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bali’s chaotic shores and the art of pretending you don’t know anyone

@Owen Steele3/8/2026blog

woke up to 17.82 and a weather app that kept glitching, but i didn’t care. the forecast said ‘sunny’ but the sky was more like a damp alley. i checked the app again, and it was still 17.82, which is weird because i thought it was supposed to be 20. but maybe i’m just a clueless traveler. this humidity? it’s like someone opened a can of sweat and left it out. not my favorite, but i guess it’s part of the vibe. i just checked and it's 17.82, which is like a sunny day in a sauna. hope you like that kind of thing.

i’ve been wandering around this place for three days now, and the only thing that’s consistent is the weather. it’s not hot, not cold, just... there. like the world is holding its breath. i’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. maybe both. the neighborhood here is a mix of people who’re too busy taking selfies to notice anything and others who’re too into their yoga to talk. if you get bored, the next town over is just a short drive away. it’s got a beach and a bar that’s always playing loud music. not sure if that’s a good thing.

i heard that the local market is run by people who think they’re in a movie. i didn’t see any velvet suits, but maybe they’re hiding. another person said the hostel is full of people who’ve never left their home countries. i’m not sure if that’s true, but it sounds like a good story. i heard that the beach here is overrun by people who think they’re in a movie. i didn’t see any velvet suits, but maybe they’re hiding. i’m not sure if that’s true, but it sounds like a good story.

the weather here is weird. i checked again, and it’s still 17.82. i don’t know if that’s a good sign or a bad sign. maybe it’s a sign that this place is trying to tell me something. i’m not sure what. maybe it’s telling me to stop overthinking and just go with the flow. which is hard because i’m already doing that. i’m wandering, I’m not sure where. i’m not tracking. i’m not even sure what i’m looking for. maybe that’s the point.

there’s this place calledrestaurant name that everyone talks about. some people say it’s the best food, others say it’s overpriced. i haven’t been there yet, but i’m thinking about it. maybe i’ll just go and pretend i don’t care. that’s usually a good strategy here.

i saw a photo online of a tree with pink flowers. it looked like something out of a dream. i don’t know if it’s real, but i hope it is. i took a picture of it with my phone, but the lighting was bad. i’m not sure if it’s worth it. maybe i’ll just imagine it.

i heard that the hostel next door is full of ghosts. not sure if that’s true, but it’s a good story. i’m not going to check. i don’t need ghosts. i need coffee. and i heard that the coffee shop around the corner is amazing. i haven’t been there yet, but i’m planning to. it’s calledcoffee shop name. some people say it’s the best in town. others say it’s just a bunch of people sitting in a room. i don’t know. maybe i’ll find out.

the map here is confusing. i tried to find my way, but it felt like a maze. i ended up walking in circles for an hour. that’s how it is here, i guess. everything is a bit off. not in a bad way, just... different. i think that’s part of the charm.

i saw a photo of a lake with a small island in the middle. it looked peaceful. i wish i could go there. i’ll probably never do it, but i’ll keep imagining it. maybe one day.

someone told me that the local bar is haunted. i don’t know if that’s true, but i’m not going there. i’m not a fan of horror. i’d rather drink coffee and pretend i’m not in a place that might have ghosts. that’s a solid plan.

i’ve been taking pictures of everything. not sure why. maybe it’s because i’m bored. or maybe it’s because i want to remember this place. either way, i’m running out of storage. i need to delete some of the photos. maybe the ones of the pink flowers. they’re not that good anyway.

this place has a strange energy. it’s not bad, just... there. like the air is holding its breath. i don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. maybe both. i’m not sure. i’m just here, doing my thing. not sure what that is. probably just wandering. not looking for anything specific. just going with the flow.

i heard that the next town over has a beach. i don’t know if that’s true, but i’m going to check. maybe it’s a good idea. maybe it’s not. either way, i’ll find out. i’m not planning anything. just going with the flow. which is what i’m doing right now.

i just checked the weather again. it’s still 17.82. i don’t know what to think. maybe it’s a sign. maybe it’s just the weather. i’m not sure. i’m not one for signs. i’m more of a ‘just go with it’ kind of person. which is probably why i’m here. not sure if that’s a good thing. maybe it is.

i saw a photo of a body of water with a small island. it looked like a place to relax. i wish i could go there. i’ll probably never do it, but i’ll keep thinking about it. maybe one day.

i’m running low on coffee. i need to find a place to buy some. i heard that the coffee shop around the corner is good. i’m going to try it. maybe it’s the best thing to happen to me today. or maybe it’s just another thing that’s not great. i don’t know. i’ll find out.

i heard that the market here is full of weird stuff. not sure what that means, but it sounds interesting. i might check it out. maybe I’ll find something weird. or maybe something useful. i don’t know. either way, it’s part of the experience.

this place is strange. not in a bad way. just... different. i’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. maybe both. i’m just here, doing my thing. not sure what that is. probably just wandering. not looking for anything specific. just going with the flow.

i think i’m starting to enjoy this place. not because it’s perfect, but because it’s not. it’s messy, it’s unpredictable, and it’s not trying too hard. that’s probably a good thing. i’m not sure. i’m not one for perfection. i’m more of a ‘messy and real’ kind of person. which is probably why i’m here. not sure if that’s a good thing. maybe it is.

i’m going to keep wandering. not sure where. i’m not tracking. i’m not even sure what i’m looking for. maybe that’s the point. maybe it’s supposed to be like this. i don’t know. i’ll find out eventually. or maybe i’ll never find out. either way, it’s part of the journey.

i just checked the weather again. it’s still 17.82. i don’t know what to think. maybe it’s a sign. maybe it’s just the weather. i’m not sure. i’m not one for signs. i’m more of a ‘just go with it’ kind of person. which is probably why i’m here. not sure if that’s a good thing. maybe it is.

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About the author: Owen Steele

Believer in lifelong learning (and unlearning).

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