Beach party at Serangan Bali
Sunday afternoon I rode over to Camp Palu, that is the compound where Palu, Wiwin (Palu’s wife), Stewart and co. live in Legian.
They invited me to a bbq on Serangan which is an island located between Kuta and Sanur.
When I arrived Wiwin and her young daughter were there along with her sister. Palu and Stewart were busy giving surf lessons on Kuta beach and Wiwin set me up with a liter jug of Arak Attack (an orange flavour arak drink). It wasn’t all arak but held me over till the guys arrived.
Another couple of arrivals Ibeth and her friend, both from north Sumatra were going with us in Palu’s white van.
I was a bit in the dark as to what I should expect but knew the gathering was in honor of Pastor Tom and Lou Ann from N. Carolina. Pastor Tom is part of an organization called Bridges International Inc.
The drive took about 25 minutes and we crossed the land bridge to Serangan, driving all the way to the warungs that line the beach. Serangan is popular with surfers in the wet season because it is on the SE coast and gets less debris in the water from the rivers. Vendors on the beach told me that when there is an offshore wind there are plenty of people at the beach, but an onshore wind means few customers. Even they understand what adds up to good surfing.
Our group which now numbered about 30 people assembled on the sand with Paster Tom and Lou Ann in the middle and people started speaking and offering thanks. We were all given sheets of hymns and 2 guys, also Bataks from north Sumatra accompanied on guitar. I’m not religious and so just enjoyed the occasion for what it was.
The people who came were a mixture of Aussies, Yanks, a Dutch guy and an assortment of people from Indonesia, with a lot from north Sumatra where the population is mostly Christian.
Palu and crew had told me before that the Christian scene is a big dating ritual which I didn’t’ really believe but now I see what he’s talking about. They all seem to want to set their friends up with a boyfriend or girlfriend and the chit chat starts flying when a new face shows up. Palu is man who cuts to the chase faster than almost anyone I know and I got the benefit of his assessment of the situation. Unfortunately I can’t print it here.
Thinking ahead I had brought a 6 pack of Bintangs and placed them in the bottom of Wiwin’s cooler. Not knowing how the religious folks view ‘the demon drink’ I was nervous about offering them around so just cracked one and quietly sipped it with my box lunch that was provided. A while later someone taps me on the shoulder “Hey I thought that was a Bintang, where did you find it” said Paster Tom. “Tom my man, I have 5 more and they’ve got your name on.” I said. This guy is cool!
Tom and Lou Ann are heading for a new assignment in Thailand and it a shame because I’ve just started to get to know them.
Tom has had 2 surf lessons with Palu and has a nice 2 inch diameter bruise on his abdomen to prove it.
After the religious songs and eating were over the guitar player cranked out a few favourites, Blue Suede Shoes and Country Road. A couple of the ladies got up and gyrated to the Elvis number while Tom and Lou Ann sung along to Country Road. He was actually born in W. Virginia.
Serangan is an okay beach though not as scenic as somewhere like Dreamland. It was a little windswept when we were there. As daylight faded we said goodbye and headed back to Kuta.
By Sean | Permalink
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Comments
During the day its nice and warm but after dark the temps dip and for Indonesians it probably feels like freezing. I had to lend my hat, sarong and sweater to 3 different people.
G’Day Nick,
Nice one mate. Beach parties are a buzz but like you said, after the sun goes down it does get a tad cool sometimes.
Did you kick on afterwards or just have a quiet one sipping the demon drink!.
G’Day Folks,
Seems the Indo governmment wants our opinion regarding the new VOA. Here’s the
http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=1998
It’s a good thing they don’t have a Suggestions Box at the airport exit!. Perhaps those opinions would be a better guide and of a greater value.
Did you know former president Suharto had his eyes on Serangan. It was to be a project very similar to the Dreamland
disaster !
Hey Nick! Thanks for the write up about Serangan. Appreciate the link to Bridges International, Inc. Thanks also for the great BBQ at your house!
Yeh, we too wish we were staying here longer in Bali. Really enjoyed meeting you. We’ll look forward to seeing you the next time.
Tom and Luanne
Cheers everyone and thanks Tom for the party.
Nick is it bloody cold there or what….the picture of the ‘two vendors on the beach’,…..the one on the right as you view it looks a right plum with all those layers on…..or has the temperature all of a sudden dipped to minus -2 centigrade…hee heee doesnt he look funny…you could just picture Kuta beach…all the people bronzing themselves, the odd overweight brown back squeezed into a scimpy pair of speedos and then all of a sudden that beach vendor in your photo who looks like something out the Vietcomm wanders a long the beach…. suddenly everyone stops and just eyeball him in amazement….yes certainly get all sorts !