Okay the rest of the story from the day of 3 km. So we left the Ijen Crater in the morning and started our journey towards the coast of Java, where we would take the ferry across to Bali. We really had a good time with our new friend who we named Ben. As we neared our stop, we asked for some advice on where to visit and stay tonight in Bali. Patty really wanted to see the beaches and we would travel to Ubud the next day to visit some of the rural areas and culture. Most people who travel to Bali go to Kuta, but we were hoping to save that for the last days as it is near the airport, so he said a beautiful and less busy beach and area that we should visit is in Pekutatan. It sounded good to us and would be a great place to rest away from the crowds and tourists. So we went off towards the ferry with our map, some advice and a general idea of what we were going to do for the next couple of days. We were excited even though it was raining, because Bali has a reputation as a beautiful and romantic place. Finally, I was going to get it right and meet Patty's romantic expectations.

The ferry ride was around an hour long and quite peaceful, except for the numerous times people came to sell things or provide services for us. That is the one thing about Indonesia that can be a little overwhelming. There are always people hounding you to sell things (and it was only going to get worse in Bali). We docked with our two backpacks on, our windbreaker coats around our waist just in case it really started to rain as we had forgotten our umbrellas in China and our rolling suitcase trailing behind. Now to get a bus to Pekutatan. It should not be hard as all roads in Bali seemed to either loop around the top or bottom of the island (we wanted the bottom loop). it should not take long as my friend said Bali is only 25km long which was another misconception.

The bus station was not far away, so as we walked a number of people came to help us find the "right" bus. Oh Pekutatan, take this bus, so we lugged our bags up and onto the small bus and waited to leave. When they came around to sell tickets, ours cost 50,000 for the two of us which seemed quite high for such a short travel, especially when people going to the end of the line paid less, but maybe they were going to take us into the city or drop us off somewhere special. but it was only $5. It was at least cheaper than the people who tried to sell us tickets aboard the ferry and they did not even know where Pekutatan was either.

So the journey began and it continued to rain as we picked up additional passengers until everyone was stacked in snuggly with packages and bags piled in the aisle. The rain got stronger and stronger as we went on, which wasn't much of a worry since we were being dropped off in a town. We would find a hotel by the ocean and wait out the rain to enjoy the beach at night, maybe even catch the sunset. All of those thoughts seem to be erased when they stopped the bus and pointed at us--Pekutatan. From the fogged up windows I could not see many houses and it was now pouring. I stepped off the bus into a river racing down the road with my big camping backpack on my back and holding our carryon suitcase above the flowinng water.

Something was wrong, this could not be the town we wanted to visit, because this was not a town at all but just two houses. We saw an overhang with an older couple huddled under it and thought this was a worthwhile option for the time being. Maybe the rain would stop soon and we could find where we were really supposed to be--so much for the extra money we paid them. After a few minutes of disbelief and questioning of our initial plan, we asked the couple--Pekutatan?? pointing at the area we were huddled in. After lots of blank stares and them looking at our now drenched paper with the name on it, they pointed over a hill and signaled with their hands that we needed to go over two hills and we would be there. As the rain did not seem to be slowing or stopping anytime soon, we decided to put the liner on the camping backpack and head out into the pouring rain. We put on our windbreakers as that was our only defense against the rain and headed towards the hills and Pekutatan. I reassured Patty that it would not be too far, only two hills and we could get a nice hotel, if there were any there.

So we crossed the river forming along the roads edges and headed up the first hill and found as we expected another hill in the distance, this was not going to be all that long of a walk after all. We mounted the second hill, now totally soaked, with anticipation and found yet another hill in the distance. Maybe I got his symbols wrong and he meant three hills or it could be many, many hills before we get to Pekutatan. This was unnerving--hopefully we were going in the right direction. As we made it up the third hill, we had a chance to find out as people came up wondering what we were doing and where we were going. I said Pekutatan expecting them to say it is very near or just over the hill, but they looked at me in disbelief as though they did not know Pekutatan. Were we in the right place, did the bus driver just let us off in a random place and say good luck. What a raw deal and horrible way to treat the foreigners!! We were used to all kinds of traveling problems in China, but we were not in China anymore. We did not know where we were and my Bahasa was quite limited to small talk and the numbers for bartering.

So as we saw a sign that pointed to a spa and resort, we decided to go towards it, even if the sign said that it was 3 km away. We walked 3 km this morning straight up a mountain so this could not be so bad and we were already soaked anyway. Couldn't get anymore wet, so off we went towards Puri Dejuma Resort. We were soon joined in our journey by a group of three women traveling home from working in the fields. Between them, they had an umbrella, a banana leaf, and a hat to keep them from getting wet. The banana leaf seemed to be doing the best job, so as we traveled along, I found a huge leaf and tied it atop the rolling suitcase to protect it to which the women got a big laugh. We asked them about Pekutatan and they pointed that this is Pekutatan. What?? All I saw was a road that seemed to go on forever and a few houses strewn around it. I sure hope this is not right, because nothing here resembles a hotel but the homemade houses of the farmers.

As we came to the houses, it was as though we were the main attraction in a parade, as all of the kids and people stopped what they were doing to say hello. Many of them were out taking showers in the rain so it was a big awkward and Patty stopped to rest next to a cow who looked at her with the same question that was on everyone's mind--what are you doing out in the rain?? The cow looked so perplexed by us as it hid under its palm tree. It brought a laugh from our rather somber walk. After if felt like we had traveled our 3 km, we had our next encounter, a man and his family who came out to see us as we were traveling by. He was a teacher and his English was pretty good, so he gave us all kinds of advice and wanted to take us by motorbike to a hotel. At last, we asked about a hotel and he said it was 3 more kilometers away. Seeing that there was no way we could all fit on the motorbike with all of our bags and Patty did not want to go alone, we decided to continue walking. But 3 more km, ahh!!

We rounded a corner and for the first time we could see the ocean. I was sure that if we could see the ocean, we could find a hotel. So I ran down the dirt road towards the ocean as Patty waited...nothing but a quaint farmhouse and more children excited to see foregners and use their one word of English, hello. So continued on and came to a break a break in the road, two ways to go. So I went and asked a woman, pointing in the direction I thought was right, Pekutatan?? She shook her head and I felt good about being able to find the right way, until we traveled down this road for another eternity. Then I remembered one of the cultural practices common in Asia, if people do not know the answer or do not understand they will always say yes to save face for you. Were we actually going the wrong direction again?? This was turning out to be a mess-we needed to get a hotel and we were now quite tired. I was trying to tell jokes to keep a good atmosphere, but we were ready to be done walking.

Then we saw it, the sign for Puri Dejuma Resort and I joked with Patty that it said 3 more km, but it was only one more km ahead. We were almost there so it seemed and made it to the next sign for 700 m more and we could finally see the resort. It was like a dream, a romantic oasis with palm trees and beautiful bungalows beside the ocean. Patty became afraid that they either would not have any rooms or it would be so expensive that we would go elsewhere, but in truth they could have charged anything and I would have said okay. The people met us as though we were the only people there and asked how we were...we felt like drowned rats. They wondered if we came by motorbike, nope, walked. How far was their last question, 1 km?? Nope, at least five. They were so confused why and how we made it there and we told a little of the story and they said we will make a special deal for you. I looked at the prices and they were in Euros 104 for a deluxe room and 114 for the best ocean front room. Only later would I understand the conversions, that is about 1.5 million rupiahs, but they said they would give us the best room for 650,000 rupiahs less than half. Patty was beaming when I said yes. This would be the honeymoon she always imagined. It appears that I accidentally made this romance thing happen after-all.

Our room was amazing with everything that a woman thinks of in a fairy tale plus more, the four-post bed, bath with flower petals, a porch where we drank tea together overlooking the ocean, and an outdoor garden shower. What an amazing place. We set out all of our clothes which were drenched, even with the leaf as a protection. Our moods were instantly elevated and we were at peace. They had umbrellas and we walked along the beach, had supper overlooking the ocean but it was too cloudy to see the sunset. We went to bed early thinking about taking a tour tomorrow to see the butterfly garden, orchid garden, the rural areas a tree top walk and some other places and ending up in Ubud. This was going to work out afterall and we had a great walk in the rain, right?? Patty said never again, next time we will plan it all out to make sure something like this does not happen. But she liked the outcome of the unplanned romantic day. Maybe not planning can be a better way to travel because you get unexpected blessings and adventures.