Sunday, November 3, 2019

EAST COAST BALI - 'SURF, SNORKLE, TEMPLE, WATERFALL, BUTTERFLIES' - 21 TO 26 OCTOBER 2019


KERAMAS


COSTS

Car – domestic airport to Keramas – 300 000r
Motorbike – with board racks 80 000R per day
Stay – Villa Casablanca – 2 524 500r 5 nights – good aircon room
Pura Goa Lawah – 30 000r entry
Kemenah Butterfly Park – 100 000R entry
Tegenugan Waterfall – 20 000r entry


21 OCTOBER

The flight was delayed 1 hour in Tambolaka, Sumba. There was no fuss at check-in, the flight was uneventful and Bali domestic airport was quick.

Gousti met me and drove me to Villa Casablanca, Keramas.

I settled into my room and had a very late lunch. I wandered down to the beach. There were a number of places to eat along the foreshore and there were a few surfers in short and dumpy waves.

On the way back to the hotel, I hired a motorbike for the next few days.


22 OCTOBER

I woke early and loaded the bike for hopefully some relaxing waves. My back and ribs were still sore but getting better so I wanted easy waves. I wandered but didn’t find any surf for my needs and eventually I drove back to Keramas.





I wandered down to the beach, watched the surf then headed back. I did some much needed washing and sat around the hotel pool and ate lunch.

Late afternoon was down the beach to watch the surf, eat dinner and have a couple of beers.







23 OCTOBER

I woke and my back felt better so I drove the motorbike to Pantai Lembeng.





The surf was a little wild with the high tide but it looked okay so in I went. The waves were fun though I stuck to the edge to test out the ribs and back. Glad I did as after ½ hour both were hurting. I stayed in another twenty minutes before it became too much. I was pretty sore on the ribs and stiff as a board on the back. Still, it was fun having a surf.

The rest of the day was moaning about my back to myself and finding a position where the discomfort eased.

After lunch and a kip, I woke to the back pain being gone. Don’t worry, it came back again after dinner. I texted Jason and the surfboard would be ready by the end of the week.



24 OCTOBER

Today as a wandering day on the east coast of Bali.

The first stop was Pura Goa Lawah.


This is one of the holy temples of Bali. When I arrived, there were a number of ceremonies being conducted on the beach opposite the temple. The temple was quiet so I chose to wander through the complex.  It was 30 000r entry fee which included a sash and sarong. There were a series of smaller temples within the main complex. Only worshippers could enter the smaller temples but you could see inside them. The major part of the complex is the cave whch has a resident population of bats. The bats were teeming over the ceiling of the cave.

I also wandered along a path that took me to another temple above the cave. There as a pretty view.
At the exit, I had a chat with some of the local custodians of the temple and was interviewed and filmed regarding my opinion of the temple.

Across the road the ceremonies had finished but the offerings and the colourful Balinese in their ceremonial clothing were abundant.








My next stop was Padangbai.


The traffic was slow and heavy with heaps of mini buses bringing to and from the fast boats that leave for the Gilli Islands in Lombok. I parked and had a second breakfast in a cafe on the harbour promenade. A good location to people/boat watch. The small boat traffic taking snorkelers and divers to various spots were also abundant.






My next stop was just over the hill to the north at Blue Lagoon.

I parked and had a great vie onto the bay below. The water was calm and clear. So pretty!
I walked down the steps and set myself up on one of the sun chairs above the beach and next to a small warung. I had a great and long snorkel around the small bay and further on to a small beach around the point. There were lots of fish, pretty coral and very clear water.

I had a light lunch at the warung and a foot massage from Made.

A second snorkel wasn’t as good due to water movement stirring up the sand reducing the visibility.






A fun day!


25 OCTOBER

I decided on another wandering day.

My first stop was the Kemenah Butterfly Park.


The park was small though fun. There were heaps of butterflies and I wandered slowly enjoying the fluttering and graceful pageant.







The next stop was the Tegenugan Waterfall.


The entry was 20 000r and it was very touristy. Still, the waterfall was big and spectacular. All the people were an add attraction. I had a swim/wade into the water and wandered around the paths and small bamboo bridges.






The journey home was fun as Google Maps lead me along very narrow roads/paths, small villages and ricefields.


26 OCTOBER

I started the morning with a walk along beach. The waves were big and some surfers were getting barrels and big turns. It was fun to watch.






Back at the hotel and it was time for breakfast, packing and check out. I caught a hotel car to Sanur.

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