Vibe on Poppies I: Kuta Bali

Thursday night in Kuta Bali, I’m on Poppies I in Kuta, sitting in Bamboo Corner, waiting for my nasi goreng ayam (rice rice with chicken). Bamboo Corner is the budget place that speaks to long time Bali visitors of how things were in the 70’s. Bamboo mat walls, knock down prices, family owned. The prices haven’t changed in aged, still posted all over the walls like they were in 2004.

This evening, Bamboo Corner is packed, I got the last free table in the back, seated next to a mating scene in action. The next table has 4 Bali boys and 2 Japanese ladies. As I arrived, steaming dishes were arriving as fast as the sttaff could carry them, the boys stoked they werre getting another free feed.

The staff here at Bamboo Corner are sweet. Nyoman, one of the family that owned the place, is pregnant with her 3rd kid. Koming, the short, direct girl, recognized me and said hello. All are dreseed in matching Balinese outfits, as today is Purnama, Full moon.

My nasi greong ayam costs about 7,000rp and is generous. I love the banana and mango lassis they do, for 6,000rp.

Across the street, there are 2 fairly new internet cafes. The one I used was about 80% full, good news. The customers were from Holland and Australia mostly, speed was awful, hardware decent, price 12,000rp per hour. In some kind of way I feel Kuta is getting more busy.

After leaving Bamboo Corner, I rode towards Poppies II, on Gang Ronta. Bamboo Corner’s sister warung Gong Corner was packed too! Plenty of action on the street, motorbikes whizzing by, people hanging out, not the dead feeling of a few months ago.