the bed, locker, and one person at a time to get dressed, it’s… “bijou” to say the least. But somehow, the fascia pink accent wall turns what could have been an oppressive prison cell into a cute little sleeping cell instead.

My roommate is called Peng. She has a much longer beautiful sounding Chinese name, but I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess on the spelling. Peng doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Chinese. It’s quite liberating, in some ways. We say hi and bye to each other, but the language barrier cuts out the obligatory banal traveller chit chat. Which, when you need to spend so much time in such close proximity to a stranger, can be a blessing. I am missing the ability to talk to her about her life and travels though.

One thing this hostel does lack is a communal relaxation area, where people can meet and talk to one another. There are some tables and chairs in the kitchen, but their numbers limit them to use by people who are eating a meal then going straight out. The staff on the front desk are very helpful, though. And there’s an onsite “Aussie shop” with essentials familiar to Westerners. Another place to chat with the many Australian travellers who frequent Bali for their holidays.

Other bonuses to this hostel include free wifi, free computer access, air con and bedside sockets in the rooms, 24hr security on the door, and limitless free tea, coffee and toast with jam – now to become my staple diet for the next few days.

Right, I’m hearing rumours that the rain has stopped so I’m off to find the beach. Even if it hasn’t, I quite fancy a swim in the sea, in the rain…