Visiting Vincent and Akari in their new place in Karangasem Bali

Saturday afternoon I hurriedly packed my bag and set off in the direction of Sanur.

My destination was Karangasem where Vincent and Akari were waiting in their new place. I had heard rumors that this place was a bit of palace and wanted to see it for myself..

Just north of Sanur I did the right turn that took me to the start of the new coast road that cuts out riding the regular surface streets which are windy and heavily trafficed. The road terminates at the town of Lebih on the coast but I road through a construction site along with all the other motorbike riders and got several kilometers further down the coast on another section of the road that is finished. This would be impossible in a car as the gaps are too small to get through and the fact that 3 bridges still need to be built. With a motorbike you can drive along the muddy tracks of an earth moving vehicle. In a car you’ll get stuck.

I popped out at the end onto a main road and rode past Padangbai to Tirtaganga where the new place is located. Kuta to Tirtaganga will take about 2 hours roughly depending on the traffic and the way you drive.

I stopped at the water palace in Tirtagannga to call Vincent and find out the local directions. He directed me to a small village called Kuhum where he and Akari’s place was.

It took me about 10 minutes to get there including a double back to locate their small gang. Once there I met Wayan who was cleaning the steps. Feeling frazzled I said hi and took a refreshing dip in the pool. I’ve got a pool at my house�it’s the one in the bathroom that collects in the middle of the floor after I take a shower. This one was much nicer.

The new pad has a master bedroom, guest bedroom, kitchen, dining area, pool and a couple of traditional ‘bale’ structures’ you can relax under. The view from their kitchen window looks like one of those oil paintings you find in Kuta art shops. Here’s the view from outside my room.

The view really blew me away when I first saw it. Looking down over rice terraces with the mountains behind and the coast in the distance, idyllic!

Akari told me she likes watching the local people working down in the paddy fields and said that sometimes their voices carry to the house.

As well as Wayan there are 2 male staff who cook and serve dinner. Akari instructs them and they get on with it. This evening we had a vegetable bake, with salad and roast potatoes�delicious. I brought a bottle of Chardonay from Bali Deli which helped the evening along.

Out here in the sticks there isn’t much nightlife, actually there’s almost no nightlife. Going to bed early and getting up early becomes the routine and one that Vincent told me he enjoys.

I can imagine what a great party one could have at this house (I’d get the biggest bbq set I could find and fill the bath with cold Bintangs [cigarettes and techno music would be outlawed]). Vincent and Akari generously offered me open house any time I want it which I of course returned.

Vincent and Akari’s situation is that they can rent the place for 3 month periods, then the owner reappears, meaning they are in the guest room. I’m interested to see how this works out. It doesn’t matter how big a house is, when you are used to calling it your own then have to share it things aren’t the same. It is a wonderful spot though.

They do most of their shopping in Amlapura which has an ATM, bank etc. so east Bali is a place where a westerner can live without having to go to Kuta every week.

Karangasem is my favourite part of Bali and I hope to explore this region more fully in the coming year.

• Vincent & Akari are checking out the housing scene in Seminyak
• Vincent & Akari are checking out the housing scene in Seminyak
• Meeting the British Consul in Sanur Bali
• Breakfast with Vincent and Akari in Semiyak Bali
• Driving through Karangasem Bali with Andrea

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