Bali has been one of the biggest surprises of my trip so
far, perhaps I had heard too many stories about the ugly tourist scene in Kuta
but I was expecting to arrive at a tourist mecca that offered little in the way
of exploring. What I discovered was a little
island paradise covered in natural beauty with a diverse variety of culture and
a welcoming attitude from the locals, the beaches fuel a thriving surfing
community that contrasts perfectly with the holistic feel of the towns and
villages around the forested Ubud area. Ubud was the perfect place to base
myself for the 3 weeks I spent in Bali, many view it as the cultural centre of
the small island and despite being a tourist hotspot it has a peaceful aura about
it. Most travellers visiting the area gladly embrace the local lifestyle and it
seems many are on a journey of self-discovery that involves immersing
themselves in Ubuds’ yoga and spiritual scene by day and hanging out in trendy
bars and cafes at night while waiting for a spiritual awakening. I was
fortunate to have had the opportunity to ride the Balinese hinterland with some
local friends and I felt as though I got to experience a taste of the true
spirit of the island while visiting these more remote
areas, perhaps I was on my own journey of self-discovery, however I was happy
to find what I was looking for while riding the dirt roads, beaches and black
lava sand of Bali
Not being the type to sit around and relax for too long, I
soon set about exploring the multitude of temples that Bali has to offer, each
one was as impressive as the next and the task took up more than a few days. As
with most other places I have visited having the bike here was a huge benefit,
being able to explore at my own pace made the task much more enjoyable and
having the freedom to go where I wanted meant that I got to see many of the
lesser known but equally impressive sights. As spectacular as the temples and
traditional dancing were, I was soon getting concerned that I was having a
cultural overload…. the solution? Two days at Kuta beach. I must admit I didn’t
over indulge too much in the hedonistic holiday lifestyle that Kuta is known
for but I did enjoy more than a few drinks and a little bit of surfing practice.
Kuta actually wasn’t as bad as many had described it but after a few days I was
keen to get away from the throng of people and traffic and return to Ubud for a
little relaxation. I ran into a bit of luck, a friend hooked me up with 2 free
nights at Puri Sebatu resort, I believe it may have been where Julia Roberts
stayed in the film “Eat, Pray, Love”, I have neither read the book nor seen the
movie but nonetheless this was a spectacular place to stay, the bed room had
impressive views over the rice terraces and the bathroom was palatial in size,
one night alone was equal to a month at my homestay in Ubud.
Life in Ubud was great but I felt as though I was slipping
into the routine and comfort of everyday life here, I certainly couldn’t let
that happen, it was time to continue my nomadic 2 wheel vagabond existence and
move on. It took me a little while to pack my gear because I had gotten quite
comfortable in my modest little room but the bike was soon ready to go and I
was feeling good about getting on the road again. All I had to do was pack up
my bike cover and I was on my way, I was almost done when I smelt a horrendous
odour, I looked down and realised I had dragged the cover through a steaming
pile of dog turd….. Great! Apparently my landlady had decided that out of sight
was out of mind and rather than remove the offending item she just sprinkled
sand over it, instantly turning it into a well camouflaged booby trap. After
half an hour of cleaning the bike cover as best I could it was time for take 2,
I was back on the road and heading for Tulamben for a few days of diving before
making my way to Java.
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