We visited Indonesia (Bali) after leaving Cambodia back in November but it is just now in December while we are in NZ, that we are having an opportunity to sit down and do some writing. Indonesia was not part of our original travel plans. We were thinking of visiting Malaysia instead, but we were sold on the idea of visiting Indonesia by our friend Marine Thomas. We also need it some down time to recharged batteries after touring South East Asia and the cost of traveling in Bali sounded very attractive to us at this point of the trip.
We picked Bali because there is a lot to do on the island and it looked like a good introduction to what we now know is Indonesia. To start the trip we booked some days in Sanur on the south of the island. It was described to us as a quiet, beautiful beach front to relax and enjoy the ocean and the good weather. In this case the advertising was all correct. We got there at the end of the low season so there were not many tourists or locals around. It was the perfect location to start our trip on the island.
Henry had met a nice driver on his first walking excursion around Sanur, Mr. Jacky (a.k.a. Mr. Sleepy). We booked some day trips with Mr. Jacky to see many of the beautiful places that Bali has to offer. We went to see the Tegallalan rice terraces, the Batur Mountain at Kintamani, the commercial town of Ubud, the water temple and much more. Getting around in Bali is not as easy as in other places in South East Asia because the distances are much longer and the road signage is not very clear. However, finding a car with a driver ready to take us somewhere was not an issue.
We balanced our time in Sanur between the beach and visiting many interesting areas. One of the highlights of the time in Sanur was our visit to the Tenganan Village where we got to meet some Tenganise locals and learn about their way of living. We toured their village, learned about their culture and traditions and tried the best coffee either of us have ever tasted. Yes, the rumors are true the best coffee in the world is the Kopi Luwak. Colombian coffee is excellent when it is well prepared but this Kopi Luwak is the best cup of coffee you may ever taste. If you can overcome the fact that the beans used to make your coffee have passed through an animal’s intestines you must try it. For more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
We left Sanur on a fast boat to Nusa Lembongan Island were we stayed for some days to do some diving. The diving in this part of the world is beautiful, different and very affordable. We did 14 dives between the two of us for $300 USD, that is a super deal for those unfamiliar with diving prices. There were not many big fish but the coral and the small fish living in the several corals strips were impressive. We enjoyed our time on this small island very much. We hired a moped to get around and explore some interesting places. The weather was very hot. Being under the sun was almost unbearable. We like it hot but somehow the week that were there it was hell. Thankfully we spent many hours underwater.
We returned to Bali to discover Kuta. This particular part of the Island is the most popular place with international travelers because it is close to the Airport, the waves are good for surfing and it is kind of well developed. We stayed in the heart of Kuta. We now know that this was a mistake for our goal of relaxing on the beach or by the pool. Kuta is a loud place full of crazy Australians and Russians looking to get hammered each night and pass the hangover by the beach each morning. The only positive part is that all establishments close early. We think it is by law but we are not certain about that. Anyway, we finished our time in Bali trying to learn how to surf. Oh boy, it looks very easy from the beach or on the television but the reality is very different. It is a very difficult sport but it is awesome.
Local Balinese food was not easy to find because of language barriers and because the local restaurants focus on selling international food to tourists. The Indian influence in the food is evident with the use of spices and chilies to enhance the local flavors. The selection of fruits is extensive and delicious. Fresh juices are a popular option to have as refreshment in the middle of the day under the hot sun.
After 15 days in Bali we were ready to get out of South East Asia and see the more develop continent of Australia. We took a long overnight flight to Melbourne on a cheap but horrible airline call Jet Star. They charge to use the radio in the airplane. Unbelievable! We really liked Bali as an introductory experience to see more of this country. We are looking forward to visiting this country again. We hope soon.
One Step Forward RTW 