We arrived in Bali late Saturday evening. After making our way through the airport, we arranged for a taxi to take us to our hotel. The ride was to be the first of many adventures. Pulling out of the airport we were faced with hordes of traffic, mostly motorbikes and some cars. The narrow roads were marked for lanes which seemed only suggestions rather than firm traffic laws. One way streets were also merely recommendations that pertained to the cars, definitely not the motorbikes. The locals on motorbikes sped, weaved and cut their way through lines of traffic. Many were not wearing helmets. We arrived about 30 minutes later, not too worse for the wear.
The next day our agenda entailed: get breakfast, get water, get money, get to the beach. Which we did. We were able to stock up on drinking water and change some money into rupiah just down the street from our hotel. Afterward we grabbed our things and headed out to the beach. Spending some time wandering down the beach we picked a spot and Matt was able to haggle us the use of some chairs and an umbrella for the day. I settled in for some serious relaxation and Matt went to check out the surf school, owned by a Balinese world champion surfer (turns out his American parents had moved here from Hawaii when they were young). Matt was able to arrange for a lesson the next morning and borrowed a board to have some fun that day.
Our lunch was provided by an older woman walking up and down the beach with a fruit basket on her head. We had some bananas (tasty little ones, unlike any we'd had before) and a pineapple which she peeled right there with the machete she was carrying around with her. Delicious! Our friend Kurt was to arrive around 4, so we headed to our hotel pool around then to wait. When we hadn't seen him by 4:30 Matt decided it was time to try the local beer, Bintang. Not too long after Kurt arrived along with his friend Esi, who is from Jakarta, but moved to Bali a few months ago. After introductions, she went to pick up her friend Jeni also from Jakarta who was in Bali on holiday and staying with her.
We spent sunset on the beach along with the dozens of other locals who were flying kites, playing soccer and hanging out. After dinner we headed to the very posh Ku De Ta where we managed to acquire a lounge sofa for 5 overlooking the beach. We were quickly learning the benefits of being with a local...things are cheaper and you get better service. After drinks while watching the waves, we headed home for the night excited to explore the area a bit more the next day.
The next day our agenda entailed: get breakfast, get water, get money, get to the beach. Which we did. We were able to stock up on drinking water and change some money into rupiah just down the street from our hotel. Afterward we grabbed our things and headed out to the beach. Spending some time wandering down the beach we picked a spot and Matt was able to haggle us the use of some chairs and an umbrella for the day. I settled in for some serious relaxation and Matt went to check out the surf school, owned by a Balinese world champion surfer (turns out his American parents had moved here from Hawaii when they were young). Matt was able to arrange for a lesson the next morning and borrowed a board to have some fun that day.
We spent sunset on the beach along with the dozens of other locals who were flying kites, playing soccer and hanging out. After dinner we headed to the very posh Ku De Ta where we managed to acquire a lounge sofa for 5 overlooking the beach. We were quickly learning the benefits of being with a local...things are cheaper and you get better service. After drinks while watching the waves, we headed home for the night excited to explore the area a bit more the next day.
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