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.

BALIAN - BALI - BACK TO THE LIFESTYLE - 16 JULY 2019

BALIAN



10 JULY

We drove to Balian. Nyoman dad had had a heart attack a few days ago while working in the garden at D’Bise warung (a small village in the mountains of Bali). Luckily, Nyoman wasn’t working that day and was working in the garden as well.

We arrived at Balian and checked into our hotel ‘Gubug’.

Tank and Fiona from Tasmania were there. We chatted as the afternoon wind increased.

The surf was blown out so Jacinta and I had a walk on the beach.

Dinner was at Tekor restaurant.

11 JULY

I had an early surf and surfed like crap but I managed to stand up and do a few turns. I had been carrying a few injuries and hadn’t surfed for 4 months.

I met Kyle who was here with his three kids and wife. Nice positive guy.

Back in for breakfast with Jacinta and then another surf. This time I surfed heaps better – slow to stand, more turns and control.

We had coffee at Tekor and a long chat with Max and Jass from Kempsey. Max is a teacher’ assistant and Jass was a teacher.

Lunch was at Taverna restaurant. Later, we had a walk into town and back.

Much later, we had dinner at Tom’s Garden. We caught up with and joined Bran and Maureen for dinner. A nice couple who have lived in Bali for awhile and have leased apartments  in Sanur and Balian.

12 JULY

An early surf without booties. I surfed heaps better – getting up quicker, cutting back better and took a few critical takeoffs. Old Geoff was in the water.

Back in for breakfast with Jacinta, I met Lee from Lennox Head who is a friend of Mark and Mandy.

Out for another surf, I surfed okay but the increased wind was causing the waves to be a little bumpy and lose some form. Still, I had fun.

Dinner at Gubug with a great chat with Jass and a few drinks!

13 JULY

I had a slightly later surf with less crowd. I was surfing better - mainly getting sets and more critical waves but i stuffed up two good waves totally. Haha!

I had earlier met two American buys who had mountain biked from Jakarta to Bali – amazing! They left today for the last leg of their journey to Kuta.

At sunset, we had a pleasant walk along the beach – very pretty, chatted with Bryan and Maureen and met Paul and Iris. The sunset was nice sinking behind the headland and a bank of clouds.

Dinner was at Tekor – chatted with Tank and Fiona.

14 July

An early surf check but decided to wait till a bit later before hitting the waves.

Jacinta and I walked to the village and then down to Mejan Beach and back via Secret Bay. A great walk!

Breakfast and goodbyes to Kyle and family who were off to Ubud.

A fun surf but I fatigued after an hour and got a cramp in my foot. Haha! I paddled through several whitewashes then got the cramp and while bending the toe back, I got washed nearly in to shore. I took the hint and came in. It was my first go on my new surfboard. It went well and I had a few good sizeable lefts and rights.

A light cheese and apple spread for lunch in our room.

I rested and slept in the afternoon.

We went down to the beach before sunset and drank and ate at the Bamboo Warung. We chatted with Marty a long time expat of Balian.

15 JULY

A terrible sleep – back aching, legs throbbing and shoulders sore.

I did my stretches, had breakfast, more stretches and then a surf. The waves were good and I had a great time going left and right on the blue board.

Before the surf, I was going to use the Merrick surfboard  but I damaged the nose on the shore break. Very annoying but it is now in for repair.

I had a massage with Bella (100 000R) it was soft and reasonably relaxing.

The aches and pains were gone – need to drink more and stretches only

We caught up with Mark, Geoff and Marty at one of the beachsiude warungs for a few beers. Dinner was back at Gubug restaurant.

16 JULY

A pretty morning and a very crowded looking surf.

Eventually, I had a surf a Occasionals. This a right hander which breaks a little on the fickle side. It wasn't that good so I paddled over to the crowded left. I had a few waves and came in.

We packed a small bag and Nyoman arrived to take us to Legian.

LEGIAN - BALI - SELAMAT DATANG - 10 JULY 2019

LEGIAN

8 JULY

We landed in Bali in the night and it took ages for the baggage and my surfboards to appear at the carousel. We met Gousti (our driver) and off we drove in the Bali night. Strange though, the weather seemed very cool.

We settled into the hotel and then had a late dinner at an Italian restaurant.

9 JULY

I  woke early and had a walk along the beach.

Jacinta and I had breakfast then walked up to the Bintang supermarket for a few chores – change money, some groceries, wine, and data for my sim card.

Back at the hotel we had an easy afternoon then headed down to the beach for drinks and sunset.

10 JULY

We both had an early walk along the beach and stopped at the Melasti Hotel to catchup with Beacon, Meryl and Lexie.

Back at the hotel, we had breakfast and organised our bags. I went for a relation massage and Wal turned up to pick up his sanding parcel we brought over for him.

At 11:30 Nyoman arrived to take us to Balian.

HIKE, ART, KAYAK AND MOUNTAIN BIKE - 20 JUNE TO 7 JULY 2019

20 JUNE

A mountain bike at Bouddi National Park along the turkey, nw ridge and strom tracks.

A fun ride. I rode over the harder sections of the tracks and did okay. Nice to push yourself a little bit more.

22 JUNE

I took photographs for the 5 Lands Walk at Mac Masters Beach and Copacabana Beach.



It was very interesting photographing the artists and chatting with them about their painting and style of painting.

The surf was good at MacMasters with a lot of surfers out .

25 JUNE

 A rainy day but in between the showers I managed a hike around Somersby Falls. I twas very pretty and there was a lot of water movement.

26 JUNE

A mountain bike ride at Brisbane Water National Park on the Tommos Loop.

A nice ride. I finished it heaps quicker than I thought I would.

28 JUNE

A ride on Kincumba Mountain. Only short but fun.

2 JULY

A kayak out to Iron Ladder beach from Ettalong.

A challenging kayak with strong tidal surges, increasing wind, swell waves, boat wake and hidden underwater rocks. Still, it as fun negotiating all these obstacles.

The water was very clear and the scenery very pretty.

5 JULY

A mountain bike ride along the Bull Hill trail at Brisbane Water National Park.

The trail was very wet pools of water and slippery rocks.

It was only a short ride. I got back to the van, packed and it started to rain very heavy. Lucky Day!