Riding in Bali is like throwing yourself into the deep end of a very turbulent pool. In additional to Balinese riders with their own sense of rules, order, and speed, there is the tourist on a motorcycle that has likely never ridden before Bali and has no idea what s/he is doing! The local riders have their own rules, rarely get upset, and generally flow with thee traffic. If one rides, the rules are reasonably intuitive.
The difficult and dangerous part of Bali riding is the tourist. With apologies to the exceptions, the typical tourist is an inexperienced rider brimming overflowing confidence. Fast, brash, and outside the limits of common sense, reasonable safety, and rationale speeds. After five minutes of being on the road I realized that my initial branding of idiot 1, idiot 2, was not going to work due to the sheer quantity!
In the midst of the chaos and less than smart riders it is easy to forget one’s goal. Road rage threatens to join you, frustration whispers in your ear, and plots of aggressively dominating begin to form. As everyone but my destination took center stage, I realized I was trying to find a particular shop so I could meet a furniture designer that knew a friend of a friend.
Deep breath.
Closed eyes while stopped in the shade at the side of the road.
Focus.
Ahhhhhh, now I remember! Sunset to Nikola to Binjol. My destination is my priority.
It felt as if I had just experienced a guided meditation. As I look back to what happened in the moment, it was as if my guide had “put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live.” (Psalm 107.7) The flow and rhythm of traffic shifted from that moment on. I could feel direction and progress.
Even now I think of the ride and realize the people on the road were consistent in their ways. My stop on the side of the road embraced the reality of Bali riding and was a step forward.
