Catching up with a few photos here in Kuta Bali

My recent entries have been light on photos and I wanted to get a few more up to keep everyone fed with info.

Recently we’ve had some overcast days and a couple of good downpours. Jalan Benesari is the worst affected place and yesterday got pretty well flooded. On the corner of Benesari and Poppies II is this little warung which consistently serves the coldest beer in Kuta, no kidding!.

I had a good time at Stadium Cafe on Saturday with Mick and the crew. Here’s a shot of the home team making the best of an Aussie flag.

Sunday midday after getting my keys back I wanted to celebrate by taking a bike ride. My destination was the Bukit peninsula at the south of the island and heading to the roundabout at Simpang Siur in Kuta I jumped on the Bypass heading in the direction of Nusa Dua. I took the Ulu Watu turn off after 20 minutes and after another 10 minutes took the Balangan Beach turnoff. I’ve never been to Balangan and ended up heading down a dirt road that seemed as if it had never had been travelled by anyone but a local.

The Bukit Peninsula is a very dry part of Bali without any rivers or streams. It is also the home to the best surfing beaches in Bali and the sand is made of tiny particles of shells giving a yellowish color in contrast to the dark volcanic sand on other parts of the island.

I passed locals carrying out their daily farming activities. Small plots of land are sectioned off and a few cattle are scattered around. The area is quite deserted and my slow ride took about 30 minutes of bumping and manouvering over ruts and small rocks. You know when you hike down a steep hill for a while your toes end up crunched at the front of your boots? Same kind of thing happens on a motorbike.

I was really wondering if I should even bother continuing but could still hear Mick’s voice ringing in my ears…’come on you Pommie poofter!!!!’. Reaching a hill I came to a set of houses with thatched roofs. These places really stuck out and were obviously designed for foreignors. A group of kids were making the most of their 1 motorbike and smiled for a photo.

Parking close by and hiking down the bumpy road to the quiet beach I could clouds gathering and expected a shower at some time. Locals were on the beach collecting coconut shells and rift wood making small fires. This beach used to get a lot of its revenue from surfers and the locals know they have to keep it tidy. I didn’t see any surfers today though, just locals looking for shellfish and a father and daughter bathing as the the tide was coming in.

Under a bamboo shade a small group of ladies sat chatting. They asked my name and laughed when I said ‘Megawati Sukarnoputri’.

I strolled along the row of warungs and the only one that seemed open was a ways down the beach. The owner Wayan told me her business was not good this year and hopes for a better Christmas period. She’s not too hopeful though because Christmas is rainy season and that means murky watwer on this western side of the Bukit. Next summer will be her next big chance to cash in.

I ordered a nasi goreng ( fried rice ) for 10,000rp and a teh panas ( hot tea ) for 4,000rp. This is a little expensive but we are at a somewhat remote location. Wayan told me she was born at this beach and as a young girl used to swim and surf, using her Australian friend’s boards. Her 18 year old son was on hand as well as her husband who had just come down from tending to the crops on the beach head. She said he also fishes. Everyone was deeply tanned. I notice that local Balinese in Kuta make a huge effort to cover up, not wanting to darken in the sun. Out on the Bukit people don’t even bother with hats and are very darkly tanned.

Wayan filled my teh with gula ( sugar ) and I asked for another one plain. She obliged and passed the first on to her husband.

I asked Wayan what her government should do to help tourism and she didn’t have an answer. I suggested a 6 month visa for all tourists and she nodded in apparent agreement.

As I was eating my nasi goreng Wayans small black dog yelped at my side and tried to get onto the table to share in my meal. After watching a quick shower I was finished eating and ready to hit it. I paid 20,000rp as I could see they could use the money.

The cliff next to the road that led me back up the hill was full of holes and a young girl was using these to place offerings.

Heading back I noticed a detour that quickly led to a tarmac road. I knew there had to be an easier way to get here. The road curves around past Dreamland beach and eventually leads all the way down to Jimbaran. It took me about 20 minutes to get to Kuta from the beach in total which is very good. I’m sure a lot of visitors to Bali would love a more remote place to relax without all the vendors who circle, well here’s a place within easy reach.