The world’s weirdest gyms
Long-term traveller Justin Egli names and shames the worst gyms he has worked out in around the world… and explains why he loves them so much
When I visit new countries I try to find a local gym. Not only is it good to try and keep some sort of mental/physical routine going when you are on the road, but gyms are a great way to get a glimpse into the local community.
I’m not looking for a fancy one in a hotel or resort, as these are just like the modern ones we have at home. I always look for one that locals go to. The gyms are usually pretty crappy: stuff falling to bits and funny posters on the wall. But that’s all part of the fun.
1. Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
I came across this doozy when I was cycling across Lembongan island off the coast of Bali a few years back. It was a ramshackle mess of a place, with a sweaty leathery Australian guy beating the crap out of a punching bag in the front yard.
“I live on Lembongan seven months out of the year,” he told me. “I’m one of the few foreigners who actually live here long term.”
I asked how much the gym was and he told me he didn’t know. He said he just bought the owner petrol now and again. I told him I didn’t have any petrol so he said for me to just go in and use it for as long as I wanted. So in I went.
Inside there was a tattoo-covered guy working out wearing a faded California Raisins t-shirt. There was Balinese pop music blaring from an old stereo in the corner. I lifted up a barbell and the weights fell off one end as there was nothing to hold them on with. The guy laughed. I laughed. Then he went back to business.
What I remember most was that there were loads of pictures of stumpy Indonesian bodybuilders stuck to the wall. I kept imagining someone sitting on the floor cutting them all out, then putting Blutac on each of them like some sort of deranged art project.
There was a sign saying that the toilet was broken but the guy in the California Raisins t-shirt didn’t care. He used it a lot. After I finished I asked the leathery Australian guy who I should give money to. He told me to go round the back and see if anyone was about. I found the owner sanding down a surfboard in his garage.
He asked me for the equivalent of 50p.
