LOVINA - BALI - DOLPHINS,SNORKEL AND CHILLING - 25 JULY 2019

LOVINA

23 JULY

The drive took about 1 ½ hours over the mountains from Balian via Pupuan and Siririt to get to Kalibukbuk at Lovina.

We stayed at the Angsoka Hotel for 300 000r for aircon/hot water room. Heaps of room with a pretty garden, good pool and friendly staff.

Once settled, we wandered down the beach for food. It was hot and seemed very empty. After eating we wandered along the black sand beach and rested in our room and at the pool.

In the afternoon we sat on the beach, had a beer and watched the sunset. The sunset was beautiful. After matihari (sun) went to bed we wandered down the promenade and settled into a nice restaurant with live music. The food was good, the atmpshere nice and the wine (two islands) was easily consumed.

24 JULY

We woke early for a sunrise dolphin boat tour.

The boat was new and fast, the captain Made was entertaining and good at pursuing the dolphins and we had the company of a lovely French family – Katherine and Renale and their two small children. There were lots of dolphin sightings close and distant and even three breechings. The amount of boats was phenomenal, at least 60! It was all ov er the top at the start but the main group of boats eventually slintered off into smaller groups and sightings became more easierily seen. Still, it was fun and personally I think the dolphins used the boats to help theem hunt for fish.

After the hunt/chase/boat adventure, we all went for breakfast. Our friends were from Paris and of French and Moroccan descent.  They were on a three month adventure exploring parts of south-east Asia. Lovely people.

The rest of the day was spent eating and hanging around the hotel pool.

25 JULY

A broken sleep!

We walked down to the beach and towards the east. I had a long snorkel. There was not much to see at the beginning but the coral and fish gradually increased. It turned out to be a fun and enjoyable snorkel.

Back to the hotel for breakfast and packing.

Gousti arrived at 11:30 am to take us back to Balian.

BALIAN - BALI - SURF, HIKES, FOOD - 23 JULY 2019

BALIAN

17 JULY

Back at Balian after a two hour ride from Legian, we settled back in the room and went for lunch.

We had an easy afternoon. The wind was onshore so the surf was poor.

Dinner was at Tom’s Garden – a bit ordinary food tonight.

18 JULY

A good sleep but still needed more.

An okay smallish surf with a couple of okay waves.

A big organising day – booked accommodation in Triqmbang in Sumba, booked one way flights to Waingapu in East Sumba, booked one night in Legian and booked transport from Balian to Legian and to the domestic airport on the following day. Seems easy enough but there was a lot of texting, calls and verification. All good.

Met Wayne from Lorne, Victoria,

19 JULY

The surf  looked smallish in the morning and the sky was cloudy.

After breakfast I had a fun surf in great waves. I felt my attitude and ability had improved greatly. I chatted with Keith in the surf who I had a spoken to on a number of visits.

We had lunch and after a rest I went for another surf. Once again, I had heaps of fun by putting 110% effort into each wave. I also ripped off part of a toe nail on the 2^nd last wave. Haha more injuries.

Dinner was great at Tekor.

There were a number of short light showers today. It was very pretty how the rain droplets clung to the plant foliage at the hotel.

20 JULY

A long sleep ... 9 hours!

The surf was bigger, bumpy and hard to get on to the waves. I had two surfs. Some good waves but a lot of paddling in between. The shore dump was huge on the second surf. It was hard to get out but way harder to get in. I was lucky but a few guys were pounded mercilessly.

We had a great dinner at Secret Bay restaurant. Such a pretty location and the food – whole fish – were delicious. We congratulated a couple from America who were married today. They were having a photo shoot done.

21 JULY

A long walk this morning along the beach to the south, We crossed three waterways and walked around a number of rocky headlands. There were a lot of cliff overhangs along the way. Some of which had partially collapsed. We walked through a huge rock arch just after the beach with a number of fishing boats along its foreshore.

After getting back and having breakfast, I had a surf. The waves were okay but bumpy and a bit random.

Dinner tonight was early at Tekor.

22 JULY

The swell had increased and the waves were messy and random. A no surf day.

A lazy day with walks down to the beach and into town.

23 JULY

The sewll was still big, and messy. We decided to go to Lovina for a couple of days.

We tried to organise a car through ‘Grab: but none were available so we got a local driver/car for 600 000R. We rang the hotel at Kalibukbuk, Lovina and they said they had plenty of rooms.

We packed a small amount of gear and were on our way.

LEGIAN - BALI - THE MERYLL'S BIRTHDAY - 17 JULY 2019

16 JULY

Nyoman picked us up at Balian and we drove the two hours to Legian.

At Legian, we settled quickly into the Grand Kumala hotel then out for lunch.

After lunch, we did our jobs – cashed money, brought boardshots and booties and some food at the Bintang Supermarket.

Back at the hotel we rested theen walked over to the Melasti Hotel for Meryl’s 60^th birthday,

A great night chatting, eating and drinking. Beacon organised a pig on the spit and Shelby Meryl’s daughter organised a chees chocolate cake. The night finished back at Beacon’s room for nibbleees and more drink. Jacinta and I finally called it a night and walked back to the Grand Kumala Hotel.

17 JULY

A good sleep, breakfast, more rest and a relaxation massage at Sicilian Spa.

Gousti (a friend of Nyoman) arrived to take us back to Balian at 12 noon.