Bali, Indonesia

Upon arrival at Denpasar Airport, Bali, we immediately merged into crowds of Western tourists who all seemed to be in a rush to order thier first bottle of Bintang of thier two week holiday. We quickly realised that it was high season in Bali and that we would be sharing the beach with 1000's of package toursists from Australia and Europe. Kuta Beach, our first overnight, was not that dissimilar to Playa De Las Americas in Tenerife or Blackpool, Northern Englnd. Pace of life here seemed quick once again.
Away from Kuta Beach the pace of life slowed again as the Balanise went about their dayly lives as normal, always with a smile on their face.
Leaving Kuta Beach, we headed to the Eastern port of PadangBai before travelling inland to Ubud for some Balanise culture.


Kuta Beach is home of surfing in Bali - the waves were far to big to even contemplate hiring a board though.


Kuta sunset on the busiest streach of beach we'd come across on our travels so far.


Beach front at Padangbai, a sleepy port and gate way to Lombok.

Fancy drinks at our local restaurant.

A reminder not to make friends with local dogs......

......after dodging rabid dogs who were not friendly, I ended up at this volcanic beach, south of Padangbai, imaginatively named 'Black Beach'.

....view of Padangbai on my way back from Black Beach.

Our beach front bungalow, just aross the road from the beach.

Gunung Agung volcano looming behind Padangbai.

Arrival in Ubud, the most decorative town we've ever visited. Behind us is the gate to our accomadation at the Swan Inn.

Snooooooze O'clock!

At the pool shortly before the earthquake.

The Balanise in Ubud were very proud of thier gardens....

....colourful blooms everywhere.....macro heaven!

Burning of scented sticks and offerings of flowers and food....common sight in Ubud.

Calved statues greeted us around every corner.

Not the safest bridge in Bali - many of the wooden panels I trod on were very rotten - the valley floor was 50m below :-)

The Balanise also loved a good cock fight.

Long walk one morning from Ubud...... lost here among rice fields.

Locals busy tending thier crop....

.....by this time we were so lost we asked a local farmer for dirctions.

More rice fields....this one just planted.

....this one ready to be harvested.

.....statues appeared in the undergrowth everywhere....

....there were more to be seen in Ubud centre.

Markets in central Ubud.

Local crafts for sale....getting artsy with the camera.

Possibly the worst tourist attraction so far...Elephant Cave, Ubud. We walked 5km in the rain to get here to find no elephants and the smallest cave ever. We did get to wear dresses though which was nice.

..The momument in Elephant Cave.....Hmmmm???

...jumping into the lilly pond :-)

....monks wandering in the holy grounds :-)

...its a spider...this fellow was massive :-)

It seemed that everybody in Ubud was an sculpturer of stone....

....wood....

....cats....

....even the roundabouts were very elaboate....

...around every corner was another artists house....

...teeming with expensive paintings....

.....is this a painting or view from the window?

....last one, promise :-)

...were outta here. At Bali airport you can watch planes as well as the local surfers.