BALI, BALIAN - SURF, SICK, JACKS AND MARGARITAS - 29 JUNE 2017

27 June 2017

There must have been heavy rain in the mountains as the river has started to change direction emptying towards the south of the reef.

I had a mid morning surf with just a few guys out the back. Long lulls at times but some nice waves when they came through. I felt great this morning - more energy and my back wasn't as sore (been sore since massage aka pounding).

I had a chat with Mick when I got out of the water.

We had breakfast at the hotel.

A restful late morning - organizing my bag ( I like to do that every couple of days), washing, chatting.

I did a shuttle drop on the motorbike to Secret Bay for lunch with Kara and Jacinta. The lunch was great and we were joined by a host of others ( Daniel, Idam, Nick and Louise and their respective families) as the afternoon progressed. Then it was a motorbike shuttle service back to the hotel.

A restful late afternoon.

We had  a pizza dinner at Dekis.

I woke at 3am with pains high in my stomach. The pains got sharper and stronger as the night progressed. I broke out in drenching sweats and felt very dizzy. I was in the bathroom and had to lay down on the floor. This continued to 5:30 am when I finally threw up.

28 June 2017

I woke at 8am with a sore stomach but no sharp pains.

I spent the day resting and sitting around the pool. 

Tomorrow, I should be better.

We had dinner at Tom's Garden.

29 June 2017

I woke feeling heaps better. The sun was shining with no clouds.

I had an early morning walk on the beach and a chat with Mick.

I had a fun surf about mid morning.

We lunched at Pitaya

The rest of the afternoon was an easy sit and chat by the pool.

Late in the afternoon I had a number of Jack Daniel's and Jacinta had a number of Margaritas. We were joined by Nick and Louise and  then we had dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Another beautiful day.

BALI, BALIAN - SURF, WALK AND REST - 26 JUNE 2017

Kara changed rooms today. 

An early glassy size in head high waves. Only a few out but it got a little crowded after awhile. Jacinta took a few photos of me surfing at the end of the surf session.

A lot of people left today - Agnes Water and Victorian crew, Rodney and Brandt.

We had lunch at Deki's.

A pretty low tide walk along the beach with Jacinta.

A book reading afternoon.

We met Nick and Louise and their daughter and two grandchildren. I met nick about 7 years ago at Medewi.

A great and tasty dinner at Istani.

BALI, BALIAN - SURF, CHATS AND RAIN - 25 JUNE 2017

24 June 2017

I drove to Truckstops. in the morning. It is about 10km north of Balian. As usual, the drive along the main road in Bali traffic was amazing. Trucks, cars, buses, motorbikes and dogs on a very narrow and rough road. The waves were nice with a lot of push. There were three locals out surfing. They didn't look like share-type guys so I watched for awhile and headed but to Balian.

I ended up having a fun surf mid morning surf.

The rest of the day was very lazy - chatting with Mick, eating, reading

After lunch, heavy rain settled in for the afternoon.

We had dinner at hotel restaurant with Mick and Brandt.

25 June 2017

The end of Ramadan but it wasn't noticeable at Balian which is a Hindu village.

I had an early glassy surf with size. I got some nice waves and a few floggings and a couple of caught badly inside :) All part of the fun.

I had breakfast, a rest and was back out again for a surf with Rodney Boulden. 

We had lunch at Pitaya - great food but it took ages to arrive.

A restful afternoon and then I joined Rodney, Brandt, Adi and (can't remember name) for a few beers and a chat.

It was raining so we had dinner at the hotel. We met Idam and Daniel and their two kids. Idam was from Nias island ( a small island off Sumatra) in Indonesia and Daniel was a head chef on an oil rig in WA. 

BALI, BALIAN - CAVES, BATS AND SEA MONSTERS - 23 JUNE 2017

A crowed surf this morning. I decided to wait till after breakfast. The waves were good and I had a few at the beginning but the crowd increased again. Towards the end of the session the crowd thinned out and a number of sets broke so I came in with plenty of good waves under my belt. Out in the water I met Jonathan from Gisbourne, NZ.

I chatted to a group of ladies from Denmark in WA - a girls' holiday - they were fun.

Jacinta and I walked to Tom's Garden for a pot of coffee, pie and ice cream.

Later, we went for lunch at a beachside warung. the food was nice but the portions were small so we stopped for sushi on the way back.

After a restful afternoon, I went for a motorbike ride to Secret Bay then a hike to Mejan Beach. Firstly, there were a number of strange sea creatures clinging to the rocks in Secret Bay.

This time I walked and climbed through a series of caves. The first cave under the headland of Secret Bay was a tumble of fallen rocks covered in bat pooh. A fun experience but a bit messy on the hands. The cliff above the cave on the other side had a number of bats clinging to it.

I walked across the bay in this small cove and trough an arch that went under the next headland. This one was all sand but timing was important as waves would fill it up to about knee height. I got through the arch with wet shoes.

I walked across the rough, slippery and barnacled rocks to another cave. This cave was very long and dark and there were some bats flying around inside it. At the far end, the cave turned upwards. It was a steep climb up and out and then it as a steep slippery climb down to the next bay. There was a small waterfall and a large sandy beach. 

I walked around the base of the next headland and onto Mejan Beach then I returned via the road and the cliff top track back to my motorbike.

A great adventurous hike but it can only be done at low tide on a small swell.

Back at the hotel, I cleaned myself up while the girls went for cocktails. I joined them and then we walked down the hill to Pitaya for dinner. A tasty meal.

BALI, BALIAN - MOTORBIKE, MINIMARKET AND BEACH HIKE - 22 JUNE 2017

A small surf this morning with a number of surfers out at predawn. We had breakfast and then I went for a surf. It was turned out to be really good. The luck was with me and a few large sets broke and I was the only one out the back to catch them. A fun good wave surf.

After the surf, Jacinta and I rode the motorbike into town and bought a few things at the minimarket.

Back for lunch at Deki's then Jacinta and I had a walk along the beach to the river. It was too deep to cross so we walked backed to the north end of the beach.

We had coffee and chill out for the afternoon.

Brandt joined us for dinner at Tom's Garden. The food took a long time in coming but it tasted good and we managed to drink a few wines and beers.

On the way home, I stopped in for a chat at Ayu's. Her daughter also named Ayu but I have always called her princess was now 14 years old. Time flies fast as I have known her since she was 4. it puts a perspective on how long I have know the family.

BALI, BALIAN - SURF, FOOD AND CANDLELIGHT - 21 JUNE 2017

A smaller but very glassy early surf with Brian. Heaps of really good waves. Jacinta even got a few photos of me at the end of the surf session.

We had breakfast at the hotel with Brandt, then Mark S and I went for another surf. It wasn't as good but I enjoy surfing with Mark.

We had lunch at Deki's Warung, a  relax around the pool and then came a sprinkle of rain which turned into a number of afternoon downpours.

The rain eased up and Jacinta and I had  few beers at the hotel bar then we all went to dinner at Tom's Garden.

BALI, BALIAN - SURF, GRANDDAUGHTERS AND CEREMONIES - 20 JUNE 2017

An early good, fun and glassy surf.

We had breakfast then I was out for another glassy surf with Mark S.

photo - Deki and his granddaughter

Later, Jacinta and I had a pot of coffee and banana/apple pie at Tom's Garden. An eclectic restaurant with a pretty garden.

A rest and then I had a motorbike ride south to Peyan. I turned off the main road when I past over a small bridge. The scenery look inviting but what a surprise... there was a Hindu ceremony on the beach. I watched blessings and gifts given to the ocean. I had a chat with one of the ladies, Made, who had three grown children and was working in a Kuta hotel. Nice lady.

photo - the holy man

photo - Made and her granddaughter

Back to the ranch and down to dinner at Pitaya. Brandt was there and so he joined us for our evening repast. Brandt was a friend of Rodney and it turned out that we Brandt and I knew each other about forty years ago at teachers collage and we know heaps of the same people.

BALI, BALIAN - GOOD SURF, MASSAGE AND BLACK MAGIC - 19 JUNE 2017

An early fun smooth surf. I was much happier with my surfing and got a few compliments on the walk back to the hotel.

I had breakfast with the girls at our hotel.

The sun came out and I hid in the shade and the girls sat in the sun around the pool.

I had a massage at Ayu's for 100 000R it was hard and a bit painful due to a lactic acid build up. Next time, I'll ask for baby soft massage. No, change that, wont be a next time.

We had tasty Indonesian lunch at Ayu's then an afternoon of chilling.

Jacinta and I had a great and merry afternoon drinking into our bottle of Jack Daniel and eating crackers, cheese and apple.

Later, we met a couple from Umina (near where I live). His wife was from a small island south of Ambon in Indonesia. She had great stories on black magic and her island's customs.