Bali – Legian and Seminak 21/4/16 – 25/4/16

(R) Well if I thought Jimbaren was busy, then OMG I was in for a very big surprise here in Legian and Kuta. It’s not the size of the place, but the population on scooters, so many that it’s difficult to cross the street. They even have traffic wardens every 100m or so, to stop the traffic so cars can pull out and pedestrians can cross. It’s hectic here, and very commercialized. However the beach is stunning. It’s sheer size is very impressive, let alone the blue azure of the ocean and the magnificent waves crashing on its shores.
We sat at a make shift bar on the beach, (purely as this was the only shaded area – honest), and of course had a few beers, but we hadn’t got our butts on the chairs, before we were surrounded by street sellers. There were hundreds, each pushing their trinkets etc in our faces. Some with mini photo albums showing us tattoos, massage prices and the rest. To my utter ignorance, I became overwhelmed and started talking to one of them. Soooo not the thing to do as each word I spoke, there appeared another face and another, it was too over powering for me. My first experience and hopefully my last, however I’m sure I’ll get sucked into their vortex world oh too easily. Tina bought a couple of bangles them came to my rescue and I don’t know how, but she soon dispersed them so we could get on with our drinking. The temperature here is 35’ so it’s hot, hot, hot too hot to be out at lunchtime. Later that evening we went out for a bite too eat and as soon as I’d given our orders in, along came a bloke – he must have been hiding in the buses, (scared the living daylights out of me), and produced hundreds of DVD’s on the table. All the latest titles of movies at the cinemas. Tina just laughed at me. Seminyak
Seminyak is so different to Legian, (well at least the part we stayed in), however it’s huge. We stayed at a beautiful place called Reddoorz hotel. It was Balinese to the maximum, the most magnificent carpentry everywhere along with ornate gardens etc, a true slice of paradise and for such a small price.
That evening we went for a stroll to find a bar, (not like us at all), and came across Frankinsteins bar, just around the corner from our hotel. This place drew our attention as there was a show in progress. Free to get in and once beers ordered we sat at a table in full amazement as we watched half a dozen or so staff dressed in zombie outfits singing and dancing to several michael Jackson numbers from Thriller. All choreographed, all in time and very fast dance moves. After 30 minutes or so on them being on stage, a band came on and sang classic rock songs. Then the stage performers were back, this time dancing to the fab tunes of Rocky Horror show, all dressed from the movie. They came on a third time, this time dressed and dancing to tunes from Beetlejuice. I had forgotten what great music was in Beetlejuice and we both sang along to its classic tunes, obviously we got louder as the night went on, maybe due to the copious beers. What an outstanding night out.
The following morning (a little worse for wear), we were met at 8.30am as we had booked a days trip white water river rafting. I fully recommend this as a hang over cure, cos it worked a treat for the both of us. The mini bus took 1 ½ hours to get to the river our 20 yr old drivers style can only be described as high speed chase!
Enroute we were taken to a local place, where they grow all their own tea leaves, coffee and cocoa and various herbs. We were given a tasting tray of 15 different teas and coffees to sample, all of which were really tasty. We were also given a tour around its production, within this we were shown possum – like creatures, all oddly looking with huge wide open eyes, cute but scarey looking at the same time. Then our guides informed us that they also produce Kopi Lewak coffee made from feeding beans to feed the civet cat animals, then the animals poop out the beans which are washed, scrubbed and the shell disposed off before they are roasted and grounded. I have to say that as a coffee conissure it was the best coffee I had ever tasted. Also I indulged in the chocolate tasting, again it was exquisite, full dark chocolate with different flavours – ginger, orange, chilli the list goes on.
Once at the rafting place, we were kitted out with life jackets, helmets and rafting shoes, and walked down what appeared to be 100 steep steps to find the rivers edge. We were very fortunate as to get a raft to ourselves, with just our guide inside.
(T) So glad I finally got Roy to come rafting, he said he was nervous before we set off but 10 yards in and he was loving it. The rapids were pretty tame by some standards but thrilling nonetheless. We got stuck on huge rocks a few times and ended up backwards getting really wet – pretty sure our guide was trying to dump us out the raft. The river was absolutely stunning, fantastic scenery all the way down the 16km stretch. Trees, bushes, rocks, waterfalls, bamboo bridges we had to lie back in order to get under and a 4m drop over the dam. That was a laugh, I had to lie in the front with my feet out the front so I couldn’t see going over, apparently when we hit the bottom I flew in the air, couldn’t get back up for laughing. We had a break halfway down and climbed up to a waterfall cascading down the rock wall which we stood under – might as well get totally soaked. Which we did again a bit further down when we got stuck sideways and the following raft bashed us and we filled with water – I did think we would have to bail but we got free. At the end we had a great lunch at a restaurant over looking rice fields. What an awesome day.

That night we met up with new friends Paul and Anjila, who we regularly bumped into on our journey around Australia. It was great to meet up with them here in Seminyak, at a fantastic place called Ku De Ta to watch the sunset and have cocktails. If ever your in Seminyak please do look this place up for its magnificent sunsets.