It was probably bound to happen sometime I guess. The fact that I have made it this many years here without a bike accident has actually always surprised me. It was not a fun experience.
I was coming home from a dance party with friends from church at the Bali Surf House. It was around 10 pm, so it was dark and not many people on the road at the time. I was on Bali’s main highway and probably going about 60 or 70 km/hr when I see a guy crossing the highway with his back towards me, not even checking first to see if there is traffic. I see him and slow down and try to go to the left to miss him, but he doesnt see me and continues to walk right in my direction. When he does see me, he is so surprised, and having to make a split decision on what to do, instead of moving away from me, and probably avoiding collusion altogether, he steps towards me, throws his hands up and pushes me off my bike. I go flying, all I see is gravel. My face and glasses are wet from water on the street. Then I stop. I feel someone come and grab me by my shoulders and pull me off the road. There’s a bustle and I’m now surrounded be people who have come to help. I take off my glasses and look at myself, my arms are bleeding, my legs are bleeding, and theres a huge red swollen and bleeding cherry on my hip bone from being scraped across the concrete. The man that pushed me didnt even leave his feet and he’s fine. I start to yell in indonesian, just random sentences.. where are my sandals? where is my purse? They tell me I must go to the doctor but Im scared. Im by myself and my phone is broken because it was smashed in the accident. I dont have any money on me. Someone volunteers to drive me to my friends house and I park my bike in a safe place and leave. Just before I drive away the man who pushed me apologizes. As soon as we drive away I just start to bawl. I cant explain my feelings in indonesian to the man driving and he is a bit scared. I dont want to speak Indonesian because Im too shook up. I go home and wash everything with soap, clean my cuts and try to sleep but I didnt really sleep much.
This morning I woke up and went to The Artawans house. They are like my family and I knew they would know what to do, if I should go to the doctor or what I needed. The minute the see me they are rushing around trying to look at my cuts, decide what to do, get me water, get me fed, make sure im comfortable. I start to cry again because Im overwhelmed by this families care for me. At this point my hip bone is so swollen my stomach looks lopsided. They take me to the doctor and get me some antibiotics and pain killers. Mbok Kadek, (shes like my aunt) Sits with me all day. She comes in and cleans all my cuts with some crazy indonesian medicine that smells so strong you just know its gonna burn like the dickens the second it reaches your raw skin. When she gets to my hip bone I cannot handle the pain. I cry. Little Dina starts to cry when she sees me cry, they tell me shes sad because she doesnt want to see her sister Michaela like this. They brought me food, water, tea, fruit all day long. I watched tv and hung out with the girls and slept a bit. When it was time to shower before dinner, Edis mom boils water so I can have a hot shower. By dinner time my hip is almost back to normal size. Its crazy how much some serious TLC will do. Theres a local carnival in town and the girls and I go together. I am the only foreigner there and its hilarious. You think you’re scared to ride the sketchy rides at the traveling fair in the states, try riding the rides at the traveling carnival in indonesia. Will really make you reflect on your life while youre on one of those things. hahaha We get peanuts and grilled corn and I had a blast.
Im gonna be totally okay. The main reason I tell the story is that I am seriously overwhelmed by Edi and his family and they care they show towards me. I dont think Ive ever felt so blessed in one day. Its pretty special. I have pictures from the ceremony I went to with them the other day that I will post soon. They are such an amazing family.
Anyway this accident has put surfing in a good place for me. I am kind of happy to have some time to really rest beneath my father.
Will update again soon!
Love and quick healing from bali!
yeeww
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