Go Backpacking

Adventure Travel Blog

Indonesia

Friday Flashback – Gili Trawangan

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Over a year later, I still think back to my week on the little tropical Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan often.  I’ve managed to keep in touch with Jessica, who is back working in London, and Linus, who is learning to fly helicopters in Hawaii.  Come Waste Your Time With Me is a post recounting […]

Odds And Ends After 3 Months Of Travel

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Here I am, 3 months into my long-awaited trip around the world. Hard to believe I’ve made it so far. More than anything, I feel a sense of great accomplishment for making this experience a reality. Dreaming big, working hard, sacrificing multiple trips to Las Vegas, and punching through my fears and anxieties about leaving […]

Final Thoughts: Indonesia

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I am leaving Indonesia a changed person. I can feel it, though you may not be able to see it on here. I’m less naive, more assertive, a slightly better negotiator (with still a long way to go), and more in touch with my emotions, which often felt amplified. It feels bittersweet to be leaving […]

Adios Amigos

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It wasn’t until after I cleared security at the airport on February 18th that I realized my flight was the following night. I gave myself a good swift kick in the behind for writing the departure date down wrong in my notebook, and then caught a taxi back to Ronta Bungalows in Kuta to find […]

Partying In Kuta

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After a few nights back in Kuta, we were due for a night on the town, especially since I thought Feb 17th would be my last night before heading to Singapore. After a drink or two in Linus’ air-conditioned room, we hit the street (er alley) around midnight for the Expresso Bar.  A quick drink […]

Off To Ubud for Suckling Pig and Monkeys

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I turned Sara’s monkey dare into a 1/2 day trip to Ubud in central Bali. First, I had lunch at Bu Oka, a renowned food stall for Babi Guling (suckling pig). My culinary hero, Anthony Bourdain, chomped on the special for his Travel Channel show “No Reservations” just as I did. I can’t say it […]

Dare #5 – Completed – Monkey Business

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#6 – From Sara: I have a good first dare for ya. After seeing your picture with the fluffy koala bear, and reading about the monkey forests full of gray monkeys in Bali, I’ve decided that your dare is the following: I dare you to load your day pack with bananas and head into one […]

Back To Kuta And Ulu Watu

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I splurged on my trip back to Bali, paying quite a bit to take a 2.5 hour speed boat directly from Gili Trawangan. The first half of the trip was rather rough and it didn’t take me long to get the feel for what happens after the boat goes up the crest of a large […]