Trip to Jembrana west Bali

G’Day Nick,

Look forward to your write-up. Those buffalo races are incredible. Did you manage to put on a wager?.

What I found about the west side of Bali is that it is so ‘barren’ compared with the rest of the island. Did you find that?.

When I saw your post yesterday where you wrote that you might camp out for the night, I have never given much thought to places where one might pitch a tent. It’s usually find the nearest losmen!.

Interesting to find out if anyone has camped out in the countryside in Bali. I’ve never heard on anyody doing that!.

Barrie,

I didn’t put on any bets at the Buffalo Races. Very fun time so, just ridiculous…more of a circus than a sport.

I remember the north coast of Jembrana seeming barren but the south coast was surprisingly fertile, overgrowing just like you’d imagine when you think of Bali.

I have a bivy sack and took it with me. On my hiking trail I found a few spots where I could camp. I also had a few mozzies buzzing around and thought ‘do I really want to sit around in the dark when these guys get warmed up?’

I reckon camping is very possible if you don’t mind getting away from the road a bit, just find a way to deal with the nyamuk.

Hey Nick-
Excellent pic of the buffalo race. I’ll be in Bali in a few days, any advice as to how I could find things like buffalo races and cockfighting- not the usual cultural stuff one sees- in Bali?

Aloha Nick,

Don’t know if I’d ever have the fortitude to camp in remote Bali. I heard too many stories about Green Mambas slithering all over the place from friends that went to G-Land in Eastern Java.

Freaky!

Jason
Waikiki, HI

JC. I’ve found these type of events, cockfighting, Joged dances, Buffalo Races by accident and by people telling me about them. Cockfoighting goes on in Kuta every day at 1pm between Poppies I & II. Alos goes on all over the islands on Sundays.

My suggestion is to talk to many people, you’d be surprised what is going on just around the corner.

Jason. Before I left a friend of mine was telling me that the black snakes are not too dangerous but the green ones can kill you in 3 hours. THe hills apparently is where they like to hang out.

I’m not scared of snakes and do try to keep out of their way. I’d still camp just being careful not to go stomping through bush.

Nick,

When I was in Central Java up in the jungle on one particular occasion, my Javanese friend told me about the slender green snakes - they are deadly. They called them ‘two steps’. Yaaitu, you get bit, and two steps later….

Can’t see the two step thing, but I reckon the shock alone would send you on that final trip!.