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.

INDONESIA - BALI - CANDIDASA, PADANGBAI, TIRTA GANGGA - ON THE EAST SIDE - 17 AUGUST 2018

12 AUGUST 2018

We drove from Balian to Candidasa (700 000R) and Kara went to Lovina (500 000R). I fell asleep most of the car ride.

We arrived at Anom Beach Hotel on Mendiri Beach. It costed 2 153 250R for five nights in a superior one bedroom apartment (+62 812 3828 287).

The reception wasn't very friendly on our arrival but things soon sorted themselves out and we settled into our nice room.

The hotel was nice with a pretty gardens with flowers, trees and water features. There was also a small white sand beach in front of the hotel.

We had a walk and a coffee.

Dinner was at the hotel across the road from our hotel. the food was good and fast and there was gambiling music playing.

13 AUGUST 2018

The air con was very cold last night so I woke a number of times.

We hired a motorbike after breakfast (70 000R per day). The guy handed me one of the helmets and it slipped and hit the ground and cracked in two. He reckoned it was new and I owed him a new helmet. Haha! no chance of that happening. I sent him off to get another helmet. He wasn't happy!

We drove the bike to Padanbai and Bias Tugal Beach. We parked and walked the path to the beach. Nearly at the beach, I slipped down the steep track and scrapped my arm and elbow. I so dislike cuts in the tropics!

The beach had a rough small surf breaking and a lot of people and well established warungs. We hired a couple of beach chairs and umbrella and settled in for the day.

We spent our time walking the beach, swimming, chatting and lazing around. The beach became very crowded by the afternoon. When e first came here there was only a couple of warungs and a few western tourists.

Back at Candidasa, I had a very pretty shallow water snorkel at sunset. later, we had a great dinner at Amarta Beach Cottages.

14 AUGUST 2018

A beautiful morning. I walked through the gardens and down onto the beach. There was no wind this morning so the water was very glassy. I did my morning exercises on the beach then had a swim in the clear waters. I spotted a stingray.

Jacinta was awake so we had breakfast and planned the day.

We drove the bike to Tirta Gangga in the mountains. The ride itself was an adventure - traffic, steep bends and traffic lights.

At Tirta Gangga, we visited the Water Palace. It was crowded but still pretty. It was fun stepping on the stones in the first pool and walking around the gardens.

We drove back to Candidasa and I had a snorkel. Once again the water as so clear.

We spent the last part of the afternoon. having a coffee overlooking the ocean and  later still, a few beers.


15 AUGUST 2018

I started the day with exercises/stretches on the beach then two drift swims in the ocean.

Breakfast at the hotel but we both were not feeling too well. We kept getting hot flushes and a bit of a temperature.

We hung around the hotel resting and later, I felt better than Jacinta, I had a massage at downtown Candidasa. It was a very relaxing massage in a nice spa.

Lunch as across the road at Amarta Cottages. We had a long talk with Ari, the main waitress and Tri and Nopi, who were training in hospitality. No pay for training but they do feed you.

We had the best dinner at the small restaurant along the road leading to the main road - very tasty.


16 AUGUST 2018

I was up early for exercise and stretches on the beach followed by a few drift swims.

After breakfast, I had a snorkel but the visibility wasn't too good due to an incoming tide and small waves. We sat in the deck chairs and drank tea.

I had a chat with the French couple next door, whose ancestry was Algerian. 

Koman, the main reception lady, had a selfie photo with me and a long chat on the difficulties of her job.

We had a great lunch at a huge ceiling restaurant. It was so cool under the roof but hot outside it.

Another massage downtown and a motorbike ride around the area. Some great views!

We booked a table at Amarta Cottages for the Balinese dancing and set menu feast. 

The meal was great and the traditional dancing fun. On the last dance they invited people to dance with one of the performers. I had a dance and enjoyed twinkling the toes.

!7 AUGUST 2018

Last day in Candidasa. I had early exercise and stretches on the beach followed by a swim. Breakfasted, packed, coffee next door and before long Nyoman arrived to drive us to Balian.