April 19th 2003: Taman Legian restaurant

Back on this day in 2003, I talked to a young lady named Made, who worked as a waitress at Taman Legian, a shack along Jl. Double Six. Made told me her parents were rice farmers, and back then in 2003 business was slow. Made told me she might have to go back to the sawah if things didn’t pick up.

Taman Legian is was virtually the last place before the beach on Jl. Double Six. I went there initially on the advice of a surfer, who told me about a place where all the surfers go for a feed (it turned out to be Warung Murah). Taman Legian served big portions and was never busy, I couldn’t figure out where all the surfers were. The large snapper they served was my choice and I went back a number of times. My last visit in 2003 was memorable, not for the food, but for my reaction to it. After finishing the meal, I felt hot and as if my neck was swelling. Looking at my arms they were turning red as if I had been in the sun all day. Feeling dizzy I rode home, and by the time I got there my face, neck and upper body were completely bright red, the reddest I’ve ever been. My neck had swelled up as had my whole head and I felt faint.

It was pretty strange laying on my bed not knowing what was going to happen next. After a 4 hour nap, everything was back to normal. It was a severe allergic reaction. Anyway I didn’t hold any grudges against Taman Legian, I just never felt the urge to go back. The place closed soon after and is now just selling drinks. Don’t know what happened to Made, probably married with a kid, that seems to be the game plan in this part of the world.