Happy New Year!

Despite planning and booking my travel several months ahead, I forgot to check for special events during my Indonesian trip. A few days after arriving, I was surprised to find it was Balinese New Year.

There are a few differences between New Year celebrations in Bali and the West. No cold, expensive, highly anticipated yet ultimately disappointing night here. In Bali, New Years Day is about silent contemplation. No one leaves the house, no taxis, open businesses, even the Airport is closed.

It appeared these rules applied to tourists as well. At my accommodation in Ubud, we'd been asked not to leave the hotel. It's also only a Bed and Breakfast place so they offered us Lunch and Dinner at no extra cost. Admittedly not the best situation to find myself in, but a day chilling by the pool wasn't exactly putting me out.

The same couldn't be applied to my fellow (British and American) guests. Most didn't complain about being on lock-down, but passive aggression did rear it's head in the form of complaining about the complimentary meals – prepared in violation of New Years traditions regarding no work, no fires and the fact the staff were fasting.

Embarrassed really isn't the word.