Bali Weekend: Two days is not enough

Last weekend Megan and I traveled to Bali.  Bali is a small island (around the size of Delaware) that is part of the Indonesian archipelago.  It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in SE Asia because of its gorgeous beaches, open culture, and interesting wild life.  Australians in particular love Bali, and they describe it as "their Hawaii".


This post's title mentions that two days is not enough, and that is very true.  Bali has pretty much every warm tourist activity/attraction you could think of:

• Water sports
• Beaches
• Surfing
• Hiking
• Camping
• Bars/Night Clubs
• Cultural sites
• Home stays
• Nice Restaurants

Unfortunately we had a short amount of time in Bali (3 nights and 2 days) so we tried to maximize as best we could.

Volcanos and rice fields in Bali

Lodging

Many different lodging areas have emerged to cater different tourists interests.  The most famous area is probably Kuta Beach where the backpackers stay.  Some refer to this as an Australian ghetto because of all the visitors.  It was interesting seeing the majority of shops selling Australian themed shirts and knick-knacks.  We stayed in Kuta our last night to experience the nightlife and have a short airport ride in the morning.  For the first two nights we stayed in Nusa Dua which is the resorty upscale area.  This provided a relaxing home base with nice access to private beaches.  The resort itself was nice with pools, spas, cabanas, bars and multiple restaurants but the atmosphere was more vacation/sterile than adventurous.

View from our room at the Laguna Resort Nusa Dua

Surfing
Our first day we took surfing lessons in Kuta with Odyssey Surf shop. This was our second time taking surfing lessons on vacation (the first being in Mexico).  Both of us remembered how to do it, but were in need of some practice.   The surf scene was pretty good.  It was scenic and the water was shallow and warm.  The only drawbacks to surfing in Kuta are that the waves were short lived and the water was quite crowded. For the more experienced surfer, Bali has plenty of other world class locations.

Dinner on the Beach

Saturday night we had BBQ seafood on the beach.  The sunset, sand, waves, and relaxing local music could have been a seen for a Corona commercial.  Our prawns, crab, and fish were grilled and then coated with a delicious "spicy" Balinease sauce.  Megan is convinced that whenever we order Spicy, the locals dial it back a few notches because of a perception that foreigners can't handle the heat.

Dinner and drinks on the beach

After dinner we enjoyed local beers while watching the waves crash against the beach.  A local mariachi-like band was playing for the guests.  After playing "Wonderful Tonight" for the third time, Megan and I decided that we would request whatever the band liked to play the most.  When they came by, we asked their favorite song and without hesitation one of them exclaimed "Johnny Cash" and they busted out Folsom Prison Blues.  This was unexpected and hilarious.

Cycling and Whitewater Rafting

Sunday continued our foray into adventure outdoor activities.  We went cycling down a volcano and through the local villages.  Our descent was pretty consistent throughout so we managed to pedal for less than 2 minutes during our 20 KM trip.  The steep hills were nerve wracking at times, especially for Megan. I've mentioned before how cycling is one of the best ways to interact with the locals.  We were able to see local houses, wood shops, temples, stores, and cultural sites.  The landscape in Bali is a luscious green and blue.  Despite all the growth and development it is still very natural in parts.  Another highlight of the cycling trip was the trying Bali coffee and tea.  We were even offered Kopi Luwak which is coffee made from beans digested by a cat.  I kid you not, it is one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

Bike Sites

In the afternoon we took a whitewater rafting trip.  This was the highlight of the entire Bali trip.  It was a great blend of physical exertion, beautiful sightseeing and comedic relief.  Our trip took us down a fast paced river for a 20 KM journey in class IV rapids.  We got wet and were jostled around quite a bit, but neither Megan nor I feel out.  We did get quite the work out for our arm and back muscles.  The river winded through jungles and valleys.  We saw around 20 waterfalls and even some crazy naked Bali kids who jumped in our raft.  The majority of the comedic relief came from our fellow tourists.  In another raft were two guys from Malaysia who instantly stuck out.  Megan and I had thought to dress down in clothes that would be suitable for wet and dirty conditions.  These guys didn't get that memo.  The one was wearing a brand new polo shirt, a luxury brand watch, Havianna sandals and seersucker shorts.  Megan chuckled at them as we began our journey.  For the majority of the trip Megan and I were smiling and laughing; our comrades not so much.  Their reactions ranged from bored to frustrated to terrified.  At one point the fancy dresser faked an injury so he wouldn't have to paddle anymore.  They then had to rope in another guide to help them finish the journey.  At the end of the trip we got certificates that said we had completed the course and were now prepared to take on any challenges that life brought at us.  I hope they put an asterick next to Mr. Fancy Dresser's certificate.

Taking a break from the river

Night in Kuta

After rafting we headed in to Kuta.  There we devoured some delicious pizza and Satay.  We then checked out a few of the local watering holes and found live music and good times.  After two jam-packed days we retired early in the evening to prepare for our early Monday morning flight.   Megan and I both agreed that two days was not enough for Bali.