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The name Bali carries a lot of expectations. You imagine white sands, turquoise waters, palm trees and your brown self drinking out of a pineapple!
This is something we are still hunting for. We arrived in Kuta Bali very excited but aware we were going to an Australian version of Magaluf. We arrived in the evening and driving through the main strip and towards our apartment we could hear the thudding of trance music. Big bright lights, Balis answer to Time Square, Hard Rock Cafe, McDonalds, KFC all the typical stuff.
On day one we took a walk over to the beach, hassled isn't the word, I thought Angry Dan was gonna show his face!!lol! I knew we weren't gonna last long here, we were supposed to be meeting a friend 5days later, never gonna happen!!
From the second we walked onto the street and every step there after we were continuously asked if we wanted taxi, transport, scooter, sunglasses, watch, just a look, marijuana, Viagra!! These offerings came over and over and over! On the beach we had a group of women around us trying to sell various bits, bracelets and massages mainly.
We headed for the water thinking it may be a safe haven but no still whilst paddling in the sea we were approached by "honest Johny" and others with sunglasses etc. I understand this is there livelihood and am always polite but when you say no thank you and still they follow you it gets very frustrating!
We walked miles on our first day, it was really nice we went all along the coast into the neighbouring areas stopping for mango juice and bintang (the lager Dan has taken to drinking) along the way. The weather was cloudy and we had rain in the afternoon so was the perfect day to stroll around. We did a spot a shopping as there are many shops from market stalls to boutiques.
The second day I had the great idea of hiring transport I wanted a jeep! Being safari Barbie really appealed but we agreed to get mopeds! The worst decision we have made since we have been here by far!! The roads are unmaintained to say the least, bumps and holes everywhere. Then there is the traffic, I had fooled myself that once we got out of the main city, Kuta, and on to the open road it would be quieter. Oh how I was wrong, the further we went the worse it got. There is no system at all, everyone just beeps at each other and hopes people get out the way! There is thousands of mopeds and hundreds of taxis. It was awful and I was, I'm not afraid to say bloody petrified!! I always imagine the worse, I'm one of those people who see the fight before it happens or worries about doing something in case I get hurt! Well I just kept imagining being hit and falling off and scrapping all the skin off my legs, arms and face! I know worse could of happened but that was the images running through my head as I pootled along after Dan wearing nothing to protect me but a flimsy pink helmet!! That was it I was uncomfortable and when Dan pulled over and asked if I was ok I just cried! Lol!! What an idiot, embarrassing really but oh well I am who I am wimp or not!! I the tears ran down my face as I told him I hated it and I was scared!! We headed to the beach road and sat on the beach with a cold drink while he tried to sort out the fact his girlfriend is a weeping mess! At that point we decided we would be leaving Kuta the following day, we got out our "lonely planet bible" and made plans!
I don't think it had helped that we had been stopped by the police and charged 500,000rupeih, they are horrible corrupt a******s, excuse my language. You want police to make you feel safe, that they are there to help you. Not here, they are horrible, arrogant, greedy, bent selfish people who I dislike greatly!
So we still had these bikes, we decided to try and stay on the quiet beach road and find somewhere to have lunch. I did love zipping up and down the beach road, really fun with no cars and crazy traffic! Anyway we took them back and did the rest of the day on foot!
We had some nice food and drinks when we were there and watched a good band in the hard rock cafe, although I did order a mojoito and that is not what they bought me, no crushed ice!! Shocking, you can get crushed ice at Dans house!!
On our last night in Kuta the rain poured!! We ventured not far from our hotel to a Mexican restaurant called Havana where I enjoyed ½ a cravat of White Wine after my stressful day and Dan sank a few Bintangs after his. I ordered Yellow Fin Tuna steak which was cooked to perfection! It was lovely and accompanied by roast potatoes!! Dan ordered a skewer which came out and shocked us both, it was mahussive!! We took before and after pics to show how well he did with his challenge!!
So the next day was time to leave and not a moment too soon. We got a taxi from our hotel to Sanur, we had booked into a place called the "watering hole" and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived, it was nice! We had our own little balcony and hot shower. The room had wooden carved doors and the detail was gorgeous. Sanur is a place many people decide to retire to. We walked all alone the coast, it is lined with resort after resort. Old people relaxing everywhere! For us it was just a port to our next destination. We only stayed one night before catching a boat in the morning to Nusa Lembongan which is one of three islands that together comprise the Nusa Penida archipelago. The boat port was filled with busy locals and a few fellow travellers. As the boats board directly from the beach, no jetty, you must be prepared to get your feet wet. As the tide laps in and out you jump on to the boat. I knew I was gonna struggle doing this with 20kilos strapped to my back, Id just sink in the sand, we hired a porter. He was a tiny man, we payed him 20,000 rupeih to carry our bags on. Turned out to be worth it just for the entertainment value. He lifted Dans bag onto his shoulder and then asked Dan to put mine on top! In Disbelief we did as he asked and the little man ran to the boat with 45kilos of our stuff on his shoulder! Brilliant, photos to follow!!
Nusa Lembongan is described as the Bali people dream of but never find but it's not. The beaches are filled with boats and sea weed. We stayed in a room on Jungutbatu beach, the first day there we had seen that our beach was not one we were going to lie on and so decided to go to the neighbouring pool to cool off for the afternoon. Day two was the day of exploration. We decided to walk to the other side of the Island in search of a beach. After 2 very long sweaty hours of walking we had passed a lot of wilderness and not a lot of civilisation. The island had very few roads, there are no cars on the island just a few small trucks used to transport things around. They use mopeds and bicycles. Our intention of having a nice morning walk to the beach had been shattered it was more like an island trek but one we both really enjoyed. We met some children who sang in order to promote the selling of their shells. We bought one, in all fairness it is beautiful and the kids were very cute!!
Eventually we found a sunset beach where we enjoyed a nice lunch about 4 litres of water and a very refreshing dip in the sea which was bloody freezing! Just what we needed!
Me being a penny pincher wanted to find the cheapest boat off the island in order to start our journey to Lombok. Oh we found the cheapest boat, we ended up being picked up in the morning by a sea weed fishing boat, it was very small and pink and to be honest didn't look like it would last in the middle of the ocean! Woosy Jen panicked again but Dan assured me it would be fine so aboard we climbed and it was a funny journey really, the conversation was limited to say the least! We were plonked on a black sand beach Kusamba close ish to where we wanted to be. We got in a minivan thing eventually ended up in Padangbai, we got the cheapest ticket available in the manic harbour. A 4 hour ferry ride and then 1 ½ hours in what felt like a rally car!! Seriously the roads and driving are something to be experienced, I spend my whole time fearing for peoples safety. This driver was particularly bad, he had to overtake everything in front of him even on bends and even if it wasn't going slow!! I tried to look out the window and take in the view, easier said than done!!
We were dropped at "tourist information" booth, which was actually surprise surprise a booking office. The man proceeded to try and plan our next two weeks!! Bad move bozo! We hastily left, it really gets my back up when people try take over and trick or pressure you into things. Leaving turned out to be a very good thing as we have now booked into a nice hotel for a decent price. We have a pool and a TV with a movie channel!! WOW!
Sengiggi, which is where we are I forgot to mention, is a coastal resort but the beach is not the best with dark sand and scattered litter. In fact with the flip flops being washed up by the tide you could start a shoe shop! We took a walk yesterday and say a very interesting method of fishing. They were stood in the sea with a kite attached to the rod and then the line attached to the kite. So say they are fishing for barracuda ideally but whatever they can get. As we walked along the busy beach we were approached by a couple of groups of university students who were out practicing their English language skills. We happily stopped for conversations and pictures which was weird! Other people were bringing their children up to us just to meet us, it was like being a celebrity for a day! Very weird and a bit uncomfortable really.
In the afternoon it rained so we made the most of our nice hotel, we watched movies, Amelia, Wall Street and then the End of Gladiator were the movies of the day and I loved it! We haven't watched any TV in a month really so it made a really nice change especially as the rain was pouring outside. We had room service and filled in our journals. Really nice lazy night in!!
Today, (Monday 14th November, we are soaking up the rays by our hotel pool. We have turned off the music the hotel was playing because it was mind numbingly bad and on repeat!! We had our own speaker, iPod, kindle, notebook, pool, ball and tanning oil!! Life today is fab.
8.30am tomorrow morning we are being collected from our hotel and have a taxi then boat road to Gili Trawangan. This is the largest of the three Gili Islands, a collection of islands off the coast of Lombok Indonesia. The Island is reasonably primitive with a population of about 700 people. There are no motorised vehicles on the island, just small horse drawn carriages and bicycles. The accommodation is scattered along the east coast mainly, we haven't booked anything so will keep you posted on that! Beach front we are hoping for. I have read that there are large spiders on the island about the size of a mans outstretched hand!! Although they are not poisonous they do give a very nasty bite so I will be doing my best to avoid them!
Ok so basically people in summary we are still here and having a great time, we are getting on really well and haven't even argued yet so we must be doing something right. I have not really been drinking as the wine is expensive and I can't do lager so feeling healthier in that respect. I am missing my ladies though and whilst listening to music on my very long boat trip the other day was thinking how much I can't wait to have a good night out strutting our sexy stuff!!lol! Long way off I know but it will be worth the wait!
Love to you all from both of us, keep us posted on your stuff!!
Love us
Jen and Dan
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